I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Wetland Ecology

2. Course Prefix & Number:
NATR 2120

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 2

Lab Hours: 3

4. Course Description:

This course covers the biological, physical, and chemical interactions in wetlands. It includes delineation, classification systems, and plant and animal identification.

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

2. Transfer - regional institutions with which this course has a written articulation agreement:

Name of Institution	Date of Acceptance	Discipline/Area/Program of Transfer
University of Minnesota Crookston	March 2010	Natural Resources Management
University of Wisconsin Steven’s Point	2007-2009	Natural Resources Management

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course fulfills a requirement for the following program(s):

Natural Resources Technology, AAS

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate written communication skills	Research and compose papers on various aspects of wetland ecology.
Apply ethical principles in decision-making	Examine the legislation regarding the management of wetlands.
Work as a team member to achieve shared goals	Prepare a research paper and do fieldwork to create a wetland delineation.
Discuss/compare characteristics of diverse cultures and environments	Examine values and management of wetlands across the globe and on an international scale.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Examine and determine wetlands values in the US and across the globe.
• Analyze the key biological components of what makes a wetland.
• Design and be able to implement a wetland delineation.
• Synthesize the 8 different wetland types found on the Minnesota landscape according to Minnesota DNR standards.
• Analyze the jurisdictional responsibilities and enforcement of federal and state wetland legislation and policy.
• Identify and classify Minnesota wetland plants.
• Describe differences in wetlands based on their geographic location.
• Understand the hydrology and geomorphology of wetlands.
• Describe the historical context of wetlands nationally and internationally.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Introduction to Wetlands
• Human History, Use, and Science
• Wetland Definitions
• Wetlands of the World
2. The Wetland Environment
• Wetland Hydrology
• Wetland Biogeochemistry
• Biological Adaptations to the Wetland Environment
• Wetland Ecosystem Development
• Wetland Classification
3. Wetland Management
• Human Impacts and Management of Wetlands
• Climate Change and Wetlands
• Values and Valuation of Wetlands
• Wetland Creation and Restoration
• Treatment Wetlands
• Wetland Laws and Protection

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

1. Wetland Enrichment Activities
2. Aquatic Plant Identification
• Wetland Classification Field Trips
3. Wetland Project
• Aquatic Plant Collection
• Wetland Delineation Group Project
4. Mitigation Bank Field Trip
• Research wetland mitigation banks
5. Redox Potential
• Research redox potential
6. Field Identification of aquatic plants
• Wetland Plant Collection
7. Wetland Modeling