Tropical Forest Environment
| Numbering Code | U-AGR05 3E123 LJ80 | Year/Term | 2022 ・ First semester | |
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| Number of Credits | 2 | Course Type | Lecture | |
| Target Year | 3rd year students | Target Student | ||
| Language | Japanese | Day/Period | Tue.1 | |
| Instructor name | KITAJIMA KAORU (Graduate School of Agriculture Professor) | |||
| Outline and Purpose of the Course | This course provides an overview of the characteristics of the natural systems within tropical forest regions, including climate, soils, biogeography, vegetation, and biological diversity. Although the course textbook is specific to the Asian tropics, the lectures will discuss tropical forest environments from a global perspective. The course will also address a variety of topics, such as nutrient cycles, the maintenance mechanisms of biological diversity, tropical forest disturbance and vegetation succession, and how tropical forests contribute to the global carbon budget and climate change mitigation. | |||
| Course Goals |
?To understand the foundation of the natural characteristics of tropical forest regions as part of the natural diversity in the world. ?To deepen the understanding of the biological diversity of tropical forests and their contribution to ecosystem service. ?To obtain the basic knowledge necessary for the sustainable use of tropical forests. |
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| Schedule and Contents |
The following topics will be addressed in a total of 14 lectures, plus a feedback session. 1. Images and the reality of tropical forests 2. The environmental history of tropical forests 3, 4. Tropical climate 5, 6. Geology and soils in the tropical forest region 7. Vegetation types and phenology 8, 9. Biogeography and biodiversity 10. Life history of tropical trees and secondary succession 11. Interactions of plants with animals and microbes 12. Energy and soil nutrient cycles in tropical forests 13. Loss and degradation of tropical forests 14. Conservation of tropical forests 15. Feedback ＜Final exam＞ After the final text, a model answer will be shared via KULASIS to provide an opportunity for Q&A. |
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| Evaluation Methods and Policy | Grades will be based on evaluations of active attendance to the class and homework assignments (30% of the course grade) and the final exam (70% of the course grade). Active participation in Q&A during class hours will be considered as well. Refer to the current year’s "Guide to Degree Programs” for attainment levels in grade evaluation. | |||
| Course Requirements | None | |||
| Study outside of Class (preparation and review) | Come prepared for class by having read the textbook chapters in advance and thought about questions. Any pre-class assignment, including viewing of videos available online, should be done before class time. For review, use the handouts and your class notes. Be sure to submit any homework. | |||
| Textbooks | Textbooks/References | Ecology of Tropical East Asia, by Richard T. Corlette, Oxford University Press (either 1st or 2nd ed.) translated to Japanese by N. Osada et al. リチャード T. コーレット『アジアの熱帯生態学』（東海大学出版会）ISBN:978-4-486-01891-9（長田典之、松林尚志、沼田真也、安田雅俊 共訳） | ||
| References, etc. | Additional references will be mentioned during the class. | |||
