Cliff & Rock Outcrop Communities of the Southern Appalachians: August 3 – August 7

Laura Boggess, Mars Hill University & Gary Kauffman, USFS, National Forest in NC (undergrad credit only)

Rock outcrop and cliff communities represent a small fraction of land area in the Southern Appalachians but contain a disproportionately large number of rare species and unique community types. This workshop will give you first-hand experience of several of these unique and beautiful habitats, including high elevation granitic domes, high elevation rocky summits, montane cliffs, and montane red cedar woodlands. We will spend part of each day in the field (with at least one full-day trip) as well as time in the lab, identifying species and discussing cliff-related scientific literature. We hope you will gain a better understanding and deeper appreciation of the diversity, ecology, and conservation value of Southern Appalachian outcrop and cliff communities.

Prerequisites: Introductory biology, ecology, or permission of instructor.

Click here to apply.