With sixty-four types of terrestrial ecosystems shaped by an unusual climate and rich geological history, Alabama’s native plants number nearly 3,000 species. They are an important part of our state’s biodiversity, which ranks fifth in the nation overall. This class explains how ecosystems work, reviews how they are classified and mapped, and gives an overview of the state’s ecological diversity. An easy hike through the Birmingham Botanical Gardens – with a focus on Alabama’s endemic plants – will illustrate many of the in-class concepts.