Rangeland Plant Physiology

Cost: $400

Dates

• In Person (off campus): Sat., Aug. 23, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. & Online: Wed., Aug. 27-Sept. 24, 6-7:50 p.m.

Location: In person/Online

Credit: FOR 680, 1 unit

With Susan Marshall

This course is one of five short courses designed to help review for the California Certified Rangeland Manager (CRM) exam administered by the Professional Forester Examination Committee (PFEC).

Completion of this course will appear on university transcripts, and will provide evidence of range management coursework for the CRM application and for federal job series 0454 (Rangeland Management Specialist) and other qualifications.

Rangeland Plant Physiology focuses on plant morphology, identification, physiology, and responses to disturbance, such as herbivory, fire, drought, competition, and adverse soil conditions.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Sight-identify important California Rangeland plants.
2. Illustrate the structure and life cycles of rangeland plant life forms, with an emphasis on grasses.
3. Generalize different modes of photosynthesis (C3, C4, CAM), respiration, water uptake, transpiration, and nutrient uptake in rangeland plants and how they fluctuate according to environmental stresses.
4. Categorize different secondary compounds, including poisonous principles, encountered in rangeland plants and corresponding concerns with different classes of livestock.
5. Explain plant morphological or physiological adaptations to herbivory, fire, drought, competition, and adverse soil conditions.

This course starts with a Saturday field day (7 hours). The locations will be determined.

Lectures are presented in a voiceover/video format that should be watched and studied before the online meeting time. A small quiz is required the night before the online weekly synchronous Zoom meetings of two hours each over a four-week period. In addition to the class time, you will spend at least two hours or more doing out-of-class work per week. Assignments are turned in via Canvas, the university's learning management system.

You will need a computer with a microphone and webcam, and internet access. You may use campus computer labs and if needed, you may be able to check out a device from the library.

You will be responsible for travel-related costs for in-person field trips. A charge of no more than $100 total may be necessary to access a ranch or other property for field exercises.

Prerequisites: Introductory rangeland management and ecology course preferred. Senior or post-baccalaureate standing.

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Susan Marshall

Susan Edinger Marshall serves on the California Certified Rangeland Manager (CRM) panel and is a long time member of the Society for Range Management. She taught numerous classes in Rangeland Resources and Wildland Soils and is Professor Emeritus at Cal Poly Humboldt.