FRST 304: FOREST STEWARDSHIP IN A CHANGING CLIMATE


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FRST 304: FOREST STEWARDSHIP IN A CHANGING CLIMATE

Dr. Suzanne Simard
Rubric for field assignment of evergreen and deciduous trees in their local forest ecosystems
DUE SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2026
Please ensure your submission includes your full name and your student number.
(1) Species Identification & Photo Metadata (2 marks)
For each of your 6–8 tree or shrub species, you must provide all of the following information:
A. Species Identification
  • Common name
  • Scientific (Latin) name, written in the proper format: Genus species (Genus capitalized, species lowercase, both italicized)
B. Photo Location and Context
  • Clearly indicate where the photo was taken by providing one of the following:
    • A location screenshot (e.g., map screenshot), or
    • A rough address, or
    • A recognizable location name (e.g., Pacific Spirit Regional Park)
  • If your species are photographed in different locations, you must provide location information for each species separately.
  • You must also state where you completed this assignment geographically, for example:
    • Vancouver, Canada
    • Ontario, Canada
    • Tokyo, Japan
(2) Photographic Documentation (14 marks total)

Submit 6–8 photos, each of a different native tree or shrub species, preferably photographed in its natural forest ecosystem.• 2 marks – Photos of each species clearly taken in its natural forest ecosystem

  • 2 marks – Overall photo quality (focal species in focus, forest context visible)
  • 2 marks – Description of the rough location where photos were taken
  • 1 mark per species – Clear identifiable feature visible for each species
    • (e.g., leaves, needles, bark, branching form, overall tree shape)
Note: A total of 8 photos is required for full marks.
(3) Integrated Field Essay (~500 words total) (16 marks)

Write one cohesive essay (approximately 500 words) that addresses all of the following components.

A. Species and Neighbors (4 marks)
  • 2 marks – Identification of the focal tree/shrub species (common + Latin names)
  • 2 marks – Identification of the immediate neighboring species surrounding your focal species
B. Site Conditions (4 marks)
  • 2 marks – Description of the soil moisture regime
    • (e.g., dry, mesic, wet)
  • 2 marks – Description of the slope position
    • (crest, mid-slope, lower slope)
C. Forest Successional Status (4 marks)
  • Comment on the successional stage of the forest:
    • young, mature, or old-growth
  • Justify your assessment using stand-level observations
    • (e.g., tree size distribution, canopy structure, understory development)
D. Climate and Future Outlook (4 marks)
  • 2 marks – Link each species to the regional climate it typically thrives in• 2 marks – Discuss how scientists predict each species will fare over the next century under climate change
    • Consider tolerance to temperature, moisture stress, competition, and potential range shifts
General Expectations
  • Observations should be grounded in course concepts, lectures, and readings.
  • Emphasis is placed on ecological reasoning, not just description.
  • The essay should be integrated and concise, and should not be written as disconnected bullet points.
  • This is an individual assignment based on your own field observations.
  • Use of AI tools:
    • You are welcome to use AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly) for language-related support only, such as grammar checking, sentence clarity, or minor wording revisions.
    • If you use any AI tools, you must clearly state at the end of the assignment:
      • Which AI tool(s) you used, and
      • For what purpose (e.g., grammar revision, clarity improvement).
    • AI must not be used to write the assignment for you.
This assignment is based on your own photos, field observations, and ecological interpretation. AI tools are not capable of accurately observing:
      • Your photographs,
      • Site-specific ecosystem details, or
      • Local ecological and cultural context (including Indigenous-related information).
    • We do not expect professional-level writing or analysis. We do expect to see your own effort, thinking, and engagement with the field observations.
    • If an assignment is found to be largely or entirely AI-generated, a grade of 0 will be assigned.

2026-03-31