Understanding and management for "wise use" of natural resources depends on quantifying many ecological services and products. The primary emphasis in this course will be on understanding quantitative assessment and interpretation of measurements and model predictions relating to natural ecosystems. The course will use trees and forests as case studies to provide students with an understanding of a range of measurement and modelling concepts, approaches and applications, as well as methods for determining the suitability of particular approaches for particular tasks.

Topics introduced will include measuring trees (diameter, height, volume, biomass, carbon, and canopy parameters); creating useful models to avoid making expensive measurements (height/diameter, volume and biomass equations); estimating change (growth and yield models of volume and biomass). Field-based case studies will support integration of the lecture and reading material as well as providing "real world" examples of research and general application. Students will extrapolate their learning to consider measurement and modeling other parameters of ecological interest.