[SRM] FW: New Course - Fall '24 WFSC 596B-002 - A Rangeland Ecology Primer

[Fehmi, Jeffrey S - (jfehmi)]

From: SNREinstructors <snreinstructors-bounces at list.cals.arizona.edu> On Behalf Of Cross, Debbie - (debbiecross)
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2024 8:25 AM
To: Cross, Debbie - (debbiecross) <debbiecross at arizona.edu>; snregrads-request at list.arizona.edu; snreinstructors at list.cals.arizona.edu
Subject: Re: [SNREinstructors] New Course - Fall '24 WFSC 596B-002 - A Rangeland Ecology Primer


NEW Course - Fall 2024!


WFSC 596B-002 (UA) A Rangeland Ecology Primer
Instructor: Courtney Duchardt (cduchardt at arizona.edu<mailto:cduchardt at arizona.edu>)

[A landscape with a large field and a mountain in the background    Description automatically generated]
Course Overview: Rangeland management practices are thousands of years old, but the discipline of rangeland ecology is much younger, tracing its roots to Clementsian theory of succession and community structure in the early 20th century. However, because this discipline is at its core an applied science, an understanding of its current application is nearly impossible without understanding the socioeconomic and cultural forces that have shaped it. This discussion course is separated into three parts, first focusing on the ecological and evolutionary interactions shaping rangeland systems, then discussing the history of rangeland management and finally the on-the-ground application in rangeland ecosystems. Readings in the course will consist of peer-reviewed literature, extension bulletins, and the book The Politics of Scale: A History of Rangeland Science by Nathan Sayre. Each student will be expected to lead 1-2 discussions, to complete readings and participate in all discussions during weekly 1.5 hr meetings. In addition to presentations and discussion, knowledge will be evaluated during a (friendly!!) group oral midterm and final, and at least two short papers. This course is built for graduate students working in rangeland ecosystems but without traditional training in rangeland management, but may also be appropriate for upper-level range or wildlife undergraduate students interested in broader impacts of this field.
Course Structure: This course is being offered both to graduate students at University of Arizona and Oklahoma State University, and thus will be virtual. Class will meet once per week (1.5 hrs) via Zoom, with the remaining 1.5 hrs devoted to independent study. Class time will be determined based on a poll of participants at least one week ahead of classes starting - students should contact Courtney (cduchardt at arizona.edu<mailto:cduchardt at arizona.edu>) no later than August 14th if interested in enrolling, to ensure inclusion in the poll.

Core Topics:

(Weeks 1-3) SECTION 1: SCIENCE OF RANGE
What is a rangeland, and what evolutionary drivers have shaped and continue to shape these ecosystems?

(Weeks 4 - 5) SECTION 2: HISTORY OF RANGELAND MANAGEMENT (USA focus)
What are the social and political factors that have shaped rangelands, especially in North America?

(Weeks 6 - semester end) SECTION 3: PRAGMATISM
How do we manage rangelands? How does this differ regionally, and culturally, and where does the science fit in?



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