SEMINAR: BOUNDARIES,
EDGES, AND ECOTONES
Geography 407/507
Instructor: Dr. Keith
Hadley
Office: CH 424M
Office Hours: MWF 11:30-12:30
or by appointment
Phone: 725-3078
E-mail: (Subject:
Geog407/507)
Web Site: http://web.pdx.edu/~hadley
COURSE OBJECTIVE: This seminar
course focuses on three similar and fundamental patterns inherent to
biogeography, ecology, and landscape ecology; boundaries, edges,
and ecotones. The basis
for the course is a survey of contemporary research and review articles that
examine the underlying factors and processes that define these features and
their ecological importance. Our
readings will thus examine the role soils, hydrology, microclimate, vegetation structure and composition, and human
activities in shaping boundaries, edges, and ecotones. We will also explore the spatial and
temporal variation of these features and how they are related to disturbance,
succession, and to plant and animal diversity.
Finally, we will examine some of the methodological problems and
approaches to the study vegetation boundaries and consider their importance
within the context of resource
management.
COURSE STRUCTURE: The structure
of the course will include brief introductory lectures followed by class
discussion of assigned readings. Our
discussions will follow two formats: first, we will review articles read by all
of the students and second, we will review additional articles that have been
assigned to individual students. All
students will write reviews of 10 articles during the term. Included among these 10 article reviews are
two reviews prepared by individual students who will also provide an oral
summary and critique of their papers to the class. Assigned readings will be made for each class period. Over the course of the term, each graduate
student will report on and assess the work of a contemporary
biogeographer. This will include the
development of a bibliography to be handed out to the rest of the class.
REQUIRED TEXT:
There is no commercial text available for this
course. A reader consisting of
published
journal articles will be made available in the Geography
Department Office.
GRADING:
Final grades will be based on the following:
1. Class Participation: 60% (includes 15-20 one
page article summaries)
2. Class Project: 30%
3. Oral Presentation of Class Project: 10%
4.
Oral and Written Presentation on Biogeographers: 15%
- Note: Undergraduate
students will be evaluated on items 1-3 above -
The following is a course
outline covering the major topics and reading assignments. Readings will be assigned at the end of
each class meeting.
TENTATIVE
CLASS SCHEDULE
TOPIC
DESCRIPTION
=====================================================================
1 The Biogeographical
and Ecological Significance of Boundaries, Edges, and Ecotones
2 Defining
Boundaries, Edges, and Ecotones
3 Classic Research
and Papers and Development of the Ecotone and Edge Concepts
4 Physical
Environmental Conditions Across Edges and Ecotones
5 Ecological
Conditions Across Edges and Ecotones
6 The Role of
Disturbance and Succession in Forming and Maintaining Vegetation Boundaries
7 Methodological
Approaches to Examining Edges and Ecotones
8 The Spatial and
Temporal Dimensions of Edges and Ecotones
9 Application of the
Edge and Ecotone Concepts to Resource Management
10 Student
Presentations