Several of the School of Environment and Natural Resources’ (SENR) courses with a heavy field laboratory component are regularly offered at the Olentangy River Wetlands (ORW). While courses are scheduled at the Heffner Wetland Research and Education Building, most of the instruction actually takes place outdoors. Scheduled labs typically begin with a short lecture, after which students head outside to gain experience with sampling methods, plant and animal identification, and/or hydrological concepts.
SENR courses commonly offered at the ORWwith course descriptions from the OSU Registrar:
ENR 4285: Watershed Hydrology
Covers hydrologic processes in watersheds, including precipitation, evapotranspiration, infiltration, runoff, and streamflow. We will evaluate how watershed characteristics, climate, and land use control these processes. In addition, we will discuss and practice current physical, chemical, and computational techniques for characterizing the hydrologic functioning of watersheds.
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ENR 4345: Methods in Aquatic Ecology
Introduction to experimental designs, field and laboratory techniques, and statistical methods commonly used to study aquatic ecosystems.
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ENR 4610: Natural History of Ohio
Field course emphasizing inter-relationship among physical and biological factors in various ecological settings; field techniques and identification skills used for research paper.
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ENR 5240: Environmental Education in Action
Explores best practices for hands-on environmental education. Explores theory and methods for developing environmental education activities that improve outcomes for various habitats or resources while also meeting academic education standards.
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ENR 5250.01: Wetland Ecology and Restoration
Wetland hydrology, biogeochemistry, vegetation, biotic adaptations. Ecosystem services, classification, and management of wetlands. Fundamental concepts of ecological engineering applied to wetland creation and restoration and river restoration.
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ENR 5250.02: Wetland Field Laboratory
Laboratory on wetland hydrology, vegetation, water quality, soils, and aquatic biota.
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ENR 5280: Stream Ecology
Structure, function, and biota of streams and rivers. Emphasis on ecosystem processes and community dynamics over space and time. Conservation, restoration, water policy, and environment-justice issues are also addressed.
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ENR 5350.01: Taxonomy and Behavior of Aquatic Invertebrates
Taxonomy and behavior of the major groups of aquatic invertebrates, with an emphasis on North American freshwater macroinvertebrates.
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ENR 5350.02: Taxonomy and Behavior of Fishes
Taxonomy and behavior of the major groups of fishes with an emphasis on North American freshwater fishes
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ENR 5362: Wildlife Ecology Methods
Methods used by wildlife ecologists to measure population characteristics and habitat quality for wild terrestrial vertebrates.
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ENR 5364.02: Avian Wildlife Biology and Management
Identification, ecology, and population management of North American birds.
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ENR 5370: Management of Wildlife Habitat
Introduction to the principles of wildlife-habitat relationships, natural history of major North American ecosystems with an Ohio focus, and the conservation and management of wildlife habitats within those ecosystems.
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ENR 8890.01: Fisheries and Wildlife Science Seminar
Graduate seminar on special topics in fisheries and wildlife science in environment and natural resources. The exact content of this course varies with instructor.
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Visit the School of Environment and Natural Resources Courses page to see all courses offered by SENR.