Spring 2008; 3 Credits

Instructor: Dr. Linda H. Hardesty
Johnson Hall 121
Phone: 335-6632
lhardest@wsu.edu

Teaching Assistant: Ms. Suzanne Canwell
Johnson Hall 125
335-2221

Website: http://www.natural-resources.wsu.edu/Teaching/Classes/nrs455.htm

Click here for pdf version of syllabus.

SYLLABUS

Course Objectives

1. Students will know what rangelands are, where they occur and understand their values as ecosystems and to people.
2. Students will understand the basic ecological principles that determine rangeland characteristics and function.
3. Students will learn common manage me nt strategies for water, wildlife habitat, agricultural and other uses of rangelands.
4. Students will consider sustainability issues related to rangelands and their use.
5. Students will get experience with typical procedures for evaluating rangeland health and productivity.

Instructor:
Dr. Linda H. Hardesty Please call me Linda
Johnson Hall 121
335-6632
lhardest@wsu.edu

Teaching assistant
Ms. Susanne Canwell
Johnson Hall 125
335-2221

Office hours:
I have a heavy travel schedule. You are welcome to stop by the office, but appointments are encouraged. E-mail and phone calls are also encouraged.

Text:
There is no text. You will be given readings in class, or they will be posted on the class website
http://www.natural-resources.wsu.edu/Teaching/Classes/nrs455.htm

Evaluation:

Quizzes 35%
Homework 35%
Projects 10%
Field trips 10%
Attendance and participation 10%
Optional Final 0-10%

Course Policies:

Academic integrity - I expect adherence to the student code of conduct. If you have questions about this or concerns about some thing that occurs in class, please let me know. Active learning - This is not a lecture and regurgitate class. I will prepare materials to help you learn through a variety of activities that will guide you through the material by applying it and working with it. Some activities will be more natural to you than others, but each addresses a particular learning style or task. Most students prefer this once they get used to it. You will do best if you always co me to class prepared and are open to new activities and expectations.
Attendance - Attendance is not taken, but I do notice who attends regularly. You are the only person who can determine your priorities, but if you are absent, it is your responsibility to get the material and make up the work promptly. If you have a substantial problem arise that will affect your attendance or learning, please let me know as soon as possible so that we can work out a satisfactory arrange me nt to keep you on track.
Disability - I have a particular interest in working with disabled students If you have a disability, please let me know how I can help you participate and learn as effectively as possible.
Homework and presentations - You are expected to produce professional quality products: on-time , well organized, properly spelled and printed with a listing of all references used. Be sure to keep back-ups of all of your work. Late work will be graded, but docked as appropriate.
Nourishment – Coming to class so early in the winter and sitting in a basement room is gruesome. You are welcome to bring something to drink or eat as long as you clean up afterward.
Teamwork - A class is a team, as everyone learns best when all are actively participating. This is the professional standard of the workplace, and the one we will apply here. This me ans that everyone is expected to help the others learn and perform well. This includes coming to class prepared, interacting respectfully, and consistently contributing more than your share to group projects. This is the type of behavior employers expect and that faculty often include in letters of recommendation. Your professional reputation begins before you leave school, and this is the perfect place to establish a solid reputation. Anytime you are not clear what is expected, please ask.  

Topics

Week-Topic

1.  Introduction

2.  Global rangelands

3. American rangelands

4. Independent work on group projects

5. Review principles of ecology

6. Rangeland ecology

7. Soil surveys and ecological sites

8. Group project presentations

9. Ecosystem services

10. BREAK

11. Basic plant physiology

12. Grazing animal nutrition and behavior

13. Planned grazing

14. Rangeland health

15. Sustainability

READINGS

Click here for Chapter 4, Description of Rangeland Types, in Holochek, J. L., R. D. Pieper and C. H. Herbal. 2004. Range Management Principles and Practices, 5 th Ed. Pearson Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Click here for Chapter 5, Ecology in Relationship to Grazing, in Stoddart, L.A., A.D. Smith, and T.W. Box. 1975. Range Management, 3ed Ed. McGraw-Hill Book Co.: New York.

Click here for Grass: The Stockman's Crop

Click here for Web Soil Survey

RANGELAND TYPE GROUP PROJECT

Click here for Kansas draft

Click here for Nebraska draft

Click here for North Dakota draft

Click here for Ecology Study Guide

Click here for Written Score sheet