BIOL 4195 - Field Botany

(3) Credit Hours

This course is designed to help mature developing field biologists / environmental consultants with respect to botany (and other field-based disciplines) or to give those with little experience the basics of field botany. It is also designed to give experiences to those looking to fields such as environmental consultant or employee of environmental governmental organizations (e.g., TVA, NFS, NPS, State Parks). The primary objectives of this course are to: (1.) learn common native and naturalized vascular plant species of our region and to learn how to properly identify these species. Training will go beyond memorizing names and focus on keying out species in scientific manuals; (2.) gain experience with how to identify, treat, and document several rare species in the Southern Appalachians; (3.) learn how to properly collect, document, and process (press, dry, label, mount, file) plant specimens from the field and build the collections at both UTC and HBS. In doing this we will also collect non-rare plant species in multiples to produce duplicate specimens for exchange, which will further build the UTC herbarium; (4.) learn how to properly use an herbarium/museum for aid in scientific determination of species and as a resource to understand the threatened and endangered species of a study area; (5.) learn the major ecological systems in our area; and (6.) learn basic plant community surveying techniques. Lecture 2 hour, laboratory 3 hours. Pre or Corequisites: BIOL 3060 or BIOL 3350 or BIOL 3250 with a minimum grade of C. Laboratory/studio course fee will be assessed. An additional Biology course fee will be assessed.