To learn more about the course, please refer to the latest course syllabus:
Course Description
Wetlands are dynamic ecosystems at the interface of land and water and are targets for conservation and restoration worldwide. Wetland areas provide essential ecosystem services including water purification, food production, and climate regulation; however, the majority of these ecosystems have been destroyed or degraded in the U.S. and worldwide. In the U.S., the federal government regulates wetland use and development. Skilled professionals are employed to assess various aspects of wetlands for permitting and restoration purposes. The goals of this course are to help students learn about the structure and function of wetland ecosystems, introduce students to techniques professionals use to assess wetlands, teach students to evaluate current research in wetland science, and get students excited about these fascinating systems!
Course Objectives
At the end of this course students will be able to:
- Measure select physical, chemical, and biotic variables in wetland ecosystems
- Identify major groups of plants and animals that use wetlands
- Compare and contrast wetland systems based on various factors including hydrology, chemistry, and climate
- Delineate wetland boundaries based on current techniques and critique the process
- Discuss contemporary issues and evaluate primary literature on wetlands
Part 1: Structure and Function of Wetland Ecosystems
Wetland Hydrology
Students learn to construct and interpret a wetland water budget. In the field, students use various methods to measure streamflow for the Little Chazy River and compare their estimates to the USGS gauging station using the FlowAlert mobile app.
Wetland Soils and Biogeochemistry
Students review the factors that control productivity, decomposition, and microbial nutrient transformations in wetland ecosystems. In the field, they collect and analyze soil samples from wetlands in the Altona Flatrock, a sandstone pavement pine barren that experienced a wildfire in summer 2018. Their data contribute to our ongoing understanding of carbon storage in wetland ecosystems within a fire-dependent ecosystem.
Wetland Plants and Animals
Students learn to identify common wetland plants and their status as wetland indicators. They create a virtual plant collection using the iNaturalist app. Students also identify common wetland macroinvertebrates and learn how we can use them as indicators of ecosystem health. Students learn the adaptations of wetland plants and animals that allow them to survive in saturated environments.
Peatland Ecosystems: Carnivorous Plants!
Students review the hydrology of peatlands, adaptations that allow organisms to survive extremely nutrient-poor conditions, and take a closer look at the communities within the leaves of pitcher plants.
Part 2: Conservation and Management of Wetland Ecosystems
Wetland Delineation
Students learn how to identify wetland boundaries using plant species, hydric soils, and indicators of wetland hydrology with Dan Spada (former Adirondack Park Agency) and Mary O'Dell (Adirondack Park Agency).
Wetland Conservation, Restoration, and Creation
Students learn best practices for wetland conservation, restoration, and construction. Last year, students learned about the NRCS Easement Program and toured wetland restorations in Vermont with Ryan Crehan (US Fish and Wildlife). Students also toured local wetland management areas and visited a mitigation site in New York with John O'Connor (NY DEC).
Wetland Ecosystem Services, Public Outreach, and Education
Students learn methods used to quantify ecosystem services that wetlands provide. They visit a local park on the Saranac that was developed to promote public health while conserving the local riparian wetland. In the past, students have met with Laurie Williams (Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital), Melanie Defayette (Town of Plattsburgh), and Trevor Cole (Town of Plattsburgh) to learn about the process of developing the site. SUNY Plattsburgh has an ongoing collaboration with CVPH and the Town of Plattsburgh in which students develop educational displays for the site.
Part 3: Future of Wetland Ecosystems
The last section of the course examines ongoing issues in the interaction between wetland ecosystems and human societies. Students learn how wetlands can be employed as "green infrastructure" to promote water quality and coastal resilience. They visit the Plattsburgh Wastewater Treatment Facility and contrast "green" and "gray infrastructure" processes used to treat wastewater. They also explore potential solutions to coastal sea-level rise. We end the semester with a mock NSF panel where students are asked to rank grant proposals in terms of funding priority.
What students say about the course...
“Mary is an amazing professor! Her lectures are easy to understand and the lab exercises are helpful for my computer skill, that can help me prepare for graduate school.”
“All assignments and field trips were great learning tools. There was no excessive or unnecessary work in the course.”
“Dr. Alldred is one of the most engaged professors I've had at SUNY Plattsburgh and is extremely knowledgeable and helpful.”
“Very good course, it really enhanced my knowledge and had a good balance of management and science.”
“Her classes out in the field pushed me in the direction I have been searching for.”
“I truly want to study wetlands because of this class.”
“She is incredibly resourceful and has always provided useful and caring advice.”
“Her enthusiasm for the course was infectious and even with topics that I had never found interesting before.”