This course will introduce students to the deciduous ecosystem of Appalachia. The focus will be on living and physical components and species interactions within this system. This is a hybrid course that will consist of several in-person meetings and a field trip. Students will engage in two group projects to gain experience in observational investigation, drawing conclusions from these observations, and exploring the limitations of the project data. These projects will serve as the lab component of this course. An appreciation of the natural environment and its complexity will be emphasized. Fall.