Senior Seminar - Envs 196

Field research on coastal habitat restoration

Spring 2015, Instructor: Karen Holl

Students in this senior seminar will work on group field research projects on restoration of coastal prairie, wetland, and scrub habitat at Younger Lagoon Natural Reserve on the UCSC Marine Sciences Campus. Research topics will include testing different exotic species control techniques, measuring survival and growth of species planted to restore grassland and coastal scrub habitat, and monitoring the efficacy of restoration efforts. Students will read relevant primary literature, collect data, and write a final scientific paper either (1) that analyzes and interprets data from an ongoing experiment or (2) provides an extensive literature review of a restoration methodology.

Prequisites: Students applying for this senior seminar must have taken ENVS 160: Restoration Ecology. Priority will be given to students who have taken a relevant field courses such as ENVS 104/L: Field Methods or BIOE 117/L Systematic Botany, or who have done restoration-related internships. Students must be willing to work as part of a group on a project and assist with other students' projects. Plant identification skills are desirable but not required.

In order to effectively plan for this and other ENVS senior exit courses, we ask that you plan ahead. Please answer the application questions so that we can make informed decisions about who may be allowed to enroll. Dr. Holl will also be reviewing your course transcript and performance on AIS.

APPLICATION FOR ENVS 196-SPRING 2015 – KAREN HOLL

Name________________________________ email:________________

SID#__________________

1. Why do you want to take this course?

2. What field courses have you taken or other experiences do you have that help prepare you for a field research course in restoration ecology, including experience with research design and data analysis? Include any relevant courses you are planning on taking during winter quarter 2015?

3. What do you think would be two effective methods to control exotic annual grasses in coastal prairie habitat at Younger Lagoon reserve and why?

4. Please discuss a couple of factors other than competition with exotic species that might limit restoration of wetland plant species at Younger Lagoon Reserve and why.

5. Are you applying to any of the other Environmental Studies Senior Seminar courses? If so, please rank them in order of preference.

Please email your application to Karen Holl: kholl(at)ucsc.edu by **. If space remains after this date then applications will be accepted on a rolling admissions basis. Paste the form into your email AND attach it as an MSWord or PDF file. The subject line should read “ENVS 196 APP."