Mr. Hall
122 Yow Building
khall@abac.edu

 

FRSC 1190
NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION
(3 Semester Hours)

COURSE OBJECTIVE:     To focus on the history of resource use/abuse, analyze current status, and speculate on the future.

PREREQUISITES:            Exit Reading Learning Support

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:   None.  Supplemental handouts will be provided. 
     Suggested reading:    Looking for Longleaf:  the Fall and Rise of an American Forest
                                    L.S. Earley   ISBN 0-8078-2886-6
                                    Hope is the Thing with Feathers:  a Chronicle of Vanished Birds
                                    C. Cokinos  ISBN 1-58542-006-9
                                    Memoirs of a Naturalist
                                    Herbert L. Stoddard, Sr.  SBN 8061-0857-6

ATTENDANCE:                Students whose number of unexcused absences from class/lab exceeds four (4) will receive an "F" for the course.  Unexcused absences less than the maximum allowable will result in fractional participation deduction from the final grade.  For example, one unexcused absence out of four (4) maximum results in 25% participation penalty.  Students should advise the instructor of anticipated absences in advance when possible; informative messages may be left at (229)391-4800.  All excused absences must be accompanied by written documentation; final evaluation of excuse legitimacy resides with the instructor.

TARDINESS:                    A student entering class late will be considered absent for that day.  It is the sole
                                    responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of his/her tardiness so that
                                    absences are not inadvertently recorded.  Chronic tardiness will result in class
                                    participation penalty.

CHEATING:                    Automatic F for the course.

POLICY:                        Students will not be permitted to review their exams at any time other than the
                                    in-class review session (usually the next class period):  exams will NOT be
                                    available prior to finals.

GRADING SCALE:           90 - 100% = A
                                    80 -   89% = B
                                    70 -   79% = C
                                    65 -   69% = D
                                    Less than 65 = F

GRADE BASE:                Best three of four hourly exams (lowest score dropped)            60%
                                   FINAL EXAM (cumulative)                                                        35%
                                   Attendance, attitude, participation, behavior                            5%

NOTE:                        Missed exams may not be made-up.  Missed exam score will be the score dropped.
                                 No early or late final exams.  Final exam scores and course grades will not be posted.
                                 Exam dates will be announced well in advance.  Exams may include TRUE/FALSE,
                                 multiple choice, completion, and short essay-type questions.  Chronic misbehavior
                                 in class may result in forfeiture of some or all five (5) participation percentage
                                 points.

OFFICE HOURS:           Posted at Room 122 or by chance.

 


 

FRSC 1190 Natural Resource Conservation
COURSE OUTLINE

I.    INTRODUCTION
      A.    Human Population Explosion, Pollution, Resource Consumption                              CH 4
      B.    History of American Conservation:  Roosevelt, Pinchot, and other Pioneers            CH 1
      C.    Important Legislation

II.    ECOLOGICAL CONCEPTS                                                                                            CH 3
       A.    Ecological pyramid:  food chains and webs
       B.    Ecological succession
       C.    Ecosystem concept:  interrelated cycles

III.    ATMOSPHERE                                                                                                        CH 18 & 19
        A.    Technological/Industrial Revolution
        B.    Acid Rain
        C.    Greenhouse Effect/"Global Warming"
        D.    Ozone Depletion

IV.    SOIL                                                                                                                    CH 6 & 7
        A.    Formative Processes
        B.    Basic Properties/Horizons
        C.    Agricultural management of soils
        D.    Woodland management of soils; BMPs and SMZs

V.    WATER                                                                                                                CH 10 & 11
        A.    Availability and Importance
        B.    Hydrologic Cycle
        C.    Management - Dams, Channelization, Irrigation
        D.    Pollutants - Organic wastes, sediments, heavy metals, pesticides, etc.

VI.    FORESTS                                                                                                               CH 14
        A.    Importance of forest products to economy
        B.    Silvicultural techniques:  Monoculture, clearcutting, and other controversial aspects
        C.    Introduction to Forest Insects and Disease
        D.    Wildfire:  Shifting Attitudes and Management
        E.    Prescribed Burning:  the Herb Stoddard Story
        F.    Future Production Demands/Sources of Fiber

VII.    WILDLIFE                                                                                                            CH 15 & 16
        A.    Importance - Aesthetic, Recreational, Bio-indicators of Ecosystem health, Economics
        B.    Extinctions and Extirpations
                1.    Important factors
                2.    Historical case studies:  passenger pigeon, heath hen, Carolina parakeet, ivory-billed
                        woodpecker, Eastern elk
        C.    Endangered Species Act
        D.    Habitat Management:  Food, Water, Cover, Space
        E.    History of Habitat Modification/Fragmentation
        F.    The Concept of Keystone Species

VIII.    URBAN FORESTRY/URBAN WILDLIFE
         A.    Relevancy/Benefits
         B.    Differences and Similarities to Rural Landscape Management

IX.    EXOTIC SPECIES MANAGEMENT
        A.    The few success stories
        B.    The MANY problem species:  birds, fish, plants, fungi
        C.     Biodiversity issues

X.    THE INEVITABLE MANAGEMENT CONFLICTS

 

updated:  08/05