Rocky Mountain Field Seminars     

Mountain Ecology: Unique Interactions in Nature

July 12-14,  2013

Course Level: III               Course #: S3073

Fee: $250 for all 3 days or $100 for each individual day

Instructor:  Dr.  John C. Emerick

Times:

Course Description: 

Besides having a spectacular landscape, Rocky Mountain National Park is home to many ecosystems typical of the Southern Rocky Mountains. In this seminar, we will explore some of these ecosystems, examining their dominant plants and typical wildlife species. We will also discuss key biological, geological, and climatic processes that, over time, have formed and characterize each ecosystem type. We will visit sunny mountain meadows and shrub lands, moist riparian ecosystems, and a variety of forest habitats. Trail Ridge Road makes some of the best examples of alpine tundra in the Southern Rocky Mountains easily available, and we will explore this ecosystem as well.

Course Objectives: 

1. Become familiar with major ecosystem types typical of Rocky Mountain National Park, including dominant plant species and growth forms.

2. Learn the role of climate, disturbance, and the process of ecological succession in forming each type of ecosystem.

3. Gain an understanding of the interactions between characteristic wildlife species and plant communities in each ecosystem type.

Course Level:  III

Moderate hikes of less than five miles per day with elevation gain of less than 1,000 feet.  Locations will vary by day; however, participants can expect to be at elevations exceeding 10,000 ft. for an extended period of time on at least one day of this course.  Other field locations will include lower elevation meadows, subalpine ecosystems, and West Side terrain.

Brief Instructor Biography (additional information available at www.rmna.org):

John Emerick, Ph.D., was an ecologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from 1974-1979.  From 1979-2001, he served as a faculty member for the Department of Environmental Sciences at the Colorado School of Mines.  He co-authored From Grassland to Glacier and authored the Rocky Mountain National Park Natural History Handbook. Dr. Emerick presently resides in Redstone, Colorado, where he works as a consulting ecologist.

Expectations:

Professional conduct will be expected from participants at all times.  Respect for individual ideas will be observed.  Except during course breaks, cellular phones, pagers, and personal entertainment devices are strictly prohibited in the classroom and during field sessions.

Car-pooling:

Rocky Mountain Field Seminars courses utilize car-pooling to limit vehicles traveling into the Park.  Car-pooling makes it easier to keep the group together, reduces transit time, and allows courses greater access because fewer parking spaces are required at destinations.  In addition, it provides an opportunity for participants to discuss course material in small groups during transit.  Typically, a few participants from each course volunteer the use of their vehicles for car-pooling to course locations.

Note:  Rocky Mountain Field Seminars recommends that participants for all courses dress in layers and wear comfortable, sturdy hiking boots/shoes.  Participants should be prepared for sudden changes in temperature and weather conditions. 

What to Bring:

• sack lunch, snacks, WATER

Optional:

• Binoculars
• hand lens
• favorite bird or plant field guide

Remember to Bring the 10 Essentials:

Rocky Mountain National Park recommends that hikers always carry the 10 essentials in their daypacks.

     Raingear                                     Map and compass                       Flashlight or headlamp

     Sunglasses and sunscreen            Candles                                      Matches or other fire starter

     Pocketknife                                 First-aid kit                                 Sack lunch, snacks, water            Extra layers of clothing

Recommended Reading: 

J. C. Emerick, Rocky Mountain National Park Natural History Handbook (if available)

Teacher Recertification Credit:

Most seminars are eligible for teacher recertification credit through the Centennial Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES).  The fee is $25.00 per seminar (.5 unit) or $25.00 per series of threaded seminars (1.0 - 3.0 units).   A list of threaded seminars can be found online at www.rmna.org.  Participants must enroll in all seminars of a threaded series in order to qualify for the $25.00 multi-unit fee. Please be prepared to pay for this credit with a check, made payable to BOCES, on the first day of a seminar or on the final day of a threaded series of seminars.