Nov 10, 2024
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2022-23

PBIO 2480 - Dendrology: A Study of Trees, Shrubs, and Lianas


This is a field course to teach students how to identify local woody species throughout the forests of Ohio, any time of the year. Students will gain hands-on experience to successfully recognize the key features of woody plants to be proficient in identifying plants during any season. This course will go beyond description because students will also learn about reproductive and establishment requirements to help aid identification and understand how these species can be used as a bioindicator of site quality, disturbance regimes, and land-use history. Due to the field based nature of this course, student need to be willing to walk several miles in rough terrain and poor weather. Students will compile their knowledge by making a field guide of the species covered in class for outreach.

Requisites: PBIO 1150 or BIOS 1710 or GEOG 1100
Credit Hours: 3
OHIO BRICKS Pillar: Natural Sciences
Repeat/Retake Information: May be retaken two times excluding withdrawals, but only last course taken counts.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 6.0 lecture
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:
  • Students will apply scientific nomenclature and fundementals of plant taxonomy toward plant identification.
  • Students will apply species habitat requirements, reproduction strategies, and life history traits for identification.
  • Students will be able to describe important biological and ecological properties of each species covered in the course.
  • Students will be able to explain how plant species composition can be used to evaluate site quality and past land-use history.
  • Students will be able to identify, written and verbally, the common and scientific name of each species covered in the course.
  • Students will identify trees, shrubs, and woody vines in the natural environment during all seasons.


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