Course Instructors:
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 Objectives: The course is designed to explore the fundamental principles of rangeland ecology and demonstrate the relevance and application of these principles to contemporary rangeland management. Emphasis will be placed on climate, soils, grazing and fire as the major drivers of vegetation distribution and vegetation dynamics in rangeland ecosystems. Management implications and scenarios associated with these fundamental ecological principles will be explored in both the classroom and field portions of the course. This course is developed for NRCS personnel that do not have a formal degree or extensive experience with rangeland ecology and management. 

Course Format: The course is designed as a blend of classroom activities and field experiences and demonstrations to emphasize the managerial relevance of ecological principles in rangeland ecosystems. Field tours will emphasize plant identification, community composition, ecological sites and the effects of grazing and fire on vegetation composition within and between sites.

Learning Objectives:

1. Increase insight into the organization and dynamics of rangeland ecosystems
2. Recognize the major components of vegetation change on rangelands
3. Understand the relative contributions of grazing, climate, soil, and fire and their potential interactions on vegetation change
4. Explore managerial opportunities to affect vegetation change
5. Identify fundamental concepts for monitoring vegetation change
6. Introduce state-and-transition models and ecological thresholds for ecological site evaluation
7. Introduce rangeland health concepts and procedures

I. Rangelands: An Introduction
    A. Definition and scope
    B. Vegetation dynamics
    C. Ecosystem concept
    D. Ecological hierarchies
    E. An alternative paradigm
    F. Pre-course examination

II. Rangeland Regions and Climates
    A. Central grasslands
    B. Southwestern deserts
    C. Great Basin desert/shrub steppe
    D. Chaparral
    E. Southeast

III. Rangeland Ecosystems
    A. Ecosystem structure and function
        1. Growth form/physiognomy
        2. Composition/floristics
        3. Energy flow and productivity
        4. Biogeochemical cycles
        5. Biodiversity
    B. Case study: Texas Experimental Ranch
        1. Ecological conversion efficiencies
        2. Management options and limitations

IV. Field Tour - Community ecology
    A. Species identification
    B. Community composition
    C. Ecological sites
    D. Natural history

V. Ecosystem Dynamics
    A. Vegetation change and succession
    B. Mechanisms of succession
    C. History and application
    D. Range condition and trend
    E. Disturbances
        1. Herbivory
        2. Fire
        3. Climate/weather
        4. Anthropogenic
        5. Shrub invasion
    F. State-and-Transition Models

VI. Shrub Invasion
    A. Shrub invasion by region
    B. Potential causes of shrub invasion
    C. Break-out group activity

VII. Vegetation Responses to Grazing
    A. Developmental morphology of grasses
    B. Potential detrimental responses
    C. Potential beneficial responses
    D. Grazing resistance
        1. avoidance mechanisms
        2. tolerance mechanisms
        3. carbohydrate reserves
        4. whole plant photosynthesis
        5. morphological considerations
    E. Grazing induced species replacement

VIII. Field Tour - Management Effects on Communities
    A. Grazing effects
    B. Fire effects
    C. Within and between site comparisons
    D. Range condition and trend assessment

IX. Vegetation Evaluation
    A. Criticism of the range model
    B. Objectives and scales
    C. Non-equilibrium paradigm
    D. Threshold concept
    E. State and transition model
    F. Most appropriate model
    G. Rangeland health
    H. Variables monitored

X. Course evaluation and post-course examination
    Noon - Course completion