eeCOURSES
ENV210
Appalachian Mountain Ecology
This course is designed to provide educators with knowledge of important ecological principles within an Appalachian Mountain context. Throughout the course, fieldwork requirements are embedded to allow participants to gain firsthand experience.
Modules and Objectives
Module 1
Biodiversity
Module 2
Species Interaction
Module 3
Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycling
Module 4
Natural Selection and Adaptation
OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
Define the physiographic provinces of the Appalachian Mountains
Describe how geologic factors affect the biological diversity of the Appalachian Mountains
Illustrate the structure of Appalachian forests to show how it contributes to biodiversity
Explain the role of allopatric speciation in biodiversity
Compare and contrast factors leading to speciation in Appalachian ecosystems
Clarify the influence of ecological disturbances on biodiversity
List and describe four of the five major types of interspecific interactions using examples from Appalachian Mountain communities
Explain the flow of energy in a forest ecosystem
Describe why trees lose their leaves in autumn
Give examples of insect predator-prey relationships
Explain human impacts in the Appalachians in terms of the hydrological cycle
