BIOL 107: Environmental Biology
Fall 2002

To the lecture topics

I. Description

BIOL 107 is a course for non-majors which involves an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the environment. The course provides the scientific basis for understanding how environmental systems work. Topics include discussion of the economic impact and consequences of the disruptions of natural systems, the importance of public policy, and how environmental issues are linked to our everyday life.

II. Grading protocol

Grading will be on the basis of the following:

  1. 4 lecture exams, each worth 1/6 of your final grade. Each exam will consist of multiple-choice, short answer and essay questions;
  2. A final exam given during final exam week which will count 1/3 (or 2/6) of your final grade. The final exam will consist of multiple-choice and short answer questions.

The lecture exams and the final exam will be graded on a 4-point grading scale. Final grades will be based on the following ranges:

Range

Grade

3.5 - 4

A

2.75 - 3.49

B

2.00 - 2.74

C

1.00-1.99

D

<1.00

F

Please read the appropriate chapter by the date specified. Also, PLEASE ensure that your cell phone is OFF during lecture and lab time.

Every student is expected to attend classroom and laboratory periods regularly. In order to adhere to Federal guidelines pertaining to financial aid, attendance will be recorded. Any student who has missed a total of eight (8) lectures may be given a mark of "F".

III Schedule

Day

Date

Topic

Chapter(s)

W

Aug 22

Introduction

1

F

Aug 24

History of Awareness:
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/malthus.html
History of Legislation
http://www.ecotopia.org/ehof/timeline.html

1

M

Aug 27

Quality of Life
http://canadianeconomy.gc.ca/english/economy/gnp.html

2

W

Aug 29

Sustainable Economy
US Daily Energy Consumption:
http://users.rcn.com/agnews/EnergyMisc.htm

2

F

Aug 31

Global Ethics
http://www.globalethics.org/
http://astro.temple.edu/~dialogue/geth.htm

2

M

Sept. 2

NO CLASS: Labor Day

 

W

Sept. 4

Energy Flow & Nutrient Cycling
http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/102/ecosystem.html
http://www.cord.edu/faculty/landa/courses/e103w00/sessions/ecosystem.html
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/EnergyAndNutrients/

3

F

Sept. 6

Succession
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/Succession/

3

M

Sept. 9

Population growth & doubling time

4

W

Sept. 11

Comparison between MDC's and LDC's
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/Demography/
http://www.nps.gov/edal/raven.htm (You have to visit it to know why.)

4

F

Sept. 13

***EXAM I***

 

M

Sept. 16

NO CLASS: YOM KIPPUR

 

W

Sept. 18

World Hunger
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/WorldHunger/

5

F

Sept. 20

Nature of Soils
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/Soils/

6

M

Sept. 23

Soil Conservation

7

W

Sept. 25

Pesticides
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/Pesticides/

8

F

Sept. 27

Biomagnification

8

M

Sept. 30

Aquatic Environments
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/AquaticEcosystems/
Freshwater

9

W

Oct. 2

Aquatic Environments: Marine

9

F

Oct. 4

Water Resources

10

M

Oct. 7

Irrigation

10

W

Oct. 9

Water Pollution: Eutrophication
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/WaterPollution/

11

F

Oct. 11

***EXAM II***

 

Sa-Su

Oct. 12-Oct. 20

FALL BREAK-YIPPEE!!

M

Oct. 21

Thermal pollution

11

W

Oct. 23

Toxic chemicals & heavy metals in water

11

F

Oct. 25

Invasion of exotic animals in waterways

11

M

Oct. 28

Fisheries

12

W

Oct. 30

Aquaculture

12

F

Nov. 1

Rangeland Management
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/RangelandManagement/

13

M

Nov. 4

Forest Management
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/ForestManagement/

14

W

Nov. 6

Fire Management

14

F

Nov. 8

***EXAM III***

 

M

Nov. 11

Extinction
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/Extinction/

Wildlife Management

15


16

W

Nov. 13

Waste Management

17

F

Nov. 15

Air Pollution - Sources
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/AirPollution/

18

M

Nov. 18

Air Pollution - Treatments

18

W

Nov. 20

Global Climate Change - greenhouse effect

19

F

Nov. 22

Ozone depletion
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/StratosphericOzone/

19

M

Nov. 25

Mining

20

W

Nov. 27

Mining cont'd

20

Th

Nov. 28

Thanksgiving Break

 

F

Nov. 29

M

Dec. 2

***EXAM IV***

 

W

Dec. 4

Nonrenewable Energy

21

F

Dec. 6

Renewable Energy

22

M-F

Dec. 9-13

Final Exam Given During Final Exam Week