In this class, we will learn about different types of wetland, coastal and aquatic plant communities as well as common plant species and the key adaptations that these plants have to survive and persist in these habitats. We will also discuss current threats to local and global wetlands (i.e., habitat destruction, climate change and invasive species) and potential solutions involving management, conservation and restoration. Throughout the semester, we will go on field trips to local wetlands (e.g., Cypress swamp and brackish marshes) to explore and identify key plant species. In addition, students will participate in two semester-long research projects: one on microbial ecology and the other on local adaptation across tidal elevation.