| Natural Resources |
NR 400 - Professional Perspectives in Natural Resources
Credits:
1.00
Lectures by departmental faculty provide an informal look
at the various natural resource disciplines and
professions represented by the Department of Natural
Resources. These presentations acquaint students with our
faculty and inform them of some of the exciting research
being undertaken in the department. Students also learn of
opportunities for professional involvement. Required for
all first-semester Natural Resources majors. Cr/F.
NR 401 - Introduction to Natural Resources
Credits:
4.00
Overview of the history, politics, economics, ethics, and
ecology involved with the conservation and management of
living and non-living natural resources. Sets the stage for
subsequent natural resource courses by introducing the
scientific basis for natural resource conservation and
management. Labs build confidence in map and compass work
and provide hands on field experience within the various
natural resource disciplines. Debates and discussions of
natural resource related hot topics provide opportunities
to practice public speaking, problem solving, and critical
thinking skills. Permission. Lab. Special fee.
NR 410 - Insects and Society
Credits:
4.00
Insects have had a major impact on human culture
throughout the centuries as source of food, an inspiration
in literature and art, and a driving force behind social
change. We study basic insect biology and ecology with a
focus on their relationships to humans. Special fee. Lab.
NR 415 - Global Biological Change
Credits:
4.00
Introduces the biological aspects of global change.
Includes historical and physical setting and emphasizes
current global biological issues including population
growth, land use and deforestation, biodiversity loss,
introduced species, industrial N fixation, changes to the
carbon cycle, and important interactions between the
biosphere hydrosphere and atmosphere.
NR 415H - Honors/Global Biological Change
Credits:
4.00
See description for NR 415.
NR 425 - Field Dendrology
Credits:
4.00
Students study forest trees in natural communities and
urban settings. Identification and nomenclature of
important North American trees and shrubs is emphasized.
Environmental factors influencing tree growth, combined
with study of disturbance history, provide the context for
understanding why tree species grow where they do. Students
are introduced to the major forest regions of North
America. Restricted to NR majors; others by permission.
Special fee.
NR 426 - Wood Science and Technology
Credits:
4.00
Wood microstructure and identification: physical,
chemical, and mechanical properties; characteristics of
wood including those produced by growth and form (e.g.,
knots, cross-grain) and those produced by degradation
(e.g., stain, decay); focused on native and local species
of both softwoods and hardwoods; and the role of forests in
carbon storage. Special fee. Lab.
NR 433 - Wildlife Ecology
Credits:
4.00
Historical, biological, ecological, and sociological
factors influencing the wildlife resource and its
management. Concepts in populations, communities, habitat,
and contemporary wildlife issues. Special fee. Lab.
NR 435 - Contemporary Conservation Issues and Environmental Awareness
Credits:
4.00
Explores the impacts of technology and human activity on
our environment and natural resources. Key conservation
issues are used as examples of past and present biological,
social, and environmental conflicts.
NR 435H - Honors/Contemporary Conservation Issues and Environmental Awareness
Credits:
4.00
See description for NR 435.
NR 444 - Endangered Species: A Bio-political Crossroad
Credits:
4.00
A freshman inquiry course that provides students with a
multidisciplinary perspective of endangered species
management in the United States. The sociological,
economic, and biological forces that influence policy and
management of endangered species are explored with guest
lectures, student-led discussion, and case-study student
seminars. Writing intensive.
NR 501 - Introduction to Soil Sciences
Credits:
4.00
An overview of physical, chemical, and biological
properties of soil. Sub-disciplines of soil chemistry,
soil physics, soil microbiology, soil genesis, and
classification. Prereq: CHEM 403 or equivalent. Special
fee. Lab.
NR 502 - Forest Ecosystems and Environmental Change
Credits:
4.00
Forest ecosystems cover a large fraction of the Earth's
land surface and account for most of its terrestrial
biological productivity. This course introduces forest
ecosystems around the world and explores both the natural
processes that regulate them and the environmental factors
that cause change over time. Topics include tree growth
strategies, successional change, nutrient cycling, and
human-induced stressors such as air pollution and climate
change. Special fee.
NR #503 - Wetlands Resources
Credits:
2.00
An introduction to the biology and ecology of a wide
variety of wetlands with emphasis on northeastern coastal
saltmarsh, estuarine, and freshwater ecosystems. Lectures
and discussions focus on species composition, adaptations,
biotic and abiotic interactions, wetland functional values,
wetland creation and restoration efforts, and current
policy and regulation issues. Field trips to selected
wetlands are designed to emphasize and expose students to
the major topics discussed. Prereq: one full year of
college level biology. (Offered summers at the Shoals
Marine Laboratory.)
NR 504 - Freshwater Resources
Credits:
4.00
Major determinants of freshwater resources including
hydrologic cycle and water balance, precipitation,
stream-flow measurement, pollution, water supply and sewage
treatment, water resource management and regulation.
Special fee. Lab/field trips.
NR 506 - Forest Entomology
Credits:
4.00
Introduces insect biology, behavior, ecology, and control,
focusing on the forest environment. Labs include
identification to the family level and an insect
collection. Special fee. Lab. Writing intensive.
NR 513 - Ecology of the Great Bay Estuary
Credits:
4.00
An introduction to the physical and biological processes
that form and sustain estuaries in coastal landscapes.
Plant and animal adaptations to physical and biological
stresses are examined in specific estuarine habitats. Since
human interactions impact estuaries profoundly, management
issues are also investigated. The course is appropriate for
undergraduates, interested lay persons, and professionals
involved with teaching, outreach, or management of
estuaries. Lab. Special fee.
NR 527 - Forest Ecology
Credits:
4.00
Introduces basic and applied ecology of forests, with
emphasis on ecosystem processes, including water, energy,
and nutrient cycles; biological interactions, including
biodiversity and plant-plant, plant-animal, and
plant-microbe relationships; and human impacts, including
forest management, land-use/land cover-change, and changes
in atmospheric chemistry. Prereq: PBIO 412 or BIOL 411.
Permission. Special fee. Lab.
NR 542 - Forestland Measurement and Mapping
Credits:
2.00
Elementary measuring equipment and techniques; preparation
of maps; public land survey; court-house deed search.
Two-week field session following spring semester. (FOR,
WARM, and WILD majors only.) Special fee.
NR 544 - Forest Biometrics
Credits:
3.00
Sampling techniques basic to forest inventory, regression
estimation used in deriving volume equations and
predicting forest growth and yield. Field labs include plot
and point sampling. Analyses made using microcomputers.
Special fee. Lab.
NR 566 - Wildlife Law Enforcement I
Credits:
3.00
Fundamentals of wildlife law enforcement; its history,
values, and the philosophy of managing people in the
outdoors.
NR 599 - Work Experience
Credits:
Work in the field of forestry or water resources
management; must be performed under professional
supervision or approved by natural resources faculty.
Students are responsible for arranging their own
experience. Restricted to Forestry and Water Resources
Management majors. Cr/F.
NR 601 - Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Living Internship
Credits:
4.00
Practical internship and field experience in a location
removed from the University milieu to give the
environmental conservation student a dimension and insight
into sustainable resource management systems not available
in the campus experience. Prereq: permission. Cr/F.
NR 602 - Natural Resources and Environmental Policy
Credits:
4.00
Contemporary natural resource and environmental policy
problems/issues are addressed from a policy sciences
perspective with emphasis on domestic policy solutions.
Critical assessment of major policy initiatives and their
implementation toward sustainable resource use and a
healthy environment. Public policies are analyzed to
determine the extent to which their implementation
strategies have succeeded, and to assess their adequacy
within a bioregional or ecosystem approach, and/or capacity
to integrate economic and environmental decisions. Cases
include national and local policies in their global
context. Students apply public policy analysis and decision
tools in laboratory sessions. Prereq: junior/senior;
permission. Special fee. Writing intensive.
NR 604 - Watershed Hydrology
Credits:
4.00
Basic principles underlying the physical processes of
water movement at the watershed scale. Topics include
precipitation, soil infiltration, stream flow, open channel
hydraulics, and groundwater movement. Labs consist of
problem sets and field trips in which hydrological
processes are quantified. Prereq: NR 504 and one semester
of calculus. Special fee. Writing intensive.
NR 607 - Soil and Land Evaluation
Credits:
2.00
Field and lecture course emphasizing application of USDA
Soil Taxonomy and Soil/Land-use interpretations to soils,
landscapes, parent materials. Students gain on-site
practice in preparing detailed soil descriptions,
classifications, and interpretations, and participate in
collegiate soil judging meets. Prereq: NR 501. Special fee.
Lab.
NR #609 - Soils and Community Planning
Credits:
2.00
Using a town plan and soils map, students develop reports
for multiple urban and rural land use, including housing,
sewage, recreation, transportation and run-off. Includes
the National Resource Conservation Service soil
classification system, Soil Conservation Service rating
criteria, and New Hampshire soils. Guest lecturers.
NR #610 - Coastal and Oceanic Law and Policy
Credits:
2.00
Intended for persons interested in knowledge of or careers
in management of marine or coastal resources, or in the
natural sciences. Focuses on policy issues affecting oceans
and coastlines and the tools available to government and
policy leaders for coping with those issues. Issues
examined include: (1) international concerns about control
of coastal waters and access to resources of the water
column and ocean floor; (2) water pollution and
contamination of ocean resources; (3) protection for
threatened and endangered species, including depleted
fisheries; and (4) environmental impacts of the development
and use of coastal areas. The legal tools and policy
options available to government and concerned citizens for
addressing these issues and controversies are examined.
Class discussions on the status and history of applicable
laws are accompanied by the analysis of policy concerns and
the efficacy of various legal techniques. Students work in
teams to develop strategy and to research positions in
preparation for a negotiation exercise and a mock hearing.
(Offered Summers at the Shoals Marine Laboratory.)
NR 615 - Wildlife Habitats
Credits:
4.00
Introduces animal-habitat associations, including an
examination of spatial and temporal features of wildlife
habitat, the evolution of habitat selection, and how
habitat suitability/productivity is evaluated. Prereq:
woody plant identification; limited to wildlife management
majors and minors. Permission. Special fee. Writing intensiv
NR 621 - Field Description of Soils
Credits:
3.00
Description of soils in the field. Application of soils
properties to forestry, plant science, and community
planning. Strong orientation to fieldwork. Special fee. Lab.
NR 629 - Silviculture
Credits:
3.00
Application of ecological knowledge to the control,
establishment, composition, and growth of forest stands
for economic purposes. Prereq: NR 425 and 527. Special fee.
Lab.
NR 636 - Wildlife Techniques
Credits:
4.00
Introduces research design principles, protocols, and
techniques for monitoring and managing wildlife
populations. Labs examine techniques for monitoring a
variety of vertebrate taxa. Prereq: one course in general
ecology and statistics. Weekend field trips may be
required. Limited to Wildlife Management majors and minors.
Permission. Lab. Special fee. Writing intensive.
NR 637 - Practicum in Environmental Conservation
Credits:
4.00
Independent participation in an environmental conservation
activity in the area of the student's specialization.
Individual or group projects may de developed under the
supervision of any faculty member within or outside natural
resources or with supervisors in public and private
agencies, upon approval of the course instructor. Research
projects not acceptable. Prereq: senior standing in the
environmental conservation program. Cr/F.
NR 643 - Economics of Forestry
Credits:
4.00
Intermediate-level analyses of supply and demand for
forest-based goods and services, managerial economics,
taxation, capital investments. Prereq: EREC 411 or ECON 402.
NR 650 - Principles of Conservation Biology
Credits:
4.00
Examines the major issues relevant to conservation of
biodiversity from the genetic to the ecosystem level. In
addition to addressing ecological and biological
principles, the interdisciplinary nature and challenges of
managing for conservation biology, including the role of
economic and social factors are examined. Prereq: one
semester of biology, botany, or zoology.
NR 652 - Forest Resources Assessment
Credits:
2.00
Aerial photo type mapping and forest resources inventory:
type identification and delineation, map construction,
cruise design, and forest resources inventory. Two-week
field session following the spring semester. (NR majors,
others by permission.) Prereq: NR 527 and 544. Special fee.
NR 655 - Vertebrate Biology
Credits:
4.00
Introduces the diversity and evolution of vertebrates.
Topics span the morphological, physiological, behavioral,
and ecological diversity among the major vertebrate taxa.
Labs stress identification of vertebrate taxa based on
specimens and morphological structures. Permission. Prereq:
BIOL 411; 412; or equivalent. Special fee. Lab.
NR 658 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
Credits:
4.00
Introduces the use of geographic information systems (GIS)
for natural resources and related fields. Data
models/structures, map projections, data
input/output/storage, data analysis/modeling,
interpolation, and data quality/standards. Hands-on lab
using ArcView 3.x GIS software. Permission. (Also offered
as GEOG 658.)
NR 660 - Ecology and Biogeography of New Zealand
Credits:
5.00
Covers the principles of ecology and biogeography, with a
distinct focus on New Zealand. Students investigate the
processes that have shaped the New Zealand landmass and its
biota. Impact of human settlement on New Zealand's
ecosystems is explored in-depth. Methods and techniques of
scientific research are incorporated in this course. Field
exercises focus on topical case studies in a variety of
ecosystems and are designed to strengthen students'
conceptual knowledge, enable students to apply this
knowledge, as well as develop field skills including
classification systems, mapping, habitat assessment, field
identification, and sampling techniques. Prereq:
junior/senior; permission. Coreq: NR 661, NR 662, and NR
663. Special fee.
Co-requisites:
NR 661, NR 662, NR 663
NR 661 - Restoration Ecology and Ecosystem Management in New Zealand
Credits:
4.00
Current restoration projects and strategies for management
of natural resources in New Zealand form the framework for
this course. Solving problems related to introduced
species, changes in habitat, the preservation of ecological
processes and watershed management are the major foci of
this course. Management of resources for multiple uses, as
well as primary and extractive industries is included.
Field exercises focus on tropical case studies in a variety
of terrestrial and coastal-marine ecosystems and include
the identification of habitats and communities, stresses on
the environment, and risk analysis. Prereq: junior/senior;
permission. Coreq: NR 660, NR 662, and NR 663.
Co-requisites:
NR 660, NR 662, NR 663
NR 662 - Environmental Policy, Planning and Sustainability in New Zealand
Credits:
3.00
Introduces students to politics in New Zealand.
Investigating policy pathways and planning forms part of
the curriculum. Students assess scope of legislation,
including the Resource Management Act (1991), for the
economic and socio-political environment in New Zealand.
Government obligations to the Treaty of Waitangi, and
customary uses of resources are included as part of this
course. Students are exposed to diverse perspectives of
local authority planners and policy makers, local iwi
(tribes), the Department of Conservation, and community
groups. Students examine case studies involving the
resource consent process at several levels of
decision-making. Case studies provide a comprehensive
overview of the interactions between the environment and
people and their cultural and socio-economic needs. Prereq:
junior/senior; permission. Coreq: NR 660, NR 661, and NR 663
Co-requisites:
NR 660, NR 661, NR 663
NR 663 - Applied Directed Research in New Zealand
Credits:
4.00
Working closely with faculty, student teams investigate
selected ecological, resource management or policy issues.
All projects have scientific and societal relevance, and
contribute to ongoing/existing projects in the region.
Students use the scientific method to design and carry out
their projects. Development of rigorous field
investigations, experimental design, data analysis, and
scientific writing are emphasized. Students prepare a
research report and present their findings in a seminar
that includes stakeholders and people from the local
community. Prereq: junior/senior; permission. Coreq: NR
660, NR 661, and NR 662. Writing intensive.
Co-requisites:
NR 660, NR 661, NR 662
NR 665 - Applied American Environmental Philosophy
Credits:
4.00
Applying the philosophical theory underlying environmental
studies and approaches to environmental conservation.
Students conduct critiques of extensive readings and write
papers creatively analyzing aspects of selected
philosophical works. Major research manuscript required.
(Also offered as AMST 665.) Writing intensive.
NR 670 - Forest Fire Protection
Credits:
2.00
Forest fire prevention, behavior, and effective control;
weather phenomena; other aspects of forest damage; fire
effects and use. Prereq: NR 527 or 629; NR 501. (Not
offered every year). Special fee. Lab.
NR 675 - CEOP (Community Environmental Outreach Program) Projects
Credits:
2.00 to 4.00
Matches students with an interest in environmental issues
with community groups with environmental problems to be
addressed. Students form consulting teams of from two to
four students to work with the community during the
academic year. (May be repeated for a maximum of 4
credits.) Prereq: permission. Cr/F.
NR #690 - Sustainability Analysis: Focus on Purchasing
Credits:
3.00
Theory and practice of sustainability: a hands-on course
that introduces students to sustainability concepts
through investigation of purchasing practices at UNH.
Teaches skills in product investigation, censuring, and
numerical analysis of both environmental and product costs.
Working in groups, students survey and research products
for sustainability impact, identify alternative products,
prioritize choices based on environmental costs, and make
recommendations for increasing sustainability at the
University.
NR 700 - Critical Analysis of Water Resources Literature
Credits:
2.00
Detailed consideration of current issues in water resource
management in a seminar format. Emphasizes critical
analysis of primary literature in environmental science
relevant to water resources management. Special fee.
Prereq: NR 703, or permission.
NR 701 - Ecological Values and Ethics
Credits:
4.00
Deeper more fundamental philosophical questions, including
spiritual values questions, are being asked concerning the
ecological/environmental challenge of our time; its causes
and resolution. Aspects of this challenge--environmental
education, energy, food, agriculture, and natural
resources--analyzed with ethics and values approaches.
Students develop ways of responding to problem
identification and resolution. Writing intensive.
NR 702 - Workshops
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
Short-term courses (generally a few days to two weeks)
offered off campus, covering a broad variety of
environmental and natural resource topics. May be repeated.
Special fee required depending on topic. Prereq: permission
required. Cr/F.
NR 703 - Watershed Water Quality Management
Credits:
4.00
Principles of land use as they relate to water quality and
quantity. Lectures focus on biogeochemical cycles and the
watershed approach to land and water resource management.
Labs and field trips focus on methods of water sampling and
analysis. One year of chemistry is recommended. Prereq: NR
504 or 604 or permission. Special fee. Lab/field trips.
Writing intensive.
NR 704 - Soil Genesis and Classification
Credits:
4.00
Processes involved in formation of soils, soil properties
as reflectors of genetic processes. Classification systems
of soils related to soil genesis and soil landscapes. Lab
sessions illustrate concepts by examining soils in the
field. Prereq: NR 501 or equivalent. Special fee. Lab.
NR 706 - Soil Ecology
Credits:
4.00
Examines the ecological relationships between soil
microorganisms and their biotic and abiotic environment,
with emphasis on the role of soil microorganisms in
biogeochemical cycling. Specific objectives are to examine
the biodiversity present in soil systems, factors
controlling microbial community composition and diversity,
and linkages between soil microbial communities, soil
physical properties, and soil organic matter and nutrient
cycling dynamics. Prereq: BIOL 412 or PBIO 412, CHEM 403,
or equivalent, or permission. Special fee. Lab.
NR 710 - Endangered Species Seminar
Credits:
2.00
Provides students with an interactive class of student
presentations and guest lectures by endangered-species
biologists. Emphasizes on biological, sociological,
economic, and political factors that influence
endangered-species policy. Prereq: basic ecology/biology;
permission. Special fee.
NR 711 - Wetland Ecology and Management
Credits:
4.00
Analysis of the natural resources of coastal and inland
wetlands and environmental problems caused by human use
and misuse of these ecosystems. Groups collect field data
to summarize the structure and function of four wetland
types within a management context. Special fee. Lab.
Prereq: BIOL 541, or NR 703, or permission. Writing intensiv
NR 713 - Quantitative Ecology
Credits:
4.00
Applied quantitative techniques: basic concepts in
probability and statistics applied to ecological systems,
population dynamics, spatial patterns, species abundance
and diversity, classification and ordination, production,
and energy and nutrient flow. Additional credit for
in-depth mathematical analysis of a particular topic.
Prereq: intro. courses in calculus, statistics, and
ecology. (Not offered every year.) Writing intensive.
NR 716 - Wetland Delineation
Credits:
4.00
Examines the soils, vegetation, and hydraulic functions of
coastal and central New England wetlands. Students are
responsible for the collection and identification of
aquatic plant species, description of wetland soils, and
delineation of wetland boundaries. Lectures and fieldwork.
For juniors, seniors, and working professionals. Field
trips. Special fee. (Offered summer session only.)
NR 718 - Law of Natural Resources and Environment
Credits:
3.00
Federal and state environment statutory and
administrative law, its application, strengths and
weaknesses, and options for future amendment.
NR 719 - Wetlands Restoration and Mitigation
Credits:
3.00
Assesses the problems of wetlands loss and learning how to
repair the damage. Asks what steps can be taken. Does
restoration work, can habitat value be replaced, what
constitutes equivalent mitigation? Field experience and
theoretical background in restoring marine and freshwater
environments. First half of course involves field trips to
visit and sample mitigation and restoration sites. Second
half focuses on student projects using the scientific
method to address wetlands issues. Prereq: NR 711 or
permission. Special fee. Lab/field trips. (Not offered
every year.)
NR 720 - International Environmental Politics and Policies for the 21st Century
Credits:
4.00
Students examine policies for managing human activities to
sustain the health of regional ecosystems and planetary
life-support systems. Selected problems of the
international commons (oceans, marine resources,
atmosphere, migratory species); global and regional
carrying capacity (population, resource consumption),
internationally shared ecosystems (transboundary watersheds
and waterbodies, tropical forests); and the relevant
international institutions and politics for policy
formation, conflict resolution, and implementation. Using a
policy-analytic framework, students develop case studies to
assess international policies and institutional
arrangements to achieve the objectives of Agenda 21--Earth
Summit Strategy to Save the Planet. Prereq: permission.
Writing intensive.
NR 721 - Ecology of Polluted Waters
Credits:
4.00
Impact of various water quality problems (e.g., excessive
nutrient loading, organic matter loading, contamination by
trace organic compounds) on the ecology of fresh waters,
including microorganisms, aquatic invertebrates, algae, and
fish. Design of impact assessment studies and data
interpretation. Prereq: NR 703 or BIOL 528 or BIOL 541;
permission. Special fee. Lab/field trips. Writing intensive.
NR 724 - Resolving Environmental Conflicts
Credits:
4.00
Theories and practices of environmental dispute
settlement. Roles of public, non-governmental and
governmental organizations. Effectiveness of public
participation initiatives in influencing public policy
decisions and/or resolving environmental conflicts.
Alternative approaches to consensus (policy dialogues,
joint problem solving; strategic planning; negotiation,
mediation) as well as litigation. Specific cases are
critiqued and evaluated; conflict resolution skills are
developed. Students observe and/or participate in ongoing
local decision processes. Prereq: second-semester juniors,
seniors; permission. Lab. Writing intensive.
NR #725 - Environmental Communications and Advocacy
Credits:
4.00
Principles and techniques of communication and policy
advocacy as applied to selected environmental issues.
Case studies of regional, national, and international
importance are pursued within a seminar-workshop format in
which students learn content analysis skills to critically
examine practical constraints on communication about
environmental issues within complex political environments
and involving stakeholders with diverse values and
political interests; develop analytical procedures and
rhetorical strategies to build public policy advocacy
cases, using diverse perspectives, for selected
environmental issues; and learn consensus building and
negotiation strategies for forging advocacy coalitions and
to advocate policy objectives in pluralistic contexts.
Prereq: junior standing and permission.
NR 730 - Terrestrial Ecosystems
Credits:
3.00
Processes controlling the energy, water, and nutrient
dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems; concepts of study at
the ecosystem level, controls on primary production,
transpiration, decomposition, herbivory; links to
earth-system science, acid deposition, agriculture. Prereq:
NR 527and PBIO 412 or BIOL 411, or permission. Lab.
NR 732 - Chemistry of Soils
Credits:
4.00
Chemical composition of soil; structure of soil minerals;
mineral solubility; contaminant sorption by minerals and
organic matter; cation and anion exchange processes; and
organic reactions in soil, their kinetics and their effects
on soil properties. Prereq: CHEM 403 or equivalent. Special
fee. Lab.
NR 737 - Wildlife Population Dynamics
Credits:
4.00
Mechanisms that influence the characteristics of
terrestrial wildlife populations. Prereq: one course in
general ecology and statistics; senior wildlife major or
permission of the instructor. Lab. Special fee.
NR 738 - Wildlife Policy and Management
Credits:
4.00
Local, regional, and national issues and strategies in
policy and administration. Contemporary issues including
land management, commercialization of wildlife,
overpopulation, endangered species, wildlife diseases, and
professionalism. Prereq: senior wildlife majors or
permission. Special fee. Lab. Writing intensive.
NR 744 - Biogeochemistry
Credits:
4.00
Examines the influence of biological and physical
processes on elemental cycling and geochemical
transformations from the molecular to the global scale,
involving microorganisms, higher plants and animals and
whole ecosystems; factors that regulate element cycles
including soils, climate, disturbance and human activities;
interactions among the biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere,
and atmosphere; transformations of C, N, S, and trace
elements. Prereq: one semester biology and two semesters of
chemistry or permission.
NR 745 - Forest Management
Credits:
4.00
Forest land ownership, management objectives, forest
inventory regulation and policy, forest administration,
professional responsibilities and opportunities. Restricted
to Natural Resources majors. Lab. Special fee.
NR 747 - Biology Through Bugs
Credits:
4.00
Insects provide an exciting and inexpensive means of
delivering basic biology instruction. Explores the utility
of insects for instruction in the areas of evolution,
taxonomy, form and function, behavior and ecology through
lectures and labs geared toward the middle school and high
school teacher. Lab. Prereq: general biology. Special fee.
NR 753 - Decision Sciences in Natural Resource Management
Credits:
4.00
Application of decision science methods (optimization,
simulation, input-output, and statistics) to natural
resources problems. Emphasis is on practical work on
evaluating projects, dealing with risk and uncertainty,
analyzing regional impacts, valuing non-market resources,
and exploring sustainability of managed forests. Prereq: NR
643 or intermediate microeconomics. Special fee. Lab.
NR 754 - Forest Industry
Credits:
4.00
Examination and analysis of the forest products sector
from the local to international level. Conduct, structure,
and performance of the industry, regulatory and political
environment, wood cost and procurement, manufacturing,
marketing, green certification, and global issues affecting
forest industry. Prereq: NR 643 or permission. Special fee.
Lab.
NR 757 - Photo Interpretation and Photogrammetry
Credits:
4.00
Practical and conceptual presentation of techniques for
using remote, sensing, specifically aerial photographs, in
natural resources. Includes photo measures of scale, area,
parallax and object heights; flight planning; photo
geometry; an introduction to the electromagnetic spectrum;
and photo interpretation and mapping. Concludes with an
introduction to digital remote sensing including
multi-spectral scanners, radar, and thermal imagery and a
brief discussion of geographic information systems (GIS).
Applications to forestry, wildlife, land-use planning,
earth sciences, soils, hydrology, and engineering. Prereq:
algebra. Special fee. Lab. (Also offered as GEOG 757.)
NR 759 - Digital Image Processing for Natural Resources
Credits:
4.00
Introduces digital remote sensing including multispectral
scanners (Landsat and SPOT) radar, and thermal imagery.
Hands-on image processing including filtering, image
display, ratios, classification, registration, and accuracy
assessment. GIS as it applies to image processing.
Discussion of practical applications. Use of ERDAS
image-processing software. Knowledge of PCs required.
Prereq: NR 757 or equivalent and permission. (Also offered
as GEOG 759.)
NR 760 - Geographic Information Systems in Natural Resources
Credits:
4.00
Theory, concepts, and applications of geographic
information systems (GIS) for use in natural resources and
related fields. Discussion of database structures, sources
of data, spatial data manipulation/analysis/modeling, data
quality standards and assessment, and data display/map
production including many examples and practical
applications. Hands-on lab exercises using ArcGIS 8.x
software. Permission. Lab. (Also offered as GEOG 760.)
NR 765 - Community Ecology
Credits:
4.00
Properties of biotic communities, especially biodiversity.
Effects of physical stress, disturbance, competition,
predation, positive interactions, and dispersal on
community properties. Community dynamics, including
succession and stability. Prereq: applied biostatistics and
general ecology. Lecture and discussion.
NR 767 - Earth System Science
Credits:
4.00
Introduces the study of Earth as an integrated system.
Investigates the major components (e.g., atmosphere,
biosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere),
dynamics (e.g., energy balance, water cycle, biogeochemical
cycles), and changes within the earth system. Emphasizes
the interactions and feedbacks within the system. The links
between components are presented by examining present day
processes and selected events in Earth's history. The lab
portion examines these concepts through the development and
use of computer models of Earth system processes. Prereq:
MATH 424B; MATH 425; or permission. Lab. (Also offered as
ESCI 767).
NR 775 - Natural Resources Senior Project
Credits:
4.00
Multidisciplinary approach to land-use planning. Provides
experience with dynamics of working in a group to
identify, evaluate, and suggest management strategies to
solve environmental problems. Class will be divided into
small groups, each of which will choose or be assigned a
real problem. Each group will act as a consulting firm in
developing management strategies. Prereq: senior standing
in the Department of Natural Resources and permission.
Special fee. Writing intensive.
NR 780 - Earth as a System for Educators
Credits:
4.00
Explores the Earth as a system. Topics include ecosystems,
habitats, biomes, biodiversity, weather, climate, water
and air (environmental) quality, watersheds, remote
sensing, the flow of matter and energy through the
universe, water and nutrient cycles, wildlife
identification and monitoring, wetlands, seasons,
interdependence, and changes over time. Course focuses on
content being taught through Project WILD, WET, Learning
Tree and Project HOME activities. The GLOBE protocols are
an integral part of all lab exercises, and provide an
opportunity to learn science methods and content through
the use of classroom friendly techniques used to integrate
into units for elementary and middle school students. For
elementary and middle school teachers. Permission.
NR 783 - Forest Communities of New Hampshire
Credits:
4.00
A hands-on field course designed to introduce students to
the diverse forest community types of New Hampshire.
Topics include 1) field identification of forest types
using different classification systems and keys; 2)
identification of characteristic plant and animal species;
3) the roles of climate, geology, soils, natural
disturbance, forest management, and biotic factors in
determining forest community type; 4) primary and secondary
succession, including old-growth. Prereq: one course in
ecology or environmental biology or permission. Special fee.
NR 784 - Sustainable Living
Credits:
4.00
Concepts of sustainability are explored in a
learning-community format. The importance of human
communication, sense of place and time, and the health and
longevity of the human species as part of natural systems
is emphasized. Students develop measures for sustainable
living, including ecological footprinting, and gain an
understanding of system conditions necessary to move toward
sustainable living. Two required field trips. Special fee.
NR 785 - Systems Thinking for Sustainable Living
Credits:
3.00
Introduction to systems thinking from a sustainable living
perspective. The course is a collaborative inquiry using a
problem-solving approach. After study of different types of
systems and learning a variety of tools useful in systems
analysis, we ask "In what ways can systems thinking be
employed to understand and begin to resolve the complex
problems that face us as we move toward living within
limits of natural systems?" Prereq: NR 784 or permission.
NR 795 - Investigations
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
Investigations in Natural Resources may include topics in
environmental conservation, forestry, soil and watershed
management, ecosystems, and wildlife management. Permission
required.
NR 795W - Investigations
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
See description for NR 795. Writing intensive.
NR 797 - Special Topics
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
An experimental course for the puropse of introducing a
new course or teaching a special topic for a semester in
an area of specialization in natural resources. Permission
required. Special fee on some sections.
NR 799 - Honors Senior Thesis
Credits:
4.00
Honor/thesis students conduct an independent research
project, relevant to the student's area of specialization
in the major, under the direction of a faculty sponsor.
Students submit a research proposal, write a final report,
and provide an oral presentation. Two semester sequence; IA
(continuous grading) grade given at the end of first
semester. Restricted to Senior/Natural Resource Majors.
Permission. Writing intensive.