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Students will be able to:
1. Explain the discipline and scope of natural history.
2. Interpret the land use and natural history of the Pepperwood Preserve.
3. Orient oneself to the geography of the Pepperwood Preserve.
4. Record field observations in a field journal.
5. Interpret the geologic history, including the formation of rocks and soil in the Pepperwood Preserve.
6. Identify common rocks at the Pepperwood Preserve.
7. Correlate climatic factors with local weather patterns.
8. Describe factors affecting water movement and accumulation in the landscape.
9. Describe the influence of abiotic and biotic factors on vegetation patterns and ecosystem processes.
10. Relate the influence of native cultures to the natural history of the Pepperwood Preserve.
11. Demonstrate naturalist and/or land steward skills.
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I. Introduction to Natural History
A. The discipline of natural history and the scientific method
B. Natural history of Pepperwood
1. Overview of regional and local natural history at Pepperwood
2. Land use history at Pepperwood
3. Orientation to the preserve
C. Field journal
II. Geology
A. Overview of geology
1. Plate tectonics
2. The rock cycle and rock types at Pepperwood
B. Brief geologic history of California and Sonoma County
1. Coastal ranges geologic setting
2. Regional and local fault systems
C. Common igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks at Pepperwood Preserve
III. Weather and Climate
A. Insolation and temperature
B. Air pressure and wind
C. Atmospheric moisture
D. Regional climate and the microclimates of Pepperwood
IV. Soils
A. Soil profiles and horizons
B. Soil properties
C. Soil formation
D. Sonoma County and Pepperwood soil regions
V. Hydrology
A. Hydrologic cycle
B. Groundwater
1. Groundwater movement
2. Groundwater resources at Pepperwood
C. Surface water
1. Surface water movement
2. Surface water resources at Pepperwood
VI. Vegetation and Ecosystem Ecology
A. Ecological determinants of vegetation patterns
B. Vegetation patterns in Sonoma County and at Pepperwood
C. Ecosystems processes
1. Trophic levels and food webs
2. Energy flow and nutrient cycles
VII. Archaeology and Native American Culture
A. Ethnography of native peoples in Sonoma County
B. Traditional cultural uses of the Pepperwood biota
C. The Pepperwood collection of cultural resources and obsidian stone tool technology
D. Archeological field survey of the cultural resources of the Pepperwood Preserve
VIII. Methods of Natural History Interpretation
A. Effective oral communication for target audience
B. Use of demonstration materials
C. Planning of interpretation event for target audience
All topics are covered in the lecture and lab portions of the course.
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