Biology 2407 – Environmental Biology - Fall 2010
Lecture M-W-F 11:00-11:50 WSB 107 Lab W 3:30-5:30 WSB 109
Syllabus
Instructor: Dr. Chris M. Ritzi
Office: Warnock Science Building - 216
Phone: 837- 8420
Email: critzi@sulross.edu
Office hours: M W F 9-10, T R 11-12, or by appt.
Class Website: http://bbsrsu/sulross.edu & http://faculty.sulross.edu/critzi/
Text: Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories. 3rd Edition. 2009. Withgott, J. and S. Brennan.
Course Description: Environmental Biology is an introduction to the biological effects of human activities on the environment and possible alternatives for a more effective use of natural resources. The course emphasizes water, soil, and air pollution, as well as other current world ecological concerns. The course will consist of formal lectures, open discussions, and formalized debates over current environmental topics. The laboratory will focus on EPA Standard Methods used in field and laboratory analysis or environmental samples and other basic environmental and ecological research procedures.
Student Learning Objectives:
1) Students will identify the basic elements associated with environmental biology
(species, nutrient cycles, etc.)
2) Students will describe the path that elements cycle through the environment.
3) Students compare various methods of using natural resources, and predict which
ones are the best to use under various conditions.
4) Students will appraise their own use of environmental resources, and apply this to
improving their daily impact on the environment.
5) Students will demonstrate a proficiency of environmental demonstration
techniques, to better enable them to teach and educate others about
environmental biology.
Grading: Your grade will be assigned based on the percentage of points you get out of a total possible 500 points. (100pt exams (4), 100pts Participation and Presentations)
Tests: There will be a total of 4 exams, each worth 100 points. If you miss an exam and have a legitimate excuse, contact me within 24 hours of the test and we will arrange a make-up test. If you do not contact me within 24 hours, you will receive a zero on that exam.
Attendance: Students missing 20% of lectures (9 lectures) OR labs (3 labs) may be dropped from the class per the SRSU catalog. Any student dropped for excessive absences will receive an F for the course grade. Please notify your instructor BEFORE missing class for authorized activities, death in the family, or illness. Exams missed for any reason must be made up within one week of the originally scheduled date. REGARDLESS OF WHY AN ABSENCE OCCURS, YOU MAY BE GIVEN AN F FOR THE COURSE GRADE IF YOU ACCUMULATE SIX ABSENCES.
Lecture courtesy: The general rules of classroom etiquette are below.
1) Please do not talk to others in class while the instructor is lecturing. If you have a question, ASK THE INSTRUCTOR! That’s what I’m here for.
2) No eating, chewing, dipping, etc.
3) Please turn cell phones and pagers to silent while in class. They are disruptive to the entire class, and detract from learning.
Students with disabilities will be provided reasonable accommodations. If you would like to request such accommodations because of physical, mental, or learning disability, please contact the ADA Coordinator for Program Accessibility at 837-8203, FH 112.
Tentative Lecture Outline
Date Lecture topic Chapter
Aug 25 Introduction to Environmental Science 1
Aug 27 Nature of Science and Environmental Science 1
Aug 30 Environmental Ethics 1
Sept 1 Labor Day – No class
Sept 3 Sustainability 1
Sept 6 Economics 2
Sept 8 Economics continued 2
Sept 10 Environmental Policy here and there 2
Sept 13 Environmental Policy process 2
Sept 15 Exam I
Sept 17 Environmental Chemistry 3
Sept 20 Energy and Ecosystems 3
Sept 22 Biogeochemical Cycles 3
Sept 24 Evolution 4
Sept 27 Biodiversity 4
Sept 29 Ecological Organization 4
Oct 1 Population Ecology 4
Oct 4 Systems and Cycles 5
Oct 6 Species Interactions 5
Oct 8 Ecological Communities 5
Oct 11 Biomes 5
Oct 13 Exam II
Oct 15 Human Population Growth 6
Oct 18 Human Population Growth 6
Oct 20 Agriculture 7
Oct 22 Agriculture 7
Oct 25 Soils 7
Oct 27 Toxicology 10
Oct 29 Waste Management 17
Nov 1 Outdoor Air Pollution 13
Nov 3 Indoor Air Pollution 13
Nov 5 Climate Change 14
Nov 8 Freshwater 12
Nov 10 Oceans 12
Nov 12 Exam III
Nov 15 Biodiversity 8
Nov 17 Conservation 8
Nov 19 Land Use – Forests and Parks 9
Nov 22-26 Thanksgiving Holidays – No Class
Nov 29 Urbanization 9
Dec 1 Geology and Mining 11
Dec 3 Fossil Fuels 15
Dec 6 Old Alternatives 15 & 16
Dec 8 New Alternatives 16
Dec 10 Make-up lecture & review
Dec 15 8:00 am Final exam for MWF 9:00
Note – This outline is subject to change for reasons of course interest, time constraint, or instructor whim. The exams will be administered on the dates given, unless material relevant for a given exam has not been covered. Under such cases, an exam may be moved a class period or two to aid in the clarity and understanding of the material.
Introduction to Science
Ethics and Economy
Policy and Politics
Chemistry
Ecology and Evolution
Systems and Cycles
Exam 1 Review Sheet
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