FRST 351 – Forest Pathology

Syllabus

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• COURSE INTRODUCTION

• SCOPE AND CREDIT

• COURSE FORMAT

• TEXTS & SUPPLIES

• LEARNING OUTCOMES

• EVALUATION

• ACADEMIC POLICIES

• SCHEDULE

COURSE INTRODUCTION [Go To Top]

An introduction to the major forest tree diseases in B.C., including life cycles, damage, identification, nomenclature, and methods of control.  Prerequisite knowledge of forest ecology, plant physiology and dendrology is an asset.  This course focuses on the significant forest pathology agents in the forests of British Columbia.  This includes coverage of fungal pathogens, parasitic plants, wildlife, and other biotic and abiotic agents. The detection, assessment and treatment of major economic pests within these groups are covered in detail. (3:0:1)

SCOPE AND CREDIT [Go To Top]

This 3 credit course is accepted towards the

• Forestry Technology Diploma

• Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology

• Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection

• Bachelor of Fisheries & Aquaculture

• Bachelor of Arts

COURSE FORMAT [Go To Top]

Learning will be accomplished through a variety of activities, including attending lectures, participating in class discussions, specimen ID exercises, diagnostic exercises, field trips, reading assignments and web searches.

TEXTS & SUPPLIES [Go To Top]

The following texts are required for this course:

• Van der Kamp, B.  1998.  Forestry 309 Forest Pathology.  Second edition.  UBC Access Guided Independent Study.

• Henigman, J. et al.  2001.  Field Guide to Forest Damage in BC.  Second edition.  Joint Publ. No. 17. (available from Technician)

The following texts are recommended for this course:

• Edmonds, R. L., Agee, J. K. and Gara, R. L.  2000.  Forest Health and Protection.  McGraw-Hill.  Boston. (Library reserve)

LEARNING OUTCOMES [Go To Top]

Upon successful completion of the course, students will:

1. Be conversant with the terms, concepts and principles used in forest pathology
    

2. Locate appropriate resources for accessing further information on disease agents.
    

3. Recognize the presence of disease in forest trees and identify the causal agent based on the presence of signs; utilize expert systems to diagnose potential causal agents based on observed symptoms.
    

4. Name and rank the most significant pathogens for the important conifers of BC
    

5. Describe the role of pathogens as natural or introduced components of forest ecosystems (i.e. agents that affect mortality, wood decomposition, species and structural diversity, succession and wildlife habitat)
    

6. Describe the role of pathogens as they relate to forest management objectives (e.g. biodiversity, recreation/aesthetics, wildlife habitat, water quality, timber)
    

7. Describe how general forest assessments (site plans, stand management prescriptions, timber cruising and silviculture surveys) address  forest health agents; describe survey methods specific to forest health (annual overview, Hawksworth and root rot surveys).
    

8. Describe how important forest tree diseases develop over the life of a stand.
    

9. Be able to relate forest damage to stand-level (e.g. silviculture prescriptions and free growing declarations) and landscape level (harvest patterns and species choice) management decisions
    

10. Develop effective management options that are environmentally safe and economically feasible, given a stand/disease situation, for the major pathogens listed below:

• Root Disease (Phellinus, Armillaria, Tomentosus, Annosus, Black Stain, Rhizina)

• Dwarf Mistletoes (Hw, Pl, Lw & Fd)

• Stem Rusts (white pine blister rust, western gall rust, comandra and stalactiform stem rusts)

• Wilts & Cankers (Atropellis, Dutch elm disease)

• Wood Decay

• Foliar Disease

• Abiotic & Wildlife Agents

• Cone/Seed & Seedling Diseases (cone rusts and storage molds – Botrytis)

EVALUATION [Go To Top]

*Quizzes will consist of short answer questions that will cover recent lecture material, reading assignments and/or identification of specimens.  The midterm and the final exam will consist of a written portion and a hands-on identification portion.  Any missed exams or quizzes will receive a grade of zero.

Instructor Assessment

If included in the grade breakout, it will be based on student's attendance, promptness, effort, attitude & behaviour, class participation and ability to work independently.

ACADEMIC POLICIES [Go To Top]

For information on exam policies, missing tests, assignment format standards, late assignments, instructor assessment and academic misconduct (e.g., plagiarism), please refer to the VIU Forestry Department website:

Refer to http://www.mala.ca/forestry/AcademicPolicies.asp for details.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE – subject to change [Go To Top]