| Natural Resources |
NR 800 - Critical Analysis of Water Resources Literature
Credits:
2.00
Detailed consideration of current issues in water resource
management in a seminar format. Emphasis on critical
analysis of primary literature in environmental science
relevant to water resources management. Special fee. Prereq:
watershed water quality management.
NR 801 - 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.
NR 802 - 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 803 - 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:
freshwater resources or watershed hydrology, or permission.
Special fee. Lab/field trips.
NR 804 - 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: soils and the environment or equivalent.
Special fee. Lab.
NR 806 - 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: Introduction to principles of
biology, general chemistry or equivalent, or permission.
Lab. Special fee.
NR 810 - Endangered Species Seminar
Credits:
2.00
This seminar provides students with an interactive class of
student presentations and guest lectures by
endangered-species biologists. Emphasis is placed on
biological, sociological, economic, and political factors
that influence endangered-species policy. Prereq: basic
ecology/biology; permission. Special fee.
NR 811 - 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 will collect field data
to summarize the structure and function of four wetland
types within a management context. Special fee. Lab. Prereq:
general ecology; watershed water quality management;/ or
permission. Special fee. Lab/field trips.
NR 813 - 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:
introduction courses in calculus, statistics, and ecology.
(Not offered every year.)
NR 816 - Wetland Delineation
Credits:
4.00
Examination of 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 graduate students and
professionals. Special fee. Lab. (Offered summer session
only.)
NR 818 - Law of Natural Resources and Environment
Credits:
3.00
Federal and state environmental statutory and administrative
law, its application, strengths and weaknesses, and options
for future amendment.
NR 819 - 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 take. 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 wetland issues.
Prereq: NR 811 or permission. Special fee. Lab/field trips.
(Not offered every year.)
NR 820 - 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
migratory species); global and regional carrying capacity
(population, resource consumption), internationally shared
ecosystems (transboundary watersheds, 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.
NR 821 - 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: applied statistics, watershed water
quality management, or permission. Special fee. Lab/field
trips.
NR 824 - 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: permission. Lab.
NR 830 - 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:
forest ecology and introduction to botany or principles of
biology, or permission. Lab. (Also offered as EOS 830.)
NR 832 - 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: general chemistry or equivalent.
Special fee. Lab.
NR 837 - Wildlife Population Dynamics
Credits:
4.00
Mechanisms that influence the characteristics of terrestrial
wildlife populations. Prereq: one course in general ecology
and statistics. Lab. Special fee.
NR 838 - 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: permission. Special fee. Lab.
NR 844 - 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 chemistry or
permission. (Also offered as EOS 844.)
NR 845 - 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 847 - Biology Through Bugs
Credits:
4.00
Insects provide an exciting and inexpensive means of
delivering basic biology instruction. We will explore 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. Prereq: General biology. Lab.
Special fee.
NR 853 - Decision Sciences in Natural Resources Management
Credits:
4.00
Application of decision-science methods (optimization,
simulation, input-output, and statistics) to natural
resources problems. Emphasis is on practical work in
evaluating projects, dealing with risk and uncertainty,
analyzing regional impacts, valuing non-market resources,
and exploring sustainability of managed forest. Prereq:
economics of forestry or intermediate microeconomics.
Special fee. Lab.
NR 854 - 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: Economics of Forestry or permission. Special fee.
Lab.
NR 857 - Photo Interpretation and Photogrammetry
Credits:
4.00
Practical and conceptual presentations 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.
NR 859 - Digital Image Processing for Natural Resources
Credits:
4.00
Introduction to 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 857 or equivalent and permission.
NR 860 - 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.
NR 865 - 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 867 - Earth System Science
Credits:
4.00
This course provides an introduction to the study of Earth
as an integrated system. It 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. Particular emphasis placed on the
interactions and feedbacks within the system. The links
between components will be 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 EOS 867.)
NR 880 - Earth as a System for Educators
Credits:
4.00
Exploration of 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 883 - 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 884 - 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 885 - 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: sustainable living or
permission.
NR 897 - Special Topics
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
An experimental course for the purpose 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 899 - Master's Thesis
Credits:
1.00 to 10.00
Usually 6 credits, but up to 10 credits when the problem
warrants. Cr/F.
NR 902 - Ecological Ethics and Values
Credits:
4.00
Increasingly fundamental philosophical questions, including
spiritual values questions, are posited concerning the
ecological/environmental challenge of our time, its causes,
and its resolution. Examination of these questions, put
forth with ethics and values approaches. Students work to
develop responses to both problem identification and
resolution.
NR 903 - Approach to Research
Credits:
3.00
The meaning of science and the application of logic in the
scientific method. Principles and techniques of scientific
research. Survey of experimental design procedures.
Organization of investigative work, problem analyses,
working plans, and scientific writing.
NR 910 - Forest Stand Dynamics
Credits:
4.00
Discussion and presentation on forest dynamics to include
soil-site quality evaluation, individual tree growth, stand
growth and yield, stand and forest management, and related
resource politics. (Not offered every year.)
NR 912 - Sampling Techniques
Credits:
2.00 to 4.00
Techniques of sampling finite populations in environmental
sciences; choice of sampling unit and frame, estimation of
sample size, confidence limits, and comparisions of sample
designs. Prereq: Applied statisics or equivalent. (Not
offered every year.)
NR 947 - Current Issues in Ecosystem Ecology
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
Examines current issues in ecosystem ecology and
biogeochemistry by weekly discussion of primary research
articles. Topics covered include elemental interactions in
biogeochemical processes, mechanisms regulating nitrogen
losses from terrestrial ecosystems, and hydrologic-chemical
interactions in streams and groundwater. Special fee. Cr/F.
NR 993 - Natural and Environmental Resources Seminar
Credits:
1.00
Presentation and discussion of recent research, literature,
and policy problems in the natural and social sciences
influencing resource use. Cr/F.
NR 995 - Investigations
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
Investigations in Natural Resources may include topics in
environmental conservation, forestry, soil science, water
resources, and wildlife management. Permission required.
NR 996 - Natural Resource Education
Credits:
1.00
Responsibilities include set-up, teaching, and grading of
one lab section per week or equivalent lecture experience.
Required of all M.S. degree students in the department.
Cr/F.
NR 997 - Special Topics
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
An experimental course for the purpose 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 998 - Directed Research
Credits:
4.00
Student designs and conducts original research that
culminates in a paper of publishable quality. Alternative to
NR 899 for those choosing non-thesis degree option. Cr/F.
IA (continuous grading).