BIOL 351 - Plant Biodiversity and Conservation

The extraordinary diversity of the southern Appalachians will serve as a backdrop to explore the world of plants. We will visit unique regional mountain habitats to develop an appreciation for the different species assemblages in these ecologically wide-ranging sites. Issues at these sites concerning conservation of biodiversity will be explored. The methodology and management activities of state and federal agencies involved in conservation will be examined to evaluate their effectiveness. Based upon our observations and analyses, we will critique contemporary views of the most effective conservation units (individual, population, species, family, habitat, etc.) and the methods used to achieve the goals of the conservation community.

Prerequisites & Notes
Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor. Enrollment limited to 12 students.

Credits: 4