The Ohio State University. Environment and Natural Resources 3333 Spring 2015 SILVICULTURE. Syllabus

Transcription

1 The Ohio State University 1 Environment and Natural Resources 3333 Spring 2015 Description and Objectives SILVICULTURE Syllabus Silviculture is essentially applied forest ecology. It has been defined as the theory and practice of controlling forest ecosystem structure and function. Our focus will be on the entire forest ecosystem, rather than just on the trees. Silvicultural systems must be crafted that maintain the integrity of ecosystem processes, while influencing forest establishment, composition, and growth. Silvicultural principles and methods are practiced in the field in this course, as they apply to the stewardship of forest ecosystems. The student performance objectives for this course are: to comprehend the ecological principles and practical applications of silvicultural systems, which consist of regeneration methods and intermediate treatments; to prescribe silvicultural practices in the field that will achieve and sustain the desired forest ecosystem conditions; and to recognize how silvicultural systems can be applied in the management of a diversity of forest ecosystems for a variety of benefits including wood, wildlife, water, recreation, and aesthetics. Course Format and Prerequisites This field-oriented three-credit hour course will meet on Thursdays from 8:00-9:10 a.m. in Room 245 of Kottman Hall. Environment & Natural Resources 2100, 2300, and 3321 are the prerequisites, and may be taken concurrently. The labs will be held on Mondays from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The first labs and the last lab will meet in 460 Kottman. Most labs are conducted at field locations, and we will leave for the field from the Kottman Hall loading dock. We will go to the field in almost any weather, so each participant must be prepared for challenging and changing conditions. Since we often must deal with cold and wet weather, be sure to dress carefully. Always bring a waterproof outer layer, which will also block the wind. Wearing a mid-layer will add critical insulation during the winter; also bring warm gloves and hat. You should bring a water bottle and nutritious snack, as desired. We must be responsible for packing out all trash from the field and the vans. Call #s = 0010-LEC (28531) & 0020 LAB (28532) Reading Assignments The reading assignments will be from the required textbook: The Practice of Silviculture: Applied Forest Ecology. 9th ed. by David M. Smith and others. (1997). John Wiley & Sons, New York. You must read the assigned pages, and be responsible for the major concepts in the readings. One copy of the textbook will be placed on reserve at the Food, Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Library which is temporarily located in Howlett Hall (the building just west of Kottman Hall). Additional readings from the literature may be assigned, and if so, copies of these articles will also be placed on reserve.

2 Evaluation Policies 2 Attendance for the entire class period is required at all class sessions; tardiness or lateness for class is not acceptable and it is recorded. Participation is very strongly encouraged and expected. In order to earn full credit for a field lab, you must be present and participate in all components of the lab. The final grade for the course will be based on this system: Midterm Evaluations Final Evaluation Portfolio of Lab Reports & Assignments Homework & Participation (including on-time attendance) POINTS The following grading scale will be used: AVERAGE (%) Below 60 GRADE A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D E Final averages will be rounded upward to the next highest whole number for assigning letter grades. All concerns about any grade must be presented in writing within seven days after you are informed of the grade. All lab reports and assignments must be typewritten, and proofread to correct grammar and spelling errors. Each lab report is due at 7:30 a.m. on the due-date. Grades for lab reports will be reduced by 20% for each day they are late, including the first day. Homework is due in class at 8:00 a.m. on the specified date; no late work will be accepted. Please notify us in advance or as soon as possible (within 24 hours), if you are unable to be present for any class period, or to turn in a lab report. Only written proof of either a medical (health) problem or a death in the family will be accepted as an excused absence. You are responsible for the major concepts presented within the reading assignments. DISABLED STUDENTS: If you need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability, contact us to arrange an appointment as soon as possible. At the appointment we can discuss the course format, anticipate your needs and explore potential accommodations. We rely on the Office for Disability Services for assistance in verifying the need for accommodations and developing accommodation strategies. If you have not previously contacted this office by calling , we encourage you to do so. ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: Submitting plagiarized work to meet academic requirements including the representation of another person's works or ideas as one's own: the unacknowledged use of another person's work and (or) paraphrasing of another person's work; the inappropriate or unacknowledged use of another person's ideas; and (or) falsification, fabrication, or dishonesty in reporting research results will be grounds for charges of academic misconduct. This Publication/material is available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact the Associate Director, School of Environment and Natural Resources, 210 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Rd., Columbus, OH , (614)

3 Tentative Course Outline 3 Date Subject Reading assignment (page numbers in textbook) January 15 Forest Stand Dynamics Concepts 3-19 and Regeneration Methods & Silvicultural Systems Natural Regeneration February 5 Regenerating Even-aged Stands Using Clearcutting Regenerating Even-aged Stands Using Seed-tree and Shelterwood Methods Midterm Evaluation I 26 Regenerating Uneven-aged Stands March 5 Vegetatively Regenerated Stands Thinnings: Growth Responses & Methods and NO CLASSES - SPRING BREAK WEEK 26 Mixed-species Stands Midterm Evaluation II April 2 Damage Control Cuttings Release Operations & Improvement Cuttings and Site Evaluation & Amelioration and Site Preparation Methods & Prescribed Burning Final Evaluation - 8:00 a.m.

4 Tentative Lab Outline 4 Date Subject Reading assignment (page numbers in textbook) January 12 Introduction to the Practice of Silviculture 19 NO CLASSES MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY 26 Herbicides & Application Methods February 2 Non-native invasive species control methods 9 Tree Planting & Direct Seeding Field Trip: Evaluating the Woody Plant Species Regeneration of a Forest Stand 23 Field Trip: Regeneration Methods for Even-aged Stands March 2 Field Trip: Uneven-aged Management Using the Selection Method 9 Field Trip: Crop Tree Management of Hardwood Forest Ecosystems 16 NO CLASSES - SPRING BREAK WEEK 23 Field Trip: Comparison of Thinning Methods 30 All-day Field Trip to Southeastern Ohio: Silvicultural Practices April 6 Field Trip: Computer Expert Systems for Silvicultural Prescriptions 13 Field Trip: Computer Expert Systems for Silvicultural Prescriptions (continued) 20 Field Trip: Tree Plantations 27 Team Presentations: Computer Expert Systems for Silvicultural Prescriptions INSTRUCTORS David M. Hix, Associate Professor The Ohio State University, School of Environment and Natural Resources 365A Kottman Hall ( ) [email protected] Laura Bond Graduate Teaching Associate OFFICE HOURS Usually Thursdays 1:00-3:00 p.m., or by appointment [before SENR seminars] To be announced or by appointment bond.276@buckey .osu.edu

5 Textbook and References 5 Readings from the literature may be assigned, and copies may be provided in class. In addition, the majority of these publications have been placed on reserve at the Food, Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Library, or linked as ereserves in CARMEN. Smith, D. M., Larson, B. C., Kelty, M. J., and Ashton, P.M The practice of silviculture: applied forest ecology. 9th edition. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 537 pp. Barnes, B. V., Zak, D. R., Denton, S. R., and Spurr, S. H Forest ecology. 4th edition. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 747 pp. Barrett, J. W. (ed.) Regional silviculture of the United States. 3rd edition. Wiley, New York. 643 pp. Brose, P. H., Gottschalk, K. W., Horsley, S. B., Knopp, P. D., Kochenderfer, J. N., McGuinness, B. J., Miller, G. W., Ristau, T. E., Stoleson, S. H., and Stout, S. L Prescribing regeneration treatments for mixed-oak forests in the Mid-Atlantic region. U.S.D.A. Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS pp. Burns, R. M. (tech. comp.) Silvicultural systems for the major forest types of the United States. U.S.D.A. Forest Service Agriculture Handbook nd edition. Washington, DC. 191 pp. Burns, R. M. and B. H. Honkala (tech. coord.) Silvics of North America. U.S.D.A. Forest Service Agriculture Handbook 654. Volumes 1 & 2. Revised edition. Washington, DC pp. Hicks, R. R. Jr Ecology and management of central hardwood forests. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 412 pp. Hunter, M. L. (ed.) Maintaining biodiversity in forest ecosystems. Cambridge University Press, New York. 698 pp. Kohm, K. A. and J. F. Franklin. (editors) Creating a forestry for the 21st century: the science of ecosystem management. Island Press, Washington, DC. 475 pp. Marquis, D. A., Ernst, R. L., and Stout, S. L Prescribing silvicultural treatments in hardwood stands of the Alleghenies (revised). U.S.D.A. Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. NE pp. Matthews, J. D Silvicultural systems. Oxford University Press, New York. 284 pp. Nyland, R. D Silviculture: concepts and application. 2nd edition. Waveland Press, Long Grove, IL. 682 pp. Perkey, A. W., and Wilkins, B. L Crop tree field guide. USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State & Private Forestry Publ. NA-TP pp. Puettmann, K. J., Coates, K. D., and Messier, C A critique of silviculture: managing for complexity. Island Press, Washington, DC. 189 pp.