NRSC 3260 – Limnology
Limnology is an excellent course about how freshwater streams and lakes interact with aquatic species and their environment as well as how human activity can impact water chemistry and organism development. I learned about the importance of riparian vegetation and shade in headwater streams and how they must be protected during forest harvesting. We discussed how excess nutrients from agriculture can impact the entire hierarchy of organisms in a lake and how the addition of a non-native species at any place in that pyramid can have many consequences. Finally, we discussed different methods of mitigating human impacts on aquatic life and protecting sensitive ecosystems.
NRSC 3000 – Diversity of Vertebrates
In this course I learned about the basic anatomy of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians as well as how to identify species (both native and introduced) found in British Columbia. We also discussed the importance of understanding the evolutionary origin and morphology of the species native to BC. Understanding the reason behind evolved traits can aid in understanding the function of a species in the ecosystem and how to preserve the species in the future.
NRSC 3200 – Silviculture
Silviculture taught me about the different tree species found within BC and the conditions which they grow best. We discussed the different methods of harvesting, site preparing, planting, and maintaining a cut block based on the harvesting objectives. This included aesthetic values, site characteristics, recreation, insect and disease risks and the type of wood desired to be harvested in the future. This course provided a thorough understanding how best to manage/harvest an area for present and future benefits while considering the impacts to many stakeholders.
NRSC 4110 – Watershed Management
This course discussed how water moves through ecosystems and how it can be impacted by forest harvesting, roads, and wells. We discussed the processes of how energy impacts snow melt and plant morphology. I learned about the different types and methods of soil erosion as well as methods of prevention to preserve water quality and site productivity. This included the importance of vegetation in preventing overland flow and how fires can create a layer of soil which water has a hard time infiltrating. Understanding how our activities change how water moves through a system is important in preventing siltation of streams, degradation of soils and ensuring ecosystem function.
NRSC 4130 – Fire Ecology and Management
Fire Ecology gave me an understanding of the components required for a fire to start and how many factors impact their spread. We looked at the different classifications of debris and how temperature impacts their moisture content and the fire danger rating. We looked at the different rating systems in BC and what their values meant in terms of fire severity and we looked at how fire can impact the ecosystem. Finally, we looked at fuel management to reduce severity of fires and community management (such as Fire Smart) to help protect infrastructure in case of a wildfire.