Courses

Note: In the event the prerequisites or corequisites listed on this web page do not match those in the UNL catalog, the prerequisites in the catalog have precedence. The prerequisites/corequisites and course objectives listed here are those approved by the School of Natural Resources Faculty.

NRES 103

Introduction to Agriculture, and Natural Resource Systems (AGRI 103, LIBR 110A) (3 cr I, II) Lec 2, disc 1. For course description, see AGRI 103. (Course cross-listing: AGRI 103.)

NRES 208

Applied Climate Sciences (3 cr I) Lec 3. Role of the atmosphere in the natural resource system. Solar radiation, water, wind and energy, hazards and risk in the plant soil atmosphere system. Role of weather and climate in crop zones, land use, and wildlife habitat. View a Sample Syllabus.

NRES 299

Special Topics (1-4 cr, max 4) Lec. Prereq: Permission. Special topics in natural resources. View a Sample Syllabus.

NRES 310

Introduction to Forest Management (4 cr) Lec 3, lab 4. Prereq: BIOS 109 or permission. One all-day Saturday field trip is required. Discussion of the history, biology, and management of the world’s forest resources with emphasis on the Great Plains region. Topics include: forest types and their relationship to site conditions, ecological principles of forest management, basic forest management practices, economic and policy decisions in forest management. The field-oriented lab emphasizes tree identification, forest ecology, forest management and wood products. 311. Wildlife Ecology and Management (3

NRES 370

Basic and Applied Climatology (METR 370) (3 cr) Lec 3. Prereq: METR 200. Processes that give rise to spatial and temporal differences in climate. Various interrelationships between humans and climate. Influence of climate on building styles, the economy, water resources, human health, and society. Humans’ inadvertent and purposeful modification of the atmosphere. (Course cross-listing: METR 370.)

NRES 406

Plant Ecophysiology: Theory and Practice (AGRO, HORT 406/806) (4 cr) Lec 3, lab 1. Prereq: Junior standing; 4 hrs ecology; and 4 hrs botany or plant physiology. Offered fall semester of even-numbered calendar years. Principles of plant physiology which underlie the relationship between plants and their physical, chemical and biotic environments. An introduction to the ecological niche, limiting factors and adaptation. An overview of the seed germination and ecology, plant and soil water relations, nutrients, plant energy budgets, photosynthesis, carbon balance and plant-animal interactions. An introduction to various field equipment used in ecophysiological studies. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/HORT 406/806, NRES 806.)

NRES 408

Microclimate: The Biological Environment (3 cr ) Prereq: MATH 106 or equivalent, 5 hrs physics or permission. Offered fall semesters. The physical factors that create the biological environment. Radiation and energy balances of earth's surfaces, terrestrial, and marine. Temperature, humidity, and wind regimes near the surface. Control of the physical environment through irrigation, windbreaks, frost protection, manipulation of light and radiation. Applications to air pollution research. Instruments for measuring environmental conditions and remote sensing of the environment. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG/HORT/METR/WATS 408.) View a Sample Syllabus.

NRES 417

Agroforestry Systems in Sustainable Agriculture (HORT 418/818) (3 cr) Lec 3. Prereq: 12 hours biological or agricultural sciences. At least one course in production agriculture and one course in natural resources is strongly suggested. Offered odd-numbered calendar years. The roles of woody plants in sustainable agricultural systems of temperate regions. Emphasis on the ecological and economic benefits of trees and shrubs in the agricultural landscape. Topics include: habitat diversity and biological control; shelterbelts structure, function, benefits and design; intercropping systems; silvopastoral systems; riparian systems; and production of timber and specialty crops. Comparison of temperate agroforestry systems to those of tropical areas. (Course cross-listing: HORT 418/818, NRES 817.)

NRES 452

Climate and Society (AGRO, GEOG, METR 450/850) (3 cr) Prereq: METR 200 or 351 or equivalent, or permission. Offered spring semester of even-numbered calendar years. Impact of climate and extreme climatic events on society and societal responses to those events. Global in scope and interdisciplinary. (Course cross-listing: AGRO, GEOG; METR 450/850.) View a Sample Syllabus.

NRES 454

Ecological Interactions (NRES 454/854) (4 cr) Lec 3, lab 4. Prereq: BIOS 220 or equivalent. May also be offered at Cedar Point Biological Station. Nature and characteristics of populations and communities. Interactions within and between populations in community structure and dynamics. Direct and indirect interactions and ecological processes, competition, predation, parasitism, herbivory, and pollination. Structure, functioning and persistence of natural communities, food web dynamics, succession, and biodiversity. (Course cross-listing: BIOS 454/854.) View a Sample Syllabus.

NRES 467

Global Climate Change (METR 467/867) (3 cr) Lec 3. Prereq: Junior standing; MATH 106; 5 hrs PHYS; METR 453/853. Offered fall semester of even-numbered calendar years. Elements of climate systems, El Nino and/or LaNina cycle and monsoons, natural variability of climate on interannual and interdecadal scales. Paleoclimate, and future climate, developed climate change scenarios and climate change impacts on natural resources and the environment. (Course cross-listing: METR 467/867, NRES 867.) View a Sample Syllabus.

NRES 469

Bio-Atmospheric Instrumentation (AGRO, GEOG, MSYM, METR 469/869; HORT 407/807) (3 cr I) Lec 2/lab 1. Prereq: Junior standing; MATH 106; 4 hrs physics; physical or biological science major. Offered fall semester of odd-numbered calendar years. Discussion and practical application of principles and practices of measuring meteorological and related variables near the earth’s surface including temperature, humidity, precipitation, pressure, radiation and wind. Performance characteristics of sensors and modern data collection methods are discussed and evaluated. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG 469, HORT 407, METR/MSYM 469.) View a Sample Syllabus.

NRES 478

Regional Climatology (METR 478/878) (3 cr) Lec 3. Prereq: NRES/METR 370. Regional differentiation of the climates of the earth on both a descriptive and dynamic basis. The chief systems of climatic classification. (Course cross-listing: NRES 878.)

NRES 496

Independent Study (1-5 cr, max 12 I, II, III) Ind. Prereq: 12 hrs natural resource sciences or closely-related fields, and permission. Individual or group projects in research, literature review, or extension of course work. View a Sample Syllabus.

NRES 806

Plant Ecophysiology: Theory and Practice (AGRO, HORT 406/806) (4 cr) Lec 3, lab 1. Prereq: Junior standing; 4 hrs ecology; and 4 hrs botany or plant physiology. Offered fall semester of even-numbered calendar years. Principles of plant physiology which underlie the relationship between plants and their physical, chemical and biotic environments. An introduction to the ecological niche, limiting factors and adaptation. An overview of the seed germination and ecology, plant and soil water relations, nutrients, plant energy budgets, photosynthesis, carbon balance and plant-animal interactions. An introduction to various field equipment used in ecophysiological studies. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/HORT 406/806, NRES 806.)

NRES 808

Microclimate: The Biological Environment (AGRO, GEOG, HORT, METR 408/808; WATS 408) (3 cr) Prereq: Junior standing, MATH 106 or equivalent, 5 hrs physics, major in any of the physical or biological sciences or engineering; or permission. Physical factors that create the biological environment. Radiation and energy balances of earth’s surfaces, terrestrial and marine. Temperature, humidity, and wind regimes near the surface. Control of the physical environment through irrigation, windbreaks, frost protection, manipulation of light, and radiation. Applications to air pollution research. Instruments for measuring environmental conditions and remote sensing of the environment. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG/HORT/METR 808.)

NRES 817

Agroforestry Systems in Sustainable Agriculture (HORT 418/818) (3 cr) Lec 3. Prereq: 12 hours biological or agricultural sciences. At least one course in production agriculture and one course in natural resources is strongly suggested. Offered odd-numbered calendar years. The roles of woody plants in sustainable agricultural systems of temperate regions. Emphasis on the ecological and economic benefits of trees and shrubs in the agricultural landscape. Topics include: habitat diversity and biological control; shelterbelts structure, function, benefits and design; intercropping systems; silvopastoral systems; riparian systems; and production of timber and specialty crops. Comparison of temperate agroforestry systems to those of tropical areas. (Course cross-listing: HORT 418/818, NRES 417.)

NRES 849

Woody Plant Growth and Development (BIOS *849; HORT *849) (3 cr I) Lec 2. Prereq: CHEM 251 and AGRO 325 Offered fall semester of odd-numbered calendar years. Plant growth and development specifically of woody plants as viewed from an applied whole-plant physiological level. Plant growth regulators, structure and secondary growth characteristics of woody plants, juvenility, senescence, abscission and dormancy. (Course cross-listing: BIOS/HORT 849.)

NRES 852

Climate and Society (AGRO, GEOG, METR 450/850) (3 cr) Prereq: METR 200 or 351 or equivalent, or permission. Offered spring semester of even-numbered calendar years. Impact of climate and extreme climatic events on society and societal responses to those events. Global in scope and interdisciplinary. (Course cross-listing: AGRO, GEOG; METR 450/850.)

NRES 867

Global Climate Change (METR 467/867) (3 cr) Lec 3. Prereq: Junior standing; MATH 106; 5 hrs PHYS; METR 453/853. Offered fall semester of even-numbered calendar years. Elements of climate systems, El Nino and/or LaNina cycle and monsoons, natural variability of climate on interannual and interdecadal scales. Paleoclimate, and future climate, developed climate change scenarios and climate change impacts on natural resources and the environment. (Course cross-listing: METR467/867, NRES 467.)

NRES 869

Bio-Atmospheric Instrumentation (AGRO, GEOG, MSYM, METR 469/869; HORT 407/807) (3 cr I) Lec 2/lab 1. Prereq: Junior standing; MATH 106; 4 hrs physics; physical or biological science major. Offered fall semester of odd-numbered calendar years. Discussion and practical application of principles and practices of measuring meteorological and related variables near the earth’s surface including temperature, humidity, precipitation, pressure, radiation and wind. Performance characteristics of sensors and modern data collection methods are discussed and evaluated. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG/METR/MSYM 869, HORT 807.)

NRES 878

Regional Climatology (METR 478/878) (3 cr) Lec 3. Prereq: NRES/METR 370. Regional differentiation of the climates of the earth on both a descriptive and dynamic basis. The chief systems of climatic classification. (Course cross-listing: NRES 478.)

NRES 906

Crop Growth and Yield Modeling (3 cr II) Lec 2, lab2. Prereq NRES 808 or equivalent. Experience in programming in a high-level computer language. Offered spring semester of even-numbered calendar years. Descriptive and explanatory crop growth and yield models will be studied in detail. Descriptive models will focus on yield predictions using easily available inputs while the processes that lead to yield will be examined in explanatory models. (Course cross-listing: AGRO 906.) View a Sample Syllabus.

NRES 907

Agricultural Climatology (3 cr II) Lec 2, lab 2. Prereq NRES 808; BIOM *801 or equivalent or permission. Offered spring semester of odd-numbered calendar years. Analysis and use of climatological data as applied to agricultural activities and the use of climatological information to assist in decision making. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/HORT 907; METR 952.) View a Sample Syllabus.

NRES 908

Solar Radiation Interactions at the Earth's Surface (3 cr) Prereq MATH 208; AMET 808 or equivalent or permission. Offered spring semester of even-numbered calendar years. Quantitative study of radiative transfer to the earth's surface and subsequent interactions of radiation with vegetative components and underlying surfaces. Applications of canopy radiative modeling and remote sensing techniques, particularly in understanding land-surface processes, are discussed. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/METR/HORT 908.)

NRES 954

Turbulent Transfer in the Atmospheric Surface Layer (BSEN 954) (3 cr) Prereq: MATH 821; MECH 310 or NRES 808 or BIOS 857; or equivalent or permission Offered spring semester of odd-numbered calendar years. (Course cross-listing: BSEN 954.) View a Sample Syllabus.