Summer 2024, July 22nd - Aug 3rd
Course Summary
Forest and Fire Ecology covers the role of fire in fire-adapted western US forests at the scales of
individual trees, communities, and ecosystems. Students will learn the essentials of different fire
regimes and associated fire behavior across the elevational range of the Southern Rocky Mountains forests through lectures, field trips, lab exercises, and student-led projects. The class will also critically examine current management practices to reduce the negative effects of fires on communities and ecosystems. On field trips we will visit both historic and recent burned areas, learning field methods to reconstruct fire history (tree rings analyses) and assess past fire history through forest stand structure. Students will also learn basics of GIS and remote sensing used in studying forest and fire ecology. Students will conduct projects in small groups and present the findings at the end of the course. The course will require strenuous hiking on rugged terrain to reach field sites.
Instructor: Dr. Teresa Chapman
Location: Mountain Research Station and surrounding areas
Dates & Times: July 22nd - Aug 3rd, Mon-Sat, Mon-Sat, 8am-5pm
Credit: 3 credit hours in biology (EBIO 4100)
Tuition: $2,050 (Includes room in a 2-person rustic cabin and all meals at the Mountain Research Station on days when class is in session)
Prerequisite: One year course work in general biology or environmental science
For More Information:
Dr. Teresa Chapman
University of Colorado Boulder
Questions about staying at the Mountain Research Station during your course? See our Guide to Visiting and Living at the Station.
