INT 256– Tree Pests and Disease Page 1
INT 256 - TREE PESTS AND DISEASE
Spring 2007
DESCRIPTION
Advanced concepts about tree disease and its development, the role of tree disease in forest
dynamics, and relavent characterics of tree pests. Applies concepts to common disease
complexes found in Maine and other regions of North America. Satisfies the General Education
Writing Intensive Requirement. Prerequisite: FES 100, BIO 100 or equivalent, or permission.
Credits 4.
MEETING TIMES
LECTURE: M, W, F 9 - 9:50 am Nutting 213.; LAB: M or W 1:10 - 4 p.m.
213 Nutting Hall
INSTRUCTOR
William H. Livingston, Associate Professor of Forest Resources
Office: 116 Nutting Hall
Phone: 581-2990
E-mail: WilliamL@maine.edu
Appointments available by request
COURSE OBJECTIVES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES.
Students will:
1.
Be able to recognize and distinguish a healthy tree from a diseased tree.
2.
Correctly apply concepts of disease development to actual case studies.
3.
Properly evaluate the biological role of tree disease in forests.
4.
Demonstrate understanding on how tree pests incite disease.
5.
Write reports that demonstrate a successful use of information to support their
opinion on tree disease topics.
6.
Be able to explain the Health Management Plans for major disease complexes and
the rationale for their recommendations.
7.
Write a Health Management Plan that completely describes two disease complexes
affecting a tree species and how they should be managed.
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL AND METHODS
Required textbook:
Edmonds, R.L., J.K. Agee, and R.I. Gara. 2000. Forest Health and Protection.
McGraw-Hill Co., NY. 630 p.
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Recommended references:
Adams, K.B., D.C. Allen, P.D. Manion, and L.P. Abrahamson. 1995. The
Stewardship of Northern Hardwoods: A Forest Owner’s Handbook. SUNYESF, Syracuse, NY. 83 p.
Skelly, J.M., et al., editors. 1987. Diagnosing Injury to Eastern Forest Trees. Agric.
Inform. Serv., Coll. Agric, Penn. State Univ. and USDA For. Serv. 122 p.
Web Site.
There is a web site for the class at:
http://www.umaine.edu/fes/Classes/int256/home/default.htm/
The web site contains class messages, files for lecture notes, links to required readings,
recordings of lectures, previous exams, and some of the handouts.
E-Mail.
Each student will be asked to provide the instructor an e-mail address that can be used
during the semester. E-mail will be used for sending questions to and messages between
the instructors and students.
Lecture Readings and Recordings.
Copies of the readings not from the textbook are available on-line. The readings are
required. Lecture recordings are also on the web site and need to be viewed prior to class.
Class Activities
At the start of each class period, the instuctor will describe an activity (e.g., anwer
questions, respond to a case study, identify characteristics of a tree pest) that students need
to complete in groups of 2 or 3. After 15 to 30 minutes, the written responses will be given
to the instructor. An open discussion will follow concerning acceptable responses to the
assignement and anwering questions as needed. The process will be repeated until the end
of the class period.
Written Reports.
Questions concerning the recorded lecture material and readings will be given at the start
of the second and fourth weeks of the semester and are due one week later. You must state
a clear position (thesis) on a tree disease topic, and then use the rest of the report to
critically analyze your position. Assignments will be 4-5 pages long, double spaced, and
will be evaluated on correct usage of terms and concepts presented in the readings,
recordings, and class activities. How reports will be graded is indicated in the table at the
end of the syllabus.
Reports turned in after the due date will be marked down 10 percent of the total points for
each day beyond the due date. You are encouraged to discuss your reports with other
students, but each student must write his or her own paper.
Additional credit can be earned on graded reports by rewriting the assignment and
submitting the revised draft within one week after receiving the graded first draft. You can
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improve your grade by up to 10% (1 letter grade). Students earning less than 75% of the
points must revise their papers in order to receive full credit. Failure to revise these papers
will result in a 0 for the assignment.
Exams.
Two written exams are scheduled. Questions will require short, written responses and will
cover material from readings, recordings, and class activities. Copies of previous exams
will be made available on the class’s web site.
There will be a final exam given during final exams week. The exam will be divided into
two parts. The first part will have questions over material covered since the second exam
and is worth 100 points. The second part covers material from the entire class and is worth
100 points. The exam format is the same as that described for the first two exams.
Semester Paper.
The objective of the semester paper is to utilize knowledge concerning trees, insects, fungi,
principals of disease, and principals of integrated pest management to develop a Tree
Health Management Plan for improving and maintaining the health of a forest. You will
develop the plan through four assignments over the course of the semester.
LABORATORY.
In the first 3/4 of the semester you will learn to identify important groups of insects, fungi,
and associated diseases. During the last 4 weeks, labs will be outside. A collection of
insects, fungi, and associated diseases is required. Grading will be based on weekly
descriptions, quizzes, and the collection.
COURSE GRADING.
Laboratory
Weekly Descriptions
9%
Weekly Quizzes
8%
Collection
8%
Total
25%
Lecture
Weekly written assignments
9%
Exam 1
12%
Exam 2
12%
Exam 3 (finals week)
12%
Comprehensive (finals week)
12%
Total
57%
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Semester Paper
Section drafts
10%
Final Paper
8%
Total
18%
CLASS SCHEDULE
Week 1
Basic Concepts of Tree Health & Disease
Week 2
Health Management Plans, Forest Disease
Week 3
Introduce Semester Paper; review available literature; begin
literature search, Fungi & Infectious Disease
Week 4
Entomology and IPM
Week 5
Review and Exam
Week 6
White Pine Health Management Plant (HMP):
Blister Rust, Weevil, Decline
Week 7
American Chestnut HMP: Blight:|
American Elm HMP: Dutch Elm Disease, Elm Yellows
Week 8
Spruce/fir HMP: Spruce Budworm, Spruce Beetle, Decay,
Balsam Woolly Adelgid
Week 9
White Oak HMP: Gypsy Moth; Armillaria Root Disease;
American Beech HMP: Beech Bark Disease
Week 10
Loblolly Pine HMP: Fusiform Rust, Southern Pine Beetle
Week 11
Douglas Fir HMP: Dwarf Mistletoe, Phellinus Root Disease;
Pacific Oaks HMP: Sudden Oak Death
Week 12
Eastern Hemlock HMP: Woolly Adelgid, Drought Stress;
Week 13
White Ash HMP: Emerald Ash Borer; Ash Yellows
Week 14
Review
COMPLETION OF WORK
To earn credit for this class, all work must be completed. If any assignment has not been
completed, then an incomplete (I) will be given. The work must be completed by the 10th week
of the following semester or the grade will automatically be converted to a fail (E).
Any assignment turned in late will lose 10% of the grade value for each day late unless lateness
is due to an excused absence.
DISABILITY NOTICE
If you have a disability for which you may be requesting an accommodation, contact Ann Smith,
Director of Disabilities Services, 121 East Annex, 581-2319, as early as possible in the term.
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STUDENT BEHAVIOR
Every student in the class is expected to be familiar with the University's Student Conduct Code
(http://www.umaine.edu/handbook/) part of which states, "It is expected that students will
conduct their affairs with proper regard for the rights of others and of the University. All
members of the University community share a responsibility for maintaining an environment
where actions are guided by mutual respect, integrity, and reason." If the instructor believes that a
student's behavior is violating this code or other codes in the Handbook, the instructor has the
option to ask that the behavior cease and will seek advice from the appropriate office on campus
on how to deal with the student's behavior.
Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism and all forms of misrepresentation in
academic work, and is unacceptable at The University of Maine. As stated in the University of
Maine’s Student Conduct Code, plagiarism (the submission of another’s work without
appropriate attribution) and cheating are violations of the code. An instructor who has probable
cause or reason to believe a student has cheated may act upon such evidence, and should report
the case to the supervising faculty member or the School Director for appropriate action.
If you have questions about this policy or want examples on what is acceptable and unacceptable
behavior, please speak with the instructor.
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Grading Table for INT 256 Written Assignments
Name: ______________________________ Assignment ____________________________
Content (67 pt)
Poor
Average
Good
XX
XX
XX
Score
Introduction: Sets context, focus statement
XX
Body: Covers subject, substantiated information
XX
Conclusion: Important points
XX
Explained in own words
XX
Relevant information and facts from presentations,
handouts, readings, own notes; supports position
XX
Style (33 pt)
XX
XX
XX
Organized well - logical flow of ideas, paragraph
objectives, relationship between paragraphs
XX
Proper grammar and spelling: Use of words,
punctuation, sentence structure, spelling
XX
TOTAL SCORE (20 PT)
XX
XX
XX