Yellowstone Field Study: Session Two

Texts

Geology:
TBA

Biology:
Keiter, Robert and Mark Boyce (eds.). The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (Yale University Press, 1991). [Chapters 1–3, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16–24.]

Issues:
Baden, John A. and Donald Snow (eds.). The Next West: Public Lands, Community and Economy in the American West. (Washington, D.C.: The Gallatin Institute, 1997.)

Lecture No. Date Lecture Topic
1 H July 12 Students arrive—general meeting at 8 p.m.
2 F July 13 Geologic history of Yellowstone/mineralization and mountain building [Cooke City area]
3 Sa July 14 Older volcanism
[Mt. Washburn area]
4 Su July 15 OPEN
5 M July 16 Older and recent volcanism
[Tower and Specimen Ridge areas]
6 T July 17 Recent seismic and volcanic activity
[Mammoth and Norris areas]
7 W July 18 Hydrology and glaciology of Yellowstone
[Yellowstone Lake and Yellowstone River]
8 H July 19 Geothermal processes in Yellowstone
[Mammoth and Norris geyser basin]
9 F July 20 Geothermal processes
[Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone].
10 Sa July 21 **Examination one**
[Field examination]
11 Su July 22 OPEN
12 M July 23 E1: [a.m.] K-Z: Ecology concepts and terms. Acquisition of ADAPTATIONS.
[p.m.] Crazy Creek Trail
[Montane life zone—species types and numbers]
13 T July 24 [a.m.] Confluence: causes of biogeography.
[p.m.] Observation of species distribution on Beartooth Highway. [Montane, Subalpine, and Alpine life zones.]
14 W July 25 [a.m.] Barn: COMMUNITY: Populations and mechanisms of growth rate regulation.
[p.m.] Clark's Fork Highway [lower to middle Montane life zone]. Old growth forest.
15 H July 26 [a.m.] Bison issue [John Mack].
[p.m.] Yellowstone Wolf project [Doug Smith].
16 F July 27 Exit of Clark's Fork into Big Horn basin. Grass/shrub life zone. ECOSYSTEMS: Organization, energy flow, and nutrient cycles.
17 Sa July 28 Reef Creek hike. Causes and consequences of ecosystem disruption. Evidence for historical and contemporary succession.
18 Su July 29 OPEN
19 M July 30 E7: Island Lake hike. Comparative observations of the Subalpine and Alpine Life Zones. Review mechanisms and consequences of energy flow in ecosystems. Ecosystem stability and future prospects.
20 T July 31 **Examination two**
[Field examination]
21 W Aug 1 History of settlement of the West and associated natural resources law
22 H Aug 2 History of settlement of the West and associated law
23 F Aug 3 "Man and Nature," environmental values, conflicting demands on public lands
24 Sa Aug 4 Continued historical and policy discussions
25 Su Aug 5 OPEN
26 M Aug 6 Western economic values and environmentalism
27 T Aug 7 Controversies about environmentalism and the law
28 W Aug 8 Controversies about environmentalism and the law
29 Aug 9 **Examination three**
[three-hour written essay exam]
30 F Aug 10 Students depart
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