Instructor: Dr. Mollie Cashner (Austin Peay University) Stay tuned for course description and syllabus. Visit https://highlandsbiological.org/2022-academic-course-schedule/ for more information.

Instructor: Dr. Paul Manos (Duke University) The course is designed for students of all sorts, professional biologists, and amateur enthusiasts. The goals are to introduce plant diversity with a community-based approach through field observations of the flora of the Blue Ridge: to emphasize basic distinguishing features among lycophytes, ferns and seed plants; to focus on field characteristics of common and rare species and their habitats; to use keys to identify species; and to better understand the ecology of the major plant communities of the region and the biogeography of the species. Prerequisites: One course in Introductory biology or ecology, training in natural history or permission of instructor Cost: $1000 course fee + $600 housing fee (if staying on-site) Click here for the syllabus.

Instructors: Dr. Mike Caterino (Clemson University) and Dr. Paul Marek (Virginia Tech) A hands-on introduction to field and lab methods for the sampling and identification of arthropods living in leaf litter. Litter sifting will be practiced in multiple habitats. Following Berlese extraction of specimens, students will learn to identify the major groups and conduct preliminary comparisons of diversity among samples and habitat types. Prerequisites: General biology required. A course in general entomology would be useful but not critical. Cost: $500 course fee + $300 housing fee (if staying on-site). Click here for the syllabus.

Bill Jacobs, Author of Whence These Special Places? The Geology of Cashiers, Highlands & Panthertown Valley  This workshop has grown out of Bill Jacobs’ book, Whence These Special Places? The Geology of Cashiers, Highlands & Panthertown Valley.  As reflected in both the book and his talks, Bill is particularly fascinated with how geologic processes, some dating back more than 500 million years, have produced today’s mountains and waterfalls.  He will discuss such questions as: – How did the rocks in our mountains form and get to where they now are, and how has that history determined the appearance of today’s landscape? – What created the high-elevation area we call the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau? – Little Sliding Rock and Glen Falls are both much-loved cascades on the Plateau, but one is so smooth you can slide on it and the other is a series of jagged precipices – why the difference? – What in the world is Shining Rock, and is there anything else like it in the world? – Why is Rock Mountain gently rounded while nearby Chimneytop has a chimney?  What gives Whiteside Mountain its unique character, with precipitous cliffs standing high above a more gently rounded base? The workshop format will provide time for a richer discussion than is possible in shorter talks, as well as for questions and examination of rock samples and geologic maps.  To close out the classroom activities, Bill will provide a “virtual field trip” to numerous nearby sites, such as Sunset Rock, Glen Falls, Little Sliding Rock, Whiteside Mountain and Devil’s Courthouse, and the Cullasaja waterfalls, to help participants better appreciate the geology on display during their future visits to these special places. After lunch (on your own) Bill will lead an optional excursion to High Falls, below Lake Glenville Dam.  At this extraordinary site, participants can examine up close how different rock groups have been complexly mixed together, and how their different characteristics are reflected in both the exposed rocks and the overall shape of the falls.  (Note – this excursion requires over 600’ of elevation gain on uneven surfaces, as well as rock-hopping around the base of the falls.  It should be undertaken only by experienced, confident hikers). As in the book, Bill will use language and concepts easily understood by non-scientists, with numerous photographs and illustrations.   He will also provide several handouts, and will be delighted to respond to questions, whether about the book or the geology. Signed copies of Whence These Special Places? will be available for purchase through Highlands Biological Station’s Nature Center.  Additional information about both the book and its author may be found at www.GreatRockPress.com.  Cost: $60 for morning session (9am – 12pm); $100 for morning session and hike to High Falls (strenuous) in afternoon (1pm – 6pm). Click here to register.

Instructors: Dr. Bill Peterman (Ohio State University) Amphibians are among the most imperiled taxa globally, with habitat loss and degradation posing the greatest threats. Landscape ecology and conservation biology provide an appropriate lens to address these threats. This course will provide an overview of landscape ecology and conservation biology principles as they pertain to amphibian ecology and life history. Students will gain an understanding of course topics through lecture, discussion of primary literature, as well as hands-on exercises and field excursions. Students will also obtain a foundational understanding of GIS technologies through lab exercises. There will be an emphasis on the salamander diversity of the Southern Appalachians and their habitats throughout the course. Prerequisites: Zoology, Herpetology or Vertebrate Biology; Ecology or Population Biology; or permission from instructor Cost: $1000 course fee + $600 housing fee (if staying on-site) Click here for the syllabus.

Margie Bauer (Natural science illustrator and artist) This 3-part course is to improve your drawing skills when drawing leaves. While each session may be taken by itself, the skills from the previous class(es) will be used in subsequent classes. Before students apply the botanical drawing skills in each session, students will be lead through a meditation process that will help our creative side flow. Click here for the syllabus. Prerequisites: Basic drawing skills Cost: $50/session Click here to register.  

Margie Bauer (Natural science illustrator and artist) This 3-part course is to improve your drawing skills when drawing leaves. While each session may be taken by itself, the skills from the previous class(es) will be used in subsequent classes. Before students apply the botanical drawing skills in each session, students will be lead through a meditation process that will help our creative side flow. Click here for the syllabus. Prerequisites: Basic drawing skills Cost: $50/session Click here to register.

Dr. Jim Costa (WCU/HBS) and Dr. Travis Knowles (Francis Marion University) An introductory exploration of the ecology and biogeography of temperate-zone and tropical biodiversity hotspots, from the southern Appalachians to Andean Ecuador. Based at two mountain biological field stations (Highlands Biological Station in Highlands, NC and Wildsumaco Biological Station, Sumaco Biosphere Reserve, Ecuador), we will take a field-based comparative approach to exploring southern Appalachian and Amazonian Andean montane ecology and biogeography in the spirit of the explorer-naturalists of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. We will consider the geological context of the Appalachians and Andes, comparative biogeography / ecology of these respective regions in terms of the ecological and historical factors that shape their biota, big-picture patterns of latitudinal and elevational diversity gradients, principles of forest community structure and function, and examine comparative species composition and interactions in selected groups as well as soil structure and microbiota. Prerequisites: Introductory Biology sequence, at least one course at the 200 level or above in Biology, Environmental Science, or Geosciences/Natural Resources Management, or permission of instructor. Click here for the syllabus. Stay tuned for updates regarding cost and travel information.

Instructor: Dr. John Morse (Clemson University Emeritus) Please note that both sessions of this course are identical - you only need to sign up for 1 session. Natural history and taxonomy of mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera), and caddisflies (Trichoptera), including systematics, ecology, and behavior of larvae and adults, with emphasis on those aspects important in ecological studies, biological monitoring of water quality, and sport fishing.  Insects will be collected from mountain stream habitats, and identifications will be done in the laboratory. Prerequisites: Students are expected to have prior training in zoology, but not necessarily entomology. Cost: $1000 course fee + $600 housing fee (if staying on-site) Click here for the syllabus.

Margie Bauer (Natural science illustrator and artist) This 3-part course is to improve your drawing skills when drawing leaves. While each session may be taken by itself, the skills from the previous class(es) will be used in subsequent classes. Before students apply the botanical drawing skills in each session, students will be lead through a meditation process that will help our creative side flow. Click here for the syllabus. Prerequisites: Basic drawing skills Cost: $50/session Click here to register.