Restoration Ecology

Code: ER503
Apply this course towards: Ecological Restoration

Course description

This course provides advanced instruction on the ecological theory underlying restoration projects, emphasizing those unexpected connections which have significant implications. The course aims to encourage students to broaden their approach to ecological restoration and deepen their understanding of the way that nature works.

You will explore the foundations of ecology as they apply to restoration ecology. This includes ecological theories, vegetation dynamics, trophic interactions and provocative issues such as assisted dispersal, and hyperabundant and invasive species. You will also apply practical elements of advanced restoration ecology including adaptive management, decision-support tools, conceptual models, effective communication and technical writing using a planning framework.

Learning objectives

The material in this course falls into two broad themes:

  1. Ecological Practice: Using restoration to solve a problem in ecology and improving our understanding of ecology with adaptive management.
  2. Ecological Foundations: Using ecological theory to understand ecosystems, to improve our predictive abilities, to develop hypotheses, to determine best management approaches and to make better decisions in restoration ecology. In other words, applications of ecology to advance restoration.

Specific topics include:

  • historical roots and current scope of restoration ecology
  • the scientific method and adaptive management
  • landscape ecology, island biogeography and conservation biology
  • ecosystems, communities, populations and genetics
  • aquatic ecology
  • vegetation dynamics such as succession, disturbance and invasion
  • the planning framework
  • reintroductions and translocations of rare wildlife and plants
  • trophic interactions: herbivory, competition and cascades
  • conceptual models and decision-support tools
  • implications of climate change on ecosystems
  • effective communication with target audiences

When you have finished the course, you should be able to:

  • discuss ecological theory reinforced with applied restoration examples
  • appreciate the utility of innovative analytical and decision-support tools that increase objectivity and decrease uncertainty
  • conduct inquiry-driven, results-based restoration ecology
  • write in a technical style applicable to professional reports and scientific manuscripts
  • construct clear objectives, a conceptual model, predictions based on ecological theory or previous studies and define measurable assessments of efficacy
  • apply strategies and teamwork to overcome difficult problems
  • apply an informed yet humble approach to restoration ecology
  • create consumer-centric communication products

The course encourages you to broaden your approach to ecological restoration and deepen your understanding of the way nature works.

Format

Online Brightspace-based format over a 14-week period, requiring approximately 10 hours of coursework per week.

Prerequisites

Acceptance into the ER Professional Specialization Certificate.

Equivalent work and/or education experience is considered for non-program students. To request permission contact ecorestoration@uvic.ca.

Registration details

If you’re not currently enrolled in the Ecological Restoration program, you must obtain approval from the Program Coordinator before registering.

 

Non-refundable fee policy

Course fees will be fully refundable if you withdraw a minimum of 10 business days* prior to the start date of a course. After that, a non-refundable fee of $50.00 will be charged in addition to the regular UVic fee reduction deadlines listed in the UVic Calendar https://web.uvic.ca/calendar/general/dates.html

*A business day is considered an official work day and does not include statutory holidays or weekends.

This non-refundable fee policy will take effect January 1st, 2019.

Next offering

See the ER course schedule to see when the course will run next. 

Registration details

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