SC 329 - Fundamentals of Restoration Ecology

3 Credits

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

1. assess the physical and biological components and processes in degraded riparian, wetland, aquatic, forest, and grassland ecosystems.
2. collect baseline ecological data from reference ecosystems to identify essential ecological processes and the composition of native communities.
3. relate ecological restoration to other habitat conservation initiatives.
4. identify and mitigate human-caused and natural sources of disruption to functioning ecosystems.
5. assess damage to soil resources, hydrological features, and other primary processes operating in functioning ecosystems, and apply specialized techniques to mitigate that damage.
6. select appropriate planting materials to reestablish native plant communities by formulating species mixtures that ensure species and genetic diversity.
7. apply principles of functional diversity, functional redundancy, and community assembly.
8. utilize effective approaches to site preparation, seedbed management, and the various planting strategies and practices associated with reestablishing native plant communities.
9. ensure local site conditions facilitate the germination, growth, and establishment of restored plant communities.
10. plan and carry out restoration activities in degraded natural areas and evaluate project success with respect to stated goals and objectives.

Smreciu, A., H. Sinton, D. Walker, and J. Bietz. 2003. Establishing native plant communities. Alberta Agriculture, 

Food and Rural Development, Edmonton, AB.

Gramineae Services Ltd. 2013. Recovery strategies for industrial development in native prairie for the dry mixed grass natural subregion 

of Alberta. Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Edmonton, AB. (pdf available online)

Neville, M., J. Lancaster, B. Adams, and P. Desserud. 2014. Recovery strategies for industrial development in native prairie for the mixed grass natural 

subregion of Alberta. Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Edmonton, AB. (pdf available online)

Recommended Resource Material:

Lancaster, J., M. Neville, P. Desserud, V. Craig, R. Adams, B. Adams and J. Woosaree. 2014. Long-term revegetation success

of industry reclamation techniques for native grassland for the northern fescue natural subregion. 

Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada, Calgary, AB. (pdf available online)

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.

Reference Texts:

Alberta Land Conservation and Reclamation Council Report No. RRTAC 89-4 p. 436. 1989. Manual of plant species suitability for reclamation 

in Alberta. 2nd ed. Hardy BBT Limited, Edmonton, AB.

Falk, D.A., M.A. Palmer, and J.B. Zedler. 2006. Foundations of Restoration Ecology. Island Press. Washington, D.C.

Jordan III, W.R., M.E. Gilpin, and J.D. Aber. 1990. Restoration Ecology: a synthetic approach to ecological research. Cambridge; 

NY: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

Tannas K. 2001. Common plants of the western rangelands. Volume I and II. Alberta Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development. Edmonton, AB.

Wruck, G., and A. Hammermeister. 2003. Prairie roots: a handbook for native prairie restoration. Native Plant Society of 

Saskatchewan Inc., Saskatoon, SK.

Whisenant, S.G. 1999. Repairing damaged wildlands: A process-oriented, landscape-scale approach. Cambridge; NY: 

Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, UK.

Optional Resource Materials:
None

Conduct of Course:
This course consists of approximately 42 hours of lecture and 28 hours of lab.

The lecture is a formalized classroom situation where the instructor discusses pertinent topics and students normally take notes. Students are encouraged to participate in class discussion and to ask questions to clarify subject areas.

The laboratory component focuses on field trips, field tours, and field exercises that practically apply the theory discussed in lecture. Assignments are made for each laboratory activity.

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 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:

The lecture topics may include the following and may vary in order depending on availability of field visits, guest lectures, and conference opportunities.

Lecture:

1. Overview of ecological restoration
2. Understanding disturbance
3. Pre-Disturbance Planning
4. Site and element conservation
5. Site preparation characteristics and management
6. Introduction to establishing native communities
7. Managing and monitoring the establishment of plant communities
8. Case studies in restoration ecology

Laboratory:

The labs in this course emphasize field tours and exercises. As such, changes in scheduling may occur due to inclement weather, changes to the schedule of the host, restrictions to site access, availability of specific projects on any given year, etc. The actual lab tours and exercises are not restricted but may incorporate one or more of the following:

1. Inventory of reference ecosystems
2. Native Grassland Detailed Site Assessment
3. Use of the Alberta Wetland Rapid Evaluation Tool (ABWRET)
4. Invasive species inventories, mapping, and control
5. Monitoring and evaluation of restoration projects
6. Calculating seed mixes and purchasing plant material
7. Native seed collection and planting techniques
8. Restoration of wetland and riparian habitats
9. Restoration of industrial development
10. Prescribed fire as an ecosystem management tool

To obtain credit for this course:

• All projects and assignments must be completed and handed in.
• All lab activities must be attended in the required time slot. An absence excused or unexcused will result in a zero for the absence lab.
• Students who are absent during in-class assignments, quizzes and labs will not typically be allowed to make up these exercises for marks but may be required to complete them for learning practice.
• A minimum grade of D (50%) is required.
• Late assignments and projects are not graded and a mark of 0 is assigned.

All exams, reports, projects, and assignments are graded on a percentage (%) basis. Then 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.

Exam II is a cumulative exam including all material covered in the course including that covered on Exam I.

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.