PCB 6048C - Restoration Ecology
4 credit hours
Lecture -Thursday 5:30-7:20 BL 415
Laboratory - Tuesday 8:30-12:20 in BFSF
PCB 7049C – Conservation Biology Practice
4 credit hours
Lecture -Thursday 5:30-7:20 BL 415
Laboratory - Tuesday 8:30-12:20 in BFSF
Pedro F Quintana-Ascencio
Biological Sciences 401D
Phone: 407-823-1662
E-mail: pquintan@mail.ucf.edu
Spring 2011
Course Outline: The field of ecology is almost 100 years old, mature enough to have welltested, general principles with practical applications. Yet the science of conservation biology
is relatively new. This course is a broad survey of how ecological principles are applied to
repair and restore ecosystem structure and function. Lectures will emphasize in-depth
understanding of how population dynamics, food webs, species interactions and
biogeochemical cycling are manipulated to restore species richness, community structure and
ecological services. Discussions and student presentations will emphasize the primary
literature, focusing on our current restoration projects (e.g. The Willow Invasion and the
MacKay Tract).
Course Objectives:
 To provide a solid background in modern ecological theory.
 To explore core ecological principles, which provide the scientific underpinning of
restoration ecology.
 To analyze case studies representing the good, the bad and the ugly in restoration
projects.
 To provide hands-on experience developing an ecological restoration project.
 To develop a can-do attitude toward environmental problem-solving based on sound
science.
Schedule:
Here are only listed Thursdays and special days. Tuesdays will be used for field work
DATE
BOOK
CHAPTER
13 JAN
20 JAN
03 FEB
10 FEB
17 FEB
6
7
LECTURE TOPIC
Course organization & introduction to restoration ecology
Definitions – crisp language describes solid concepts
SER Primer on Ecological Restoration
Guidelines – developing, managing and evaluating ecological restoration
projects SER Guidelines . . .
The challenge of distributions – Landscape structure (Joe)
The challenge of distributions – species invasions (Michael)
Fire exercise. Notice that it has a different schedule (8:00 am- 5 PM)
THURSDAY
24 FEB
03 MAR
03 MAR
8 & 10 MAR
17 MAR
24 MAR
31 MAR
07 APR
14 APR
16 APR
5
8&1
3
21 APR
12
14
12
2&4
no class
no class
The challenge of abundance – demography (Gina)
The challenge of nutrients and soil (Pamela)
The challenge of distributions – diversity (Michelle)
Spring Break
Talk: Dave Butcher. Lake Wales Ridge. Florida Division of Forestry
The challenge of biotic interactions – Food Webs (Fazal)
The challenge of biotic interactions – disturbance/succession (Courtney)
Pedro in Academic meeting in Veracruz, Mexico
Pedro in Academic meeting in Santa Barbara, CA,
Trip to Archbold Biological Station: talk, visit and field work (all day)
SATURDAY
The challenge of biotic interactions – Interactions (Eran)
Syllabus: The schedule, topics and activities are tentative and the professor reserves the right
to alter them as needed. Students will be notified if changes are necessary.
Text:
Restoration Ecology. by Sigurdur Greipsson. Jones and Bartlett.
Office hours: By appointment only Tuesday, or any other mutually convenient time.
Field trips: There will be two long field trips and several local trips. Be prepared to get dirty
and have fun doing actual restoration work!
Grades: Your final grade will be determined by your performance on participation in
discussions and class activities.

Participation is an important component of this course, and includes being actively
and intellectually engaged and communicative during lectures, discussions and group
activities.
An average of 70% is necessary for a C, 80% for a B, 90% for an A, etc. Your final grade
should reflect your ability as a restoration ecologist. However, I hope you will not obsess
about grades as they do not necessarily measure how hard you've worked, how much you've
learned, or even how much you've matured as an ecologist, and they certainly do not reflect
your value as a person. In graduate school, there is much to be learned OUTSIDE the
classroom and you will need to balance your personal goals and aspirations versus grades per
se.
I use competency-based grading in all my courses: in order to earn an A, one must
demonstrate the abilities expected of an excellent restoration ecologist. If the entire class
demonstrates such abilities, I will be absolutely delighted to give everyone an A! And the
easiest way for everyone to earn an A is to help each another - peer learning and altruism will
benefit everyone in this course.
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Make-up presentations: Will only be given for acceptable absences, defined herein as
major illness, serious family emergencies, special curricular or professional requirements (e.g.,
attending a scientific meeting), court-imposed legal obligations, military obligations, severe
weather conditions, religious holidays and participation in official university-sponsored activities
such as intercollegiate athletics.
Cheating: Don't. I will not tolerate cheating, unauthorized assistance or plagiarism of any
type and will pursue disciplinary actions to the fullest extent possible. Rules of student
conduct (including definitions of cheating, unauthorized assistance, and plagiarism) are
published in Section E of the Golden Rule.
Withdrawal: The deadline for withdrawal without penalty is published by UCF. You will
need to decide whether or not to remain in the course by that time. I do not give grades of
Incomplete.
Disability statement: UCF & Pedro Quintana-Ascencio are committed to providing
reasonable accommodations for all persons with disabilities. This syllabus is available in
alternate formats upon request. Students with disabilities who need accommodations in this
course must meet with me at the beginning of the semester to discuss them.
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