BI 210 - Forest Ecology

An understanding of forests, their ecology and management is essential in the applied environmental science areas of conservation, reclamation, parks, and wildlife habitat management.

Knowledge of forest legislation and forest management (silviculture, harvesting, regeneration) facilitate environmentally sound management and multiple uses of forest resources.

This course provides an overview and understanding of forests and forest practices, with a focus on Alberta and Western Canada.

Prerequisites: BI 110 , BO 120  
Corequisites: None

Course Learning Outcomes:
A student who successfully completes the course will have reliably demonstrated the ability to

1. explain the abiotic determinants of stand establishment and forest community growth.
2. describe disturbance processes in forest ecosystems.
3. recognize and describe the merchantable forest tree species of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
4. describe ecosystem management approaches for dealing with multiple land-users and maintaining forest biodiversity.
5. describe the major components of the Regulations managing forests and forest products in Alberta.
6. explain and describe how wood is harvested, transported, and processed for lumber and paper products.
7. explain and describe reforestation techniques, policies, and methods of evaluation.
8. perform forest measurements, process cruise data, and determine wood volume and yield values.

Required Materials

Equipment required for laboratory sessions are provided.

You are required to dress appropriately for weather conditions in outdoor labs, and to conduct yourself professionally on all field trips.

Optional Resource Materials:
Reference Text

Alberta Environment. 2013. 2010 Reclamation criteria for well sites and associated facilities for

forested lands. Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development,

Edmonton, Alberta. 99 p.

Beckingham, J.D., and J.H. Archibald. 1996. Field guide to ecosites of Northern Alberta.

Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, Alberta. 336 p. 

Kimmins, J.P. 2004. Forest ecology. Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. 611 p.

Schneider, R.R. 2002. Alternative futures: Alberta’s boreal forest at the crossroads.

The Federation of Alberta Naturalists, Edmonton, AB. 152 p.

McLaughlan, M.S., R.A. Wright and J.D. Jiricka. 2010. Field guide to the ecosites of

Saskatchewan’s provincial forests. Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, Forest

Service. Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. 343p.

Pojar, R. and E. Coulson. 2010. Trees and Shrubs in Winter: An Identification Guide for Northern

British Columbia. Creekstone Press, Smithers, British Columbia. 182p.

Conduct of Course:
The course consists of approximately 42 hours of lecture and 28 hours of laboratory.

The lecture is a formalized classroom situation where the instructor discusses pertinent topics and students normally take notes. Student questions are encouraged to clarify subject areas.

The lab component is comprised of field trips, forest measurement exercises, guest lectures/tours, and attendance of a scientific meeting, all of which provide practical application of theory discussed in lectures. Laboratory reports are required for all tours, meetings, and measurement labs. Attendance at and participation in all laboratories and field trips is mandatory. Field trips and field tours may extend into the evening and may include overnight activities.

Classroom and laboratory attendance is considered vital to the learning process and as significant to the students’ evaluation as examinations and reports, therefore absenteeism is recorded.

• Students having a combination of excused and/or unexcused absence of 20 percent or higher for the scheduled course hours can be required to withdraw and would then automatically receive a “RW” (required withdrawal) for the course, regardless of any other evaluation results. (RW is a failing grade).
• An excused absence is one that is verified with your instructor. Verification should be prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence. Verification of the absence may take the form of a note from your doctor/College nurse regarding illness, or a note from another instructor regarding a field trip or other activity, or authorization by your instructor following an in-person meeting. Be sure to contact your instructor and ask what they will require from you as verification of each absence. An unexcused absence is anything NOT verified by the instructor prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence.

It is the students’ responsibility to know their own absentee record.

Normal hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with potential for evening courses, exams, or extended field trips. Students are expected to be available for classes during these times.

Content of Course:

1. Introduction to the Forest Ecosystem
2. Forest Regions of Canada
3. Forest Values in Canada and Cumulative Impacts in Canadian Forests
4. The Forest Act, Guidelines, Criteria, and Operating Ground Rules
5. Silviculture and Forest Restoration
6. Ecological Forest Management
7. Urban and Old Growth Forests

Possible Laboratory Units: (all lab activities are subject to availability, field conditions, and current issues)

To obtain credit for this course all lab reports and assignments must be completed and handed in, all labs must be attended, and a minimum grade of 1.0 in the combined lecture/lab and project portions of the course must be achieved.

Late lab reports and assignments are not graded, and a zero mark is assigned. Any in-class assignment or quiz that is missed due to tardiness or unexcused absenteeism will result in a zero. Any student who misses any lab activity for any reason is expected to make up that activity with a project assigned by the instructor.

All reports, assignments and exams are graded on a percentage (%) basis and a total course percentage is calculated using the above weighting values. Finally, the total course percentage is converted to a letter grade using the following scheme:

• Official final grades will be available on My Lakeland. Grades posted in D2L should be considered interim grades.  
• “Lakeland College is committed to the highest academic standards. Students are expected to be familiar with Lakeland College policies and to abide by these policies. Violations of these policies are considered to be serious and may result in suspension or expulsion from the College.”  

Students must maintain a cumulative grade of C (GPA - Grade Point Average of 2.00) in order to qualify to graduate.

Every effort has been made to ensure that information in this course outline is accurate at the time of publication. Lakeland College reserves the right to change courses if it becomes necessary so that course content remains relevant.

In such cases, the instructor will give students clear and timely notice of changes.

No part of this course outline may be reproduced in any form or resold without written permission from Lakeland College.

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