FOREST ECOLOGY
COURSE CODE: FBM 1205
CREDIT UNITS: 3 CU
CONTACT HOURS: 45
Course Description
The course introduces students to basic principles of forest ecology and management of forest
ecosystems. Learners are provided with knowledge of the functioning of different organisms within a
forest ecosystem and interdependence of the organisms.
Objectives
The aim of the course is to provide the students with a sound understanding of the ecology and
functioning of forest ecosystems with a focus on plants. The students will study the major aspects of
plant ecology specifically strengthening their field techniques of conducting plant related research.
Plants are studied in various terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems but emphasis is on tropical forests.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students should be able to;
 Identify various organisms within a forest ecosystem
 Appreciate the importance of each organism in a forest habitat
 Plan and execute ecological management regimes in a natural forest
Course Outline
 Structure function and composition of terrestrial ecosystems e.g. Forests, Savannas and
Wetlands (5 LH; 5 PH)
 Influence of climate, hydrology and soils on plants (4 LH; 4 PH)
 Energy flows and nutrient cycling (3 LH; 3 PH)
 Reproductive biology of plants (4 LH; 4 PH)
 Forest phenology, Plant-animal interactions, Effect of human disturbance on plants (5 LH; 5 PH)
 Forest regeneration and succession (4 LH; 4 PH)
 Data collection in Plant Ecology studies, Vegetation description and analysis techniques (5 LH; 5
PH)
Mode of delivery:
Lectures: 30 CH
Practicals: 30 PH
Mode of assessment
 Continuous assessment (coursework, field and laboratory practical reports, tests) = 40%
 University examinations = 60%
Basic Reading List
Benzing, D. H. (1990). Vascular Epiphytes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Chesson, P. L. and Warner, R. R. (1981). Environmental variability promotes coexistence in lottery
competitive systems. American Naturalist 117, 923–943.
Connell, J. H. (1971). On the role of natural enemies in preventing competitive exclusion in some marine
animals and in rainforest trees. In: den Boer, P. J. and Gradwell, G. R. (eds). Dynamics of
Numbers in Populations. Centre for Agricultural Publication and Documentation, Proceedings of
the Advanced Study Institute, Osterbreek, Wageningen, The Netherlands, pp. 298–312.
Connell, J. H. (1978). Diversity in tropical rain forests and coral reefs. Science 199, 1302–1310.
Eggeling, W. J. (1947). Observations on the ecology of the Budongo rain forest,
Forsythe, A. and K. Miyata (1986). Tropical Nature. Scribners, Inc., New York.
Givnish, T. J. (1999). On the causes of gradients in tropical tree diversity. Journal of Ecology 87, 192–210.
Hamilton, A. C. (1982). Environmental History of East Africa. Pp. 328 Academic Press, New York.