Students are introduced to the ecology and management of typical forest landscapes in Southwest Germany and the Swiss Alps. Following the gradient of elevation, students study flood plain forests in the Rhine valley, mountain forest ecosystems in the Black Forest and alpine forests in the Swiss Alps. Students analyze the structure and dynamics of typical forest ecosystems of Central Europe. They learn to understand that current forest landscapes are a result of the interaction between natural and anthropogenic factors on various scales in time and space. The course includes several one-day excursions, field trainings and a three-day field study trip to the Swiss Alps.
Prerequisites:
Basic knowledge of ecology/natural resource management
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
analyze the structure and dynamics of forest ecosystems
understand historical and current forest management practices in Central Europe
understand the current forest landscapes as a result of the interactions between natural and anthropogenic factors
discuss regional concepts of nature protection and nature reserves
assess ecological risks and opportunities under changing environmental conditions
communicate the gained knowledge in oral (short presentation, discussions) and written form (field report, learning journal).
Method of presentation:
The course will be a combination of lectures, contributions of students (presentations), discussions and several field study trips.
Required work and form of assessment:
Short presentation based on assigned literature, field trip reports, learning journal; compulsory attendance at all field study trips; final grades are based on short presentation (20%), field trip reports (40%) and learning journal (40%).
content:
1st week
Mon
- Welcome and introduction to course resources
- Introduction to the (bio)geography of Southwest Germany
- Assignment of readings and topics for short presentations
Reading: Ellenberg, H. (2009): Chapter A I and Chapter A II
Tue
- Student presentations
- Introduction to the ecology and management (EM) of flood plain forests in the Upper Rhine Valley
Reading: Ellenberg, H. (2009): Chapter B V
Wed
-Field trip to flood plain forests (nature reserve “Taubergießen”)
Thu
-Field training “analyzing the structure and dynamics” of managed lowland forests close to Freiburg (Mooswald)
Reading: Pro Silva (1999): Brochure “close to nature forest management”
Fri
- Writing report and learning journal
2nd week
Mon
- Student presentations
- Introduction to the EM of mountain forest ecosystems in the Western Black Forest
Reading: Ellenberg, H. (2009): Chapter B I
Tue
- Hiking tour through various forest ecosystems along an elevational gradient
Wed
- Student presentations
- Current challenges for EM of forests in Central Europe (e.g. climate change, deposition regime)
Reading: Spiecker, H. (2003)
Thu
- Field trip to the ecosystem case study “Conventwald”
Reading: v. Wilpert, K., Zirlewagen D., Kohler, M. (2000)
Fri
- Writing report and learning journal
3rd week
Mon
- Student presentations
- Introduction to the (bio)geography of the Swiss Alps
Reading: Schumacher, S., Bugmann, H. (2006)
Tue Wed Thu
Field trip to the Swiss Alps:
- Impact of climate change on alpine (forest) ecosystems
- Management of protection forests and alpine nature reserves
- Conflict of interests/synergies between tourism and nature protection
Fri
- Writing report and learning journal
Required readings:
Ellenberg, H. (2009): Vegetation ecology of Central Europe. Cambridge Univ. Press, 4th ed.: Chapter A I: The vegetation of Central Europe in general (pp1-13); Chapter A II: The development of the plant cover under the influence of man (pp 14-42); Chapter B I: General view of the Central European woodlands (pp 43-70); Chapter B V: Tree and shrub vegetation of flood plains and peat lands (pp 243-282). Pro Silva (1999): Brochure “close to nature forest management”.
PRO SILVA: European federation of foresters advocating forest management based on natural processes (ed.), 1-12. http://www.prosilvaeurope.org[2]
Schumacher, S., Bugmann, H. (2006): The relative importance of climatic effects, wildfires and management for future forest landscape dynamics in the Swiss Alps. Global Change Biology, 12/8, 1435-1450.
Spiecker, H. (2003): Silvicultural management in maintaining biodiversity and resistance of forests in Europe (temperate zone). Journal of Environmental Management 67, 55–65.
v. Wilpert, K., Zirlewagen D., Kohler, M. (2000): To what extend can silviculture enhance sustainability of forest sites under the immission regime in Central Europe? Water, Air and Soil Pollution. Vol 122/1-2, 105-120.
Recommended readings:
Ellenberg, H. (2009): Vegetation ecology of Central Europe. Cambridge Univ. Press, 4th ed.: Chapter B II: Beech and mixed Beech woods (pp 71-138); Chapter B III: Other deciduous woodland excluding flood plains and mires (pp 139-190).
Glatzel, G. (1991): The impact of historic land use and modern forestry on nutrient relations of Central European forest ecosystems. Fertilizer Research, 27, 1-8.
Pommering A., Murphy, S. T. (2004): A review of the history, definitions and methods of continuous cover forestry with special attention to afforestation and restocking. Forestry, 77/1, 29-43.
Ecology And Management Of Forest Landscapes In Southwest Germany And The Swiss Alps
Students are introduced to the ecology and management of typical forest landscapes in Southwest Germany and the Swiss Alps. Following the gradient of elevation, students study flood plain forests in the Rhine valley, mountain forest ecosystems in the Black Forest and alpine forests in the Swiss Alps. Students analyze the structure and dynamics of typical forest ecosystems of Central Europe. They learn to understand that current forest landscapes are a result of the interaction between natural and anthropogenic factors on various scales in time and space. The course includes several one-day excursions, field trainings and a three-day field study trip to the Swiss Alps.
Basic knowledge of ecology/natural resource management
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
The course will be a combination of lectures, contributions of students (presentations), discussions and several field study trips.
Short presentation based on assigned literature, field trip reports, learning journal; compulsory attendance at all field study trips; final grades are based on short presentation (20%), field trip reports (40%) and learning journal (40%).
1st week
Mon
- Welcome and introduction to course resources
- Introduction to the (bio)geography of Southwest Germany
- Assignment of readings and topics for short presentations
Reading: Ellenberg, H. (2009): Chapter A I and Chapter A II
Tue
- Student presentations
- Introduction to the ecology and management (EM) of flood plain forests in the Upper Rhine Valley
Reading: Ellenberg, H. (2009): Chapter B V
Wed
-Field trip to flood plain forests (nature reserve “Taubergießen”)
Thu
-Field training “analyzing the structure and dynamics” of managed lowland forests close to Freiburg (Mooswald)
Reading: Pro Silva (1999): Brochure “close to nature forest management”
Fri
- Writing report and learning journal
2nd week
Mon
- Student presentations
- Introduction to the EM of mountain forest ecosystems in the Western Black Forest
Reading: Ellenberg, H. (2009): Chapter B I
Tue
- Hiking tour through various forest ecosystems along an elevational gradient
Wed
- Student presentations
- Current challenges for EM of forests in Central Europe (e.g. climate change, deposition regime)
Reading: Spiecker, H. (2003)
Thu
- Field trip to the ecosystem case study “Conventwald”
Reading: v. Wilpert, K., Zirlewagen D., Kohler, M. (2000)
Fri
- Writing report and learning journal
3rd week
Mon
- Student presentations
- Introduction to the (bio)geography of the Swiss Alps
Reading: Schumacher, S., Bugmann, H. (2006)
Tue Wed Thu
Field trip to the Swiss Alps:
- Impact of climate change on alpine (forest) ecosystems
- Management of protection forests and alpine nature reserves
- Conflict of interests/synergies between tourism and nature protection
Fri
- Writing report and learning journal
Ellenberg, H. (2009): Vegetation ecology of Central Europe. Cambridge Univ. Press, 4th ed.: Chapter A I: The vegetation of Central Europe in general (pp1-13); Chapter A II: The development of the plant cover under the influence of man (pp 14-42); Chapter B I: General view of the Central European woodlands (pp 43-70); Chapter B V: Tree and shrub vegetation of flood plains and peat lands (pp 243-282). Pro Silva (1999): Brochure “close to nature forest management”.
PRO SILVA: European federation of foresters advocating forest management based on natural processes (ed.), 1-12.
http://www.prosilvaeurope.org [2]
Schumacher, S., Bugmann, H. (2006): The relative importance of climatic effects, wildfires and management for future forest landscape dynamics in the Swiss Alps. Global Change Biology, 12/8, 1435-1450.
Spiecker, H. (2003): Silvicultural management in maintaining biodiversity and resistance of forests in Europe (temperate zone). Journal of Environmental Management 67, 55–65.
v. Wilpert, K., Zirlewagen D., Kohler, M. (2000): To what extend can silviculture enhance sustainability of forest sites under the immission regime in Central Europe? Water, Air and Soil Pollution. Vol 122/1-2, 105-120.
Ellenberg, H. (2009): Vegetation ecology of Central Europe. Cambridge Univ. Press, 4th ed.: Chapter B II: Beech and mixed Beech woods (pp 71-138); Chapter B III: Other deciduous woodland excluding flood plains and mires (pp 139-190).
Glatzel, G. (1991): The impact of historic land use and modern forestry on nutrient relations of Central European forest ecosystems. Fertilizer Research, 27, 1-8.
Pommering A., Murphy, S. T. (2004): A review of the history, definitions and methods of continuous cover forestry with special attention to afforestation and restocking. Forestry, 77/1, 29-43.