Texas A&M University
RANGELAND ECOLOGY: COURSE II
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES: STATE-AND-TRANSITION MODELS AND RANGELAND HEALTH
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES: STATE-AND-TRANSITION MODELS AND RANGELAND HEALTH
COURSE INSTRUCTORS
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Dr. David D. Briske Professor Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management Texas A&M University TAMU MS 2126 College Station, TX 77843 Phone 979-845-5581 email dbriske@tamu.edu |
Dr. Fred E. Smeins Professor Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management Texas A&M University TAMU MS 2126 College Station, TX 77843 Phone 979-845-5573 email f-smeins@tamu.edu |
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The contemporary issues course format is designed to provide participants with an in-depth evaluation of novel and emerging issues in rangeland ecology and management. The course approach will be to link concept and application for each topic and it will involve presentations by both Texas A&M and NRCS instructors. The course topic will vary to address various priorities within rangeland ecology and natural resource management that are established by the Agency.
The current course will address the ecological foundations and application of alternative procedures used to evaluate and manage rangeland vegetation. The course will compare the conventional interpretation of continuous and reversible vegetation change with the alternative interpretation advocating discontinuous and non-reversible vegetation change. State-and-transition models, ecological thresholds and rangeland health procedures will be emphasized. Participants will be provided with the opportunity to 1) gain additional insight into the current NRCS framework for developing ecological site descriptions, state-and-transition models, and rangeland health, 2) apply these procedures in the field, and 3) develop state-and-transition models for regions with which they are familiar. The concept of ecological thresholds will be explored by evaluating their ecological foundation, identifying specific threshold components and categories, and assessing the parallel development of state-and-transition models and rangeland health.
COURSE OUTLINE
Tuesday
I. Course Introduction - DDB
A. Course objectives
B. NRCS priorities and goals
C. Participant introductions
II. Prelude to Procedural Change -DDB
A. Scope of procedural changes
B. Criticism of conventional rangeland evaluation
C. Advances in ecological theory
1. Non-equilibrium paradigm
2. Multiple stable state concept
III. Alternative Evaluation Procedures - DDB
A. State-and-transition
B. Threshold
C. Rangeland health
Wednesday
IV. Ecological Site Descriptions - NRCS Procedures - DDB
A. Range sites vs. ecological sites
B. Description format
C. State-and-transition models
D. Ecological thresholds
V. Threshold Components and Categories - DDB
A. Threshold mechanisms
B. Triggers and structural and functional components
C. Threshold categories
D. Utility and application to rangelands
VI. Rangeland Health - NRCS Procedures - FES
A. Procedure components
B. Ecological indicators
C. Indicator evaluation
D. Health assessments
LUNCH
VII. Field Tour: State-and-Transition & Rangeland Health - FES & DDB
A. Ecological site overview
B. State and threshold identification
C. Health assessments
D. Participant discussion
Thursday
VIII. Drivers of Vegetation Change - FES
A. Climatic variation
B. Fire history
C. Soil
D. Herbivory
IX. The Clementsian Paradigm
A. Mechanisms of vegetation dynamics
B. Successional processes
C. Contribution to range/ecological sites
LUNCH
X. Break-out Groups: State-and-Transition Model Development - DDB and FES
A. State-and-transition model development
B. Group presentations
C. Participants critique and discussion
Friday
XI. Ecological Indicators - DDB
A. Concept and intent
B. Categories of indicators
C. Plant functional types
D. Invasive plants
E. Scale issues
XII. Application of ESD's and Rangeland Health - FES and DDB
A. Initial approaches and successes
B. Land use applications
C. Talking points
XIII. Summary and Concluding Remarks - DDB
Noon - Adjourn
Department of Ecosystem Science and Management
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas 77843-2138
Telephone: (979) 845-5579
Fax: (979) 845-6430
http://essm.tamu.edu
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas 77843-2138
Telephone: (979) 845-5579
Fax: (979) 845-6430
http://essm.tamu.edu