ESCI 410 FOREST-FISH INTERACTIONS
Huxley College of the Environment
Western Washington University
Winter 2009
Instructor: James M. Helfield
Office: ES 338
Tel: 650-7285
Email: james.helfield@wwu.edu
Office hrs: W
2:30 – 3:30 pm or by appt.
Lectures: MWF 1:00 – 1:50 pm, OM 587
Course Objectives:
Forestry and fisheries have
played an important role in the cultural and economic development of the
Pacific Northwest (PNW) since the beginnings of human settlement in the
region. In recent decades, we have
become increasingly aware of the interconnectedness of these two industries and
the ecosystems on which they are based. This
course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the principles
of river and riparian ecology and the ways in which various land use practices
affect stream ecosystems and salmonid fish populations in the PNW. The overall objective is to help students
become informed, critical thinkers able to predict the potential effects of
various land use practices and to evaluate strategies for the protection and
restoration of salmonid fish habitat.
Prerequisites:
ESCI 310 Environmental
Systems or ESCI 325 Fundamentals of Ecology or instructor permission
Readings and Course Materials:
There is no required text for
this course, although various books, articles and reports will be cited and/or recommended
during lectures. Readings and other
course materials can be downloaded from the ESCI
410 Blackboard site.
Assignments
and Grading:
Final grades will be based on the following:
Midterm
quiz 25%
Group
Project 35%
Oral Presentation (15%)
Written Report (20%)
Final Exam 30%
Participation 10%
Total: 100%
Late assignments will be
penalized 5% per day if turned in without a valid excuse. Students who miss a test without a valid
excuse will be given a grade of 0% for that test. If you have a valid excuse for missing a test
or a deadline, you should contact the instructor beforehand so that alternate
arrangements can be made.
Letter grades will be
assigned as follows:
|
Grade
% |
Grade
% |
Grade
% |
Grade
% |
Grade
% |
|
|
B+ 87 – 89.9 |
C+ 77 – 79.9 |
D+ 67 – 69.9 |
F 0 – 59.9 |
|
A 93
– 100 |
B 83 – 86.9 |
C 73 – 76.9 |
D 63 – 66.9 |
|
|
A- 90 – 92.9 |
B- 80 – 82.9 |
C- 70 – 72.9 |
D- 60 – 62.9 |
|
Schedule:
|
Week |
Date |
Topic |
|
1 |
W 1/7 |
Salmonocentrism: Introduction to the Course |
|
|
F 1/9 |
Overview of Stream Ecology |
|
2 |
M 1/12 |
PNW Stream Fish Communities |
|
W 1/14 |
Pacific Salmon I: Basic
Salmon Ecology |
|
|
|
F 1/16 |
Pacific Salmon II: Life
Histories |
|
3 |
M 1/19 |
no class (Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day) |
|
|
W 1/21 |
Pacific Salmon III: Factors
Affecting Growth and Survival |
|
|
F 1/23 |
Pacific Salmon III: Factors
Affecting Growth and Survival (cont’d) |
|
4 |
M 1/26 |
Riparian Ecology I: Definitions
and General Principles |
|
|
W 1/28 |
Riparian Ecology II:
Riparian Functions and Large Woody Debris |
|
|
F 1/30 |
MIDTERM QUIZ |
|
5 |
M 2/2 |
Effects of Timber Harvesting
on Streams and Fish |
|
|
W 2/4 |
Effects of Timber
Harvesting on Streams and Fish (cont’d) |
|
|
F 2/6 |
Agriculture and Urbanization |
|
6 |
M 2/9 |
Riparian Buffers |
|
|
W 2/11 |
PNW Forest-Fish Legislation |
|
|
F 2/13 |
Group Project
Assignments |
|
7 |
M 2/16 |
no class (President’s Day) |
|
|
W 2/18 |
Group Project Workshop |
|
|
F 2/20 |
Case Study: Chehalis River 2007 Flood |
|
8 |
M 2/23 |
Habitat Restoration in the
Nooksack basin (M. Maudlin, Lummi Natural Resources) |
|
|
W 2/25 |
Habitat Restoration in
Northern Sweden: The EVP Project |
|
|
F 2/27 |
Alternative Approaches to
Sustainable Forestry (J. Tuxill, Fairhaven College) |
|
9 |
M 3/2 |
Habitat Restoration in
Whatcom County (R. Vasak, NSEA) |
|
|
W 3/4 |
GROUP PROJECT PRESENTATIONS |
|
|
F 3/6 |
GROUP PROJECT PRESENTATIONS (CONT’D) |
|
Dead |
M 3/9 |
Salmon, Bear and Riparian
Vegetation |
|
|
W 3/11 |
Jobs vs. The Environment |
|
|
F 3/13 |
Loose Ends, Summary and
Review; GROUP PROJECT REPORTS DUE |
|
Finals |
W 3/18 |
FINAL EXAM 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM |