2/4/2025 8:54:35 PM	NRM 173 Course Outline as of Fall 2025	New Course (First Version)
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  NRM 173	Title:  RANGE PLANTS OF SOCO
Full Title:  Range Plants of Sonoma County
Last Reviewed:12/9/2024

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	2.00	Lecture Scheduled	1.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	17.50
Minimum	2.00	Lab Scheduled	3.00		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	52.50
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	4.00			Contact Total	70.00
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  35.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 105.00

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As:  ANSC 173
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

Students will explore plants on managed lands in Sonoma County that are important to grassland and shrubland management. This course will include identification, taxonomy, distribution, forage value, and ecological relationships of primarily grasses and forbs and a limited overview of ecologically important trees and shrubs. Field trips are a required part of this course.  

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL C1000 or EMLS 10

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Students will explore plants on managed lands in Sonoma County that are important to grassland, and shrubland management. This course will include identification, taxonomy, distribution, forage value and ecological relationships of primarily grasses and forbs and a limited overview of ecologically important trees and shrubs. Field trips are a required part of this course.  

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL C1000 or EMLS 10
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Identify range plants based on their taxonomic groupings, using vegetative and reproductive morphology.

2. Students will describe the context in which a plant is found and the opportunities and challenges of important rangeland plants related to wildland management.

3. Identify key characteristics of common range plants including if a plant is native to the area, season of growth, the value for grazing animals and as wildlife food and cover.

 

Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Identify range plants using common and scientific names.

2. Identify if a plant is native to the area, season of growth, response to grazing and value as a grazing plant for wildlife and livestock.

3. Observe, identify, and  describe the type of vegetation supported by a given soil and topographical location.

4. Explain the effects of rangeland management on plant species.

5. Maintain a field journal to compile data on ecology, topography, weather, land management and common plant species.

Topics and Scope

I. Overview of the Ecosystems of Sonoma County

II. Plants Common to Sonoma County Rangelands

III. Plant Anatomy, Physiology and Identification

IV. Forage Value of Plants for Wildlife and Livestock

V. Management of Rangelands Effects on Plant Communities

    A. Historic management

    B. Effects of grazing systems

    C. Fire in rangelands

VI. Association of Ecological Factors with Rangeland Plant Species

VII. Biological Characteristics of the Indicator Plant Species

 

The following parts of the course are covered during lab hours:

I. Evaluate Plant Use for Wildlife and Livestock

II. Forage Value of Plants for Wildlife and Livestock

III. Identify Range Plants using Anatomy and Physiology

IV. Evaluate Seasonal Plant Change

V. Ecology and Topography of Sonoma County and its Effect on Range Plants

Assignments:

Lecture-Related Assignments:

1. Assigned textbook reading

2. Quizzes (3)

3. Plant identification exam (1)

 

Lab-Related Assignments:

1. Maintain field journal

2. Plant identification using the dichotomous key and other resources

3. Field notes from field trips

4. Field work

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 20 - 30%
Field notes from field trips, field journal
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 15%
Field work
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 10 - 30%
Use of dichotomous key & other plant ID resources
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 50%
Quizzes, exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Field Guide to Grasses of California. Smith, James University of California Press. 2014. (classic).

California Plants - A Guide to Our Iconic Flora. Ritter, Matt. Pacific Street Publishing. 2018. (classic).

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