SC 470 - Applied Techniques in Restoration

3 Credits

Applied restoration ecology provides students with an advanced and applied understanding of current techniques. The course addresses how practical restoration techniques are applied based on scientific, environmental, and social considerations. Students develop critical thinking and analytical decision making skills through scientific review, case studies and discussion.

Rationale:

This is a required course for second year students enrolled in the Land Stewardship and Conservation major of the Environmental Science Diploma. Impacts of natural and anthropogenic disturbances causing ecological changes challenge the integrity of biodiversity, ecological services and human well-being. The multidisciplinary field of restoration ecology addresses these ecological issues with the aim to assist and enhance the return of previous ecological function in a degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystem. Restoration ecology is a developing science in which success can be uncertain, requiring applied problem solving. Practitioners need to connect cause and effect within these damaged ecosystems to assess each situation and use knowledge of ecosystem function to develop adaptable and practical plans for restoration. This is done using current research, case studies and discussion to identify approaches for successful practices. This course uses these resources to investigate and learn current techniques in the practice of ecological restoration in a variety of biophysical settings.

Prerequisites: SC 329 , SO 340 
Corequisites: None

Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to

1. assess environmental factors and elements of successful versus failed restoration projects.
2. make decisions for implementing restoration strategies, measuring and monitoring ecological outcomes of restored ecosystem through case studies and literature reviews.
3. critique current uncertainties in restoration ecology and suggest key ecological questions that should be addressed to improve restoration.
4. propose technical solutions and management approaches to overcome challenges in ecological restoration.
5. investigate applied and advanced techniques to restore and repair specific habitats such as grassland, forest, wetland and riparian, river and wildlife.
6. apply advanced techniques and practices and select appropriate methods and tools for designing and conducting restoration projects.
7. critique and evaluate case studies to synthesize lessons regarding advanced knowledge in restoration ecology.
8. achieve professional skills in reading, analyzing, writing and discussing ecological restoration from multiple disciplinary perspectives.
9. apply learning outcomes to assignments, the final exam, professional communication and creative design of restoration projects.
10. adapt and respond to future development of restoration ecology techniques and solutions through continued education and innovation.

Required readings for each lecture discussion is posted on D2L in advance of class. Students need to read these materials prior to class to prepare for discussion, and students are tested on these readings on the exams. There is no required textbook for this course; however, you are required to research, read and discuss case studies from scientific journal, technical and project reports. Several texts are recommended for students who need extra help or review of the theories covered in this class.

Required reading list:

A variety of publications are provided for the student by the instructor. Required and recommended sources such as texts, web sources, databases, journals and other are presented in class and shared through the online learning platform.

Optional Resource Materials:
Recommended texts

Gerling, H.S.; et al. 1996. A guide to using native plants on disturbed lands. Agriculture, Food

     and Rural Development and Alberta Environmental Protection, Edmonton, AB.

MacKenzie D. 2012. Best Management Practices for conservation of reclamation materials 

in the Mineable Oil Sands Region of Alberta. Alberta Environment and Water.

Sinton-Gerling H. (ed.), Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and Alberta. (2001).

Native Plant Revegetation Guidelines for Alberta. Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural

Development; Alberta Environment.

Smreciu, A., H. Sinton, D. Walker, and J. Bietz, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural

Development. 2003. Establishing native plant communities. Alberta Agriculture, Food and

Rural Development.

Whisenant, S.G. 1999. Repairing damaged wildlands: a process-oriented, landscape-scale

approach. Cambridge; UK: Cambridge University Press.

Conduct of Course:

This course consists of approximately 42 hours of lecture. The lecture is formalized classroom situation where the instructor introduces and discusses pertinent topics, students take notes, question and discuss during the lecture. Students are expected to participate in discussion and are responsible for specific topics in the course. In each study topic or each study week, journal articles and/or project reports are introduced by both the instructor and the students in which the student is assigned and is responsible for discussion of restoration techniques, limitations and solutions to overcome ecological issues. Students are expected to research and provide other related theories and journal articles or projects for class discussion. Students are required to attend lecture periods to contribute to class discussions and review of topic information.

Absence during in class assignments results in a grade of zero being assigned. Participation is evaluated in the class based on attendance and discussion. Specifics are discussed by the instructor. All material presented and discussed by the instructor and students is considered material for the exam.

Field trips, labs or conferences may be incorporated into the course. Students are required to participate and time may be given in lieu of time spent on other activities. Assignments are made for each study unit.

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.

1. 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).
2. 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 for 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:

The following are possible topics to be covered in class. Topic order may change due to exams, assignments or presentations. Within each heading are topics for study theories and case studies, research and discussion.

1. Adaptive management and evaluation of success in restoration
2. Techniques in grasslands restoration
3. Techniques in mixed wood forest restoration
4. Techniques in boreal forest restoration
5. Techniques in non peatland (mineral wetland) restoration
6. Techniques in peatland restoration
7. Techniques in stream and river restoration

There is no lab in this course, but the field tours and attending workshops/conferences may be included. The exercises and assignments are not restricted but may include the following:

1. Exploring ecological indicators of different restored habitats
2. Eliminating invasive species and unwanted successional pathways
3. Reflection for professional practice in restoration ecology
4. Literature lists & reviews on restoration issues and solutions
5. Writing a formal technical report in restoration ecology
6. Group presentation on case studies

Assignments include written case studies, literature review and class presentation for selected topics in advanced restoration ecology. The final exam may contain discussion-type, scenario analysis, short answer, matching, true-false-justify, and multiple-choice questions. Exam material is based on that provided by the instructor, the case studies discussed, readings, and the student research presented in class.

The final grade for the course is weighted according to the following schedule:

To obtain credit for this course:

All assignments must be completed and handed in on time. Deadlines for submission of written work are non-negotiable. A deduction of 25% per day, including weekends, is applied to late submissions. Exceptions are made only for documented medical or compassionate reasons, attendance of academic conferences, job interviews or for other absences (i.e. field trips) that are required for study and professional careers. In such cases an email or letter must be provided by your instructor(s), supervisor (s), or medical officer. All assignments and exam 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 based on the college grade strip. A minimum grade of D (50%) is required to pass the course. Details of assignments and case study presentation, including deadlines, are announced in class.

Cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are unacceptable and are dealt with according to college regulations. It is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the College.

Course Pass Requirements:
A minimum grade of D (50%) (1.00) is required to pass this course. Students must maintain a cumulative grade of C (GPA - Grade Point Average of 2.00) in order to qualify to graduate.