Ecosystem Classification

This course is a survey of natural wetland and forest ecosystems and associated plant communities found in central Ontario. A range of vascular and non-vascular wetland and terrestrial plants and lichens will be identified with a focus on indicator species. Identification of these organisms combined with hands-on experience in describing soils in the field will be used to classify a range of local ecosystems using current Ontario Ecological Land Classification tools at the Ecosite and Vegetation-Type level.