BIOLOGY 9 (HUMAN ECOLOGY)
Section 1207
Science 159
MW 2:15-3:35
Instructor: Sharani McLaughlin
Office Hours: By appointment
Email:
Phone: 323-906-9004
Textbook: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Working With the Earth tenth edition
By G. Tyler Miller.
This survey course covers ecological principles and the historic and modern impact of human societies as agents of ecosystem modification. Topics covered include: ecosystem structure and function; the history of human social impact on ecosystems and on ecosystem structure; modern human societies and the short-range and projected long-range results of their activities in such areas as: population, food and agriculture, the survival of plant and animal species, the use of resources and pollution.
Please purchase and turn in two Scantrons (form 882-ES, 100 questions) and one Scantron (form 884-ES, 200 questions), with your name and Bio 9 MW on each Scantron by Monday, September 26. On time submission of the Scantrons is worth 10 homework points.
Evaluation
Participation (work performed in class and submitted during class)100 points
Homework 200
Exams (2 at 100 points each)200
Projects (3 at 25 points each) 75
Final Exam (Comprehensive)200
Total Possible:775
A = 90% or above B = 80-89% C = 65-79% D = 50-64% F = below 50%
Homework assignments are due at the beginning of class on due dates. If you are absent on a day when an assignment is due you should either have someone bring the assignment to me (by the beginning of class) or email the assignment to me before the class starting time. Late assignments will not be accepted. Exchange phone numbers and email addresses with other students so that you can check to see if an assignment was given on a day you missed class. Always bring your textbook to class.
Exam and Assignment Guidelines
Keep all graded work that is returned to you so that you will have your own record of your scores. I expect you to read the textbook chapters and complete your own homework worksheets. If it is clear that copying is a problem, scores will be reduced. I do encourage you to work together, but answers should be written in your own words. No leaving the room or your seat once you start an exam. If you insist on leaving an exam to go to the restroom, you will be required to take an essay exam to substitute for the regular exam. If you miss an exam, the makeup will be an essay test that you will take on the day of the final exam (after you take the regular final). Raise your hand if you have a question during an exam. Read the SMC Academic Conduct guidelines to understand what the consequences for cheating may be. No dictionaries may be used during exams or quizzes. Disruptive behavior or behavior that endangers others will not be tolerated and may lead to suspension or expulsion from class. No early or special final exams will be given.
Projects
- You may earn credit for three projects (75 points) by successfully completing the “Green Team” program at SMC. This will require about eight one hour meetings and a small fee. The Green Team meets at the Center for Environmental Studies (1744 Pearl Street). You must sign up soon if you want to be part of a Green Team.
- Work as a volunteer (usually this takes about 3 hours) on an environmental project. You might help with habitat restoration at the El Segundo Dunes (second Saturday of each month from 9-12), go to a “weed war” with the California Native Plant Society, help Tree People plant trees, help at the CNPS native plant fair in Encino (a weekend in October), help on coastal cleanup day, or help maintain our native plant garden on the SMC campus, or help with some other community environmental project. Submit a written summary of your activities and a note from the person who supervised the project.
- Visit the Eco Home (This requires reservations and a small fee) and submit a written summary of what you learned from your visit. Include verification of your attendance.
- Visit at least three houses on the “Homes for the Future” tour sponsored by the Eco Home Network in October. Submit a written summary of what you saw and verification of your attendance.
- Write and send a letter (no email) to an elected official about an environmental topic of concern to you. To get credit for this you must submit a copy of your original letter and a response letter from the person to whom you wrote (no credit without a response). It is safest to write letters to two or three different people to be surer of a response.
- Attend an outing (not just a club meeting) sponsored by the Eco-action club. The Club meets Thursdays at 11:15 at the Center for Environmental Studies. Submit a written summary that describes what you learned during the outing.
- You may do a forth project for 25 points extra credit.
DATELECTURE TOPICSVIDEOREADING
8/29Overview
8/31Human TransitionsChapter 1
9/5Holiday
9/7Human Transitions, cont.
9/12Conclude Ch 1Affluenza
9/14Economics/PoliticsChapter 2
9/19Sustainable works presentation
9/21Science, Matter, EcosystemsChapter 3
9/26EcosystemsChapter 4(Scantrons Due)
9/28Exam I
10/3Biodiversity, ClimateChapter 5, 6
10/5Community, Population DynamicsChapter 7, 8
10/10Geologic Processes, Chemical and Biological HazardsChapter 9, 10
10/12Human PopulationChapter 11
10/17Air and Air PollutionLive this Way?Chapter 12
10/19Global Warming/OzoneOne AtmosphereChapter 13
10/24Water and Water Pollution
10/26WaterCadillacDesert
10/31Catch Up, ReviewChapter 14
11/2Exam II
11/7Solid and Hazardous WastesChapter 15
11/9Minerals, SoilWaste Not/Want Not
11/14Food ResourcesChapter 16
11/16Protecting Food ResourcesSave Earth/Feed World
11/21Sustaining EcosystemsChapter 17
11/23Sustaining SpeciesIn Name of Progress
11/28Sustaining SpeciesRemnants of EdenChapter 18
11/30Nonrenewable Energy ResourcesMore for LessChapter 19
12/5Renewable Energy ResourcesNow or NeverChapter 20
12/7Review
12/14Final Exam (Wednesday, 3:30 pm)