Plant Communities of New England
ENVS 105Z
Winter 2026
| Section:
01
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Students will become familiar with the fundamentals of plant structure, physiology, reproduction, adaptation and evolution. We will also explore community interactions, the role and impact of disturbance, invasive species and strategies in conservation. Four New England terrestrial plant communities will be used as case studies and exemplars: the northern mountains of New Hampshire, temperate deciduous forests of southern New England, the various terrestrial communities of outer Cape Cod, and natural and managed early succession habitats throughout. Our class periods will include discussions and other activities. While there is no formal lab component, students will have independent activities to provide hands-on observation and application of information. These include winter identification of native species and seed germination and growth observations which students will begin over break with seeds provided by the end of fall term. In addition to individual work, there is one group project. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
NSM ENVS |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Textbook excerpts (provided): Botany: An Introduction to Plant Biology by Jim Mauseth and Field guides to get: Winter Weed Finder, Dorcas S. Miller and Ellen Amendolara, Nature Study Guild Publishers, 1989; Winter Tree Finder, May Theilgaard Watts and Tom Watts, Nature Study Guild Publishers, 1970. Numerous articles (provided) and online resources.
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Examinations and Assignments:
No exams. Assessments are primarily project-based, and include:
Reading quizzes (short, open book, untimed)
Seed Study & Journal (advance work to start seeds, journal observations)
Glossary (terms)
Native Plant Identification (independent field project)
Strategies in Conservation Group Presentation
NE Plants & Communities Paper
Participation |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Requires some advance work to set up seed germination and ability to access some kind of natural setting with native plants during the two-week class period for independent winter plant identification. Students must procure a magnifying glass or hand lens for seed germination and plant identification capable of 10x. |
| Instructor(s): Miller,Kathleen (Kate) Times: .MTWRF. 09:30AM-12:00PM; .MTWRF. 01:00PM-02:00PM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: 3 | JR major: 3 | | |
| Seats Available: -1 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 2 | SO: 2 | FR: 2 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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