COURSE INSTRUCTORS

Dr. David D. Briske, Professor, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University, TAMU MS 2138, College Station TX 77843 Phone 979-845-5581; email dbriske@tamu.edu

Dr. Fred E. Smeins, Professor, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University, TAMU MS 2138, College Station TX 77843 Phone 979-845-5573; email f-smeins@tamu.edu

COURSE OUTLINE

Tuesday 1:00 pm – June 23
I. Course Introduction - DDB
            A. Approach and objectives
            B. Course outline
            C. Participant introductions
           
II. Theory Underpinning Rangeland Assessment – FES
            A. Equilibrium models
                        1. Clementsian succession
                        2. Range condition and trend analysis
            B. Non-equilibrium models
                        1. Resilience
                        2. Multiple stable state concept
                       
III. Alternative Assessment Procedures - DDB
            A. State-and-transition
            B. Threshold
            C. Rangeland health
            D. Ecological site descriptions
           
Wednesday – June 24

IV. Drivers/Controls of Ecosystem Dynamics - FES
            A. Climatic variation and climate change
            B. Fire history/management
            C. Soil
            D. Vegetation
            E. Herbivory

V. Threshold Identification and Interpretation - DDB
            A. Threshold development
            B. Triggers
C. Positive and negative feedbacks
            D. Threshold reversal

LUNCH

VI. Breakout Groups:  State & Transition Model Development – FES & DDB
            A. Participant presentations of STMs by region   
            B. Group critique and discussion
            C. Consensus model recommendations
           
Thursday - March 29
VII. Ecological Indicators and Ecosystem Function – FES
            A. Categories of indicators
            B. Plant functional types
            C. Invasive plants
            D. Novel indicators
            E. Scale issues

VIII. Consequences of State Change – DDB  
            A. Carbon sequestration
            B. Water issues
            C. Biodiversity
            D. Soil quality/erosion

IX. Resilience-based STMs - DDB
            A. Triggers
            B. Feedbacks
            C. At-risk phases
            D. Restoration pathways

LUNCH
           
X. Break-out Groups II: Resilience-based Indicators – DDB & FES
            A. Incorporation into participants STMs
            B. Group critique and discussion
            C. Consensus recommendations
           
Friday – June 26    
XI. ESD Construction and Documentation – FES
            A. Essential components
            B. Previous approaches
            C. Recommended procedures
            D. Participant discussion

XII. Rangeland Health – DDB
            A. Procedure components
            B. Ecological indicators
            C. Health assessments
            D. Reference sites
           
XIII. Summary and Concluding Remarks - DDB

Noon - Adjourn