LTER System is the Model for Ecology Course at University of Georgia

The LTER system has been used as a foundation for an ecosystem ecology course at the University of Georgia Institute of Ecology for two consecutive spring quarters by Paul Hendrix, colleague of several Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory LTER researchers. In developing the course, Hendrix consulted with Tim Seastedt (Niwot Ridge LTER) and John Blair (Konza Prairie), who also teach ecosystem ecology courses at the University of Colorado and Kansas State University. Students in the undergraduate/ graduate course meet three times a week for an hour lecture, and for one four-hour laboratory session weekly. The long lab session allows quality time in the field for experiments and extended day field trips. Students also take one or two Weekend field trips to remote sites, including Coweeta.

The course focuses on terrestrial ecosystems (several aquatic and marine ecosystem courses are already offered at UGA) and blocks of lectures are devoted to the traditional LTER core research areas, supplemented with readings from texts and research papers

Each student chooses an LTER site that interests him or her, researches the work being done there (initially via Internet homepages, and then from the published literature) and prepares a term paper which is also presented orally. Dr. Hendrix reports that the students really benefit from this exercise, seeing ecosystem research on the cutting edge. Hendrix’ course will be expanded into a one-semester course after 1997, as UGA converts to the semester system.

For more information: Paul Hendrix, 706/542-2968, phendrix@sparc.ecology.uga.edu