PLSCS 6720

Nutrient Cycling in Natural and Managed Ecosystems

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2018-2019 Catalog.

Building on knowledge of physico-chemical and microbial nutrient transformations and exchange processes in soil, we will study the pathways of nutrients in ecosystems from the rhizosphere to the landscape level. We will include both natural and anthropogenic ecosystems, working with case studies from tropical and temperate environments. An important aspect will be the understanding of environmental impacts by agriculture, forestry and agroforestry and the development of sustainable landuse systems. We will explore various tracer methods for the study of nutrient cycling including stable and radio-isotopes as well as rare elements and biomarkers. You will expand your knowledge in discussion groups and through presentations and work in-depth on a project which involves both field and laboratory experimentation. The results of the project will be presented in a poster conference.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: PLSCS 2600, PLSCS 4720, BIOEE 4780 or equivalent. Advanced knowledge of biological and chemical processes is beneficial.

Outcomes

• Design a research project.
• Develop mechanistic hypotheses, choose appropriate methods for a certain problem, and interpret complex data.

When Offered Fall (offered alternate years).

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