Wetland Environments

J.S. Aber

Emporia State University


Catalog description: An interdisciplinary overview of physical, biological and cultural aspects of wetlands. Definitions, classifications, origins, and natural processes of wetland environments. Wetlands in boreal, temperate, and tropical climatic settings. Human impact and management of wetland resources. Three credit hours: lectures, exercises and field trips.

http://academic.emporia.edu/aberjame/wetland/

This course is intended for students majoring in biological, physical or social sciences with an interest in wetland environments and resources. Topics include the water, soils, plants and animals of wetland ecosystems. Human use, modification, exploitation, and management are examined along with legal and political aspects of wetlands. Field trips are conducted to Cheyenne Bottoms and other Kansas wetlands. Selected wetlands around the world are described from different climatic settings. The course is delivered for both on-campus and distance-learning students.

Course Procedures
Course requirements Wetland blog
Course schedule Title image
More online resources Team projects

Course availability

This course will be taught next in spring semester, 2012. Multiple course sections are available in biology (EB 341), earth science (ES 341/767) and geography (GE 341). Regular (on-campus) students should enroll through normal procedures. The course is also available for distance learning from Emporia State University. Off-campus students should enroll through Distance Education. Distance-learning students should enroll for ES 341 ZA (undergrad) or ES 767 XA (graduate). In order to receive university credit, students must be officially enrolled and must be in contact with the primary instructor for course materials and directions. BIS students must have the prerequisite noted above.

Wetland Environments
Spring 2012 Schedule
(tentative)

The on-campus wetlands class meets on Tuesday afternoons, 1:00 to 2:50 pm, in Science Hall (room 131). These sessions may be utilized for lecture, review, or lab exercises. However, online lectures and exercises may be done at any other time or location. Lecture notes and lab materials are available via Internet. On-campus students are expected to attend weekly; all students are expected to send weekly e-mail messages concerning course topics and to contribute material for the wetland blog. PDF files are provided via FTP.


First Block, Spring 2012
Week* Subject Reading Exercise
Jan. 11 Course orientation Preface, Chap. 1 No on-campus
class session
Jan. 17 Wetland definitions
and classifications 		Chapter 2
Wetland and peatland
Jan. 24 Wetland methods Chapter 3 Hydro data
resources
Jan. 31 Wetland hydrology Chapter 4
Canals and flooding 		Neosho River
flooding
Feb. 7 Wetland soils Chapter 5
History and wetland soils
Hydric soils
Feb. 14 Wetland plants Chapter 6
Wetland vegetation 		Wetland plants
wet_veg.pdf
Feb. 21 Wetland wildlife Chapter 7
Wetland wildlife
Feb. 28 Wetland change Chapter 8 Mid-term exam
Due March 1st

Second Block, Spring 2012
Week* Subject Reading Exercise
Mar. 6 Ancient wetlands
Cycles and feedback 		Chapters 9 & 10 Review exam
Mar. 13 Valuation and
Management 		Chapters 11 & 12
Management and policy 		EPA showcase
watersheds
Spring Break
Mar. 27 Restoration and
Governance 		Chapters 13 & 14 All labs due*
Apr. 3 Low-latitude wetlands Chapter 15, Tropical wetlands
Florida Everglades, South
Texas, Mississippi Delta 		Group projects
Apr. 10 Mid-latitude wetlands Chapter 16, Northern Plains
Central Plains, Baltic region 		Group projects
Apr. 17 Kansas wetlands Chapter 16
Cheyenne Bottoms 		Field trip
Apr. 20-21
Apr. 24 High-altitude wetlands
Wetland sustainability 		Chapters 17 & 18
Subalpine bogs 		Group projects
May 1 Group projects Presentations
May 8 Final exam (no class) Due on May 8th

* Dates refer to Tuesday class meetings (except first week).
All labs are due by the end of March--no exceptions.

ESU syllabus attachment.

Last update: November 2011.

© Notice: Wetland Environments is presented for the use and benefit of students enrolled at Emporia State University. Any other use of text, imagery or curriculum materials is prohibited without permission of the instructor, J.S. Aber (2011).