BIOL 3333.01
Environmental Biology
Spring 2008
Class meetings: Mondays, 7:00-9:50pm Bayou Building 2237
Instructor: Dr. Cindy Howard
Office: Bayou Building, Faculty Suite 3525
Telephone: (281) 283-3745 (please leave a message if you don’t get an answer)
E-mail: (best way to contact me)
Office hours: Mon and Wed 3:00-5:00 pm; Thurs 4:00-6:00pm; other times by appointment
Webpage: http://sce.uhcl.edu/howard/
Course materials: Moore, GS. 2007. Living with the Earth: Concepts in Environmental Health Science, 3rd ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 604pp.
Chapter outlines and review questions from the text can be found at http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~envhl565/, user = ulearn, password = mar99.
PowerPoint slides of lecture material will be available at the beginning of each class period. Other course information can be found at http://sce.uhcl.edu/howard/ under Courses: BIOL 3333.
Prerequisites: No specific prerequisites; however, this course is designed for environmental science and biology majors and some course background in the sciences is assumed.
Course objectives: To provide students with an introduction to the major concepts governing environmental biology, including ecological principles, biodiversity issues, human impacts on ecological systems and practical guidelines for the responsible stewardship of biological resources.
Course format: Informal lectures, videos and student discussion of current topics in environmental biology. Exams cover lecture, text, video and handout materials.
Grading: Three exams will be given during the term. Each exam will cover the material presented in lectures and textbook materials and will count one third toward the final grade in the course. Extra credit for the course can be earned by completing the assignment described at the end of the syllabus (due date: April 14, 2008)
Grading scale:
A 92-100% B 80-85% C 70-75% D 60-65%
A- 88-91% B- 78-79% C- 68-69% D- 58-59%
B+ 86-87% C+ 76-77% D+ 66-67% F <58%
All students are expected to take exams on the dates scheduled on the syllabus. Make-up exams will be given only if (1) alternate arrangements were made with the instructor prior to the scheduled test date or (2) the student provides a physician’s excuse for illness. In all cases, make up exams must be completed before the next class period. No late extra credit assignments will be accepted.
Incompletes and The last date to drop this course without a grade penalty is March 24, 2008. In
withdrawals: accordance with UHCL policy, an incomplete grade (I) can only be assigned if the student is making satisfactory progress, but cannot complete the course for an acceptable, documentable reason. Other course incompletions will result in a grade of F.
Academic honesty: Please review the UHCL Academic Honesty Policy in the current UHCL catalog. All students enrolled in this class are expected to abide by the UHCL Honesty Code, which states, “I will be honest in all my academic activities and will not tolerate dishonesty.” Your participation in this class constitutes your acceptance of the UHCL Academic Honesty Policy. Dishonesty of any kind (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on exams) is not acceptable in this course. It can result in a grade of “F” on an assignment or test, a grade of “F” in the course or suspension from the university (see catalog). Your written work may be checked for plagiarism at any time.
Disabilities: Students with disabilities requiring consideration during this course should consult the Disabilities Services Office for assistance and certification.
Electronics: Use of cell phones, pagers, PDAs, laptop / notebook computers or similar electronic devices is not permitted during class periods. Exceptions may be made on a per class period basis and must be cleared with the course instructor prior to the start of class.
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Guidelines for optional assignment for extra credit (worth up to 10 points toward final course average)
A. Due date: Monday, April 14, 2008 at 7:00pm. No late submissions will be accepted.
B. Process
1. Log onto the textbook website: http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~envhl565/, user = ulearn, password = mar99
2. Click on “Chapter Weblinks”
3. Select a topic from the list of weblinks and obtain approval from course instructor (any one topic can be reviewed by only one student)
4. Collect and review at least 10 additional references pertaining to the subject covered in the weblink article; a minimum of 10 additional references is required
5. Reference sources may include peer-reviewed scientific literature, government sources (e.g., USFWS), technical “white papers”, or other printed material (e.g., magazines, internet, newspapers, etc.); however, no more than 5 of the10 sources may come from internet articles
6. Using your references and citing the information out of them where appropriate, write an in-depth 5-6 page report on the selected topic, addressing the history and current status of the problem, opposing views, etc.
C. Format of report
1. Report: 10-12 point font, 1-inch margins, 5-6 pages in length
2. Reference citations
a. required information for each article or source
(1) name(s) of author(s): last name first, followed by first and middle initials for each author in publication order (if available)
(2) title of article or source
(3) name of source (newspaper, magazine, website)
(4) volume number and inclusive page numbers (if available)
(5) date of publication
b. examples
(1) magazine: Brown, D.O. “Giant Otters on the Rise?” Nature Conservancy, May/June 1996: 24-29.
(2) newspaper: Lewan, T. “Ecologists striving to restore endangered Brazilian forest.” Houston Chronicle, 02/23/97: 29A.
(3) website: Warrick, J. “A River Once Ran Through It.” National Wildlife Federation. http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?articleId=446. 02/18/2002.
D. YOUR FINAL PRODUCT MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING
1. 5-6 page report on approved topic from the list of weblinks
2. List of references used and cited in your paper
3. Copies of all articles or other source materials used in your paper
BIOL 3333.01
Environmental Biology Mondays, 7:00-9:50pm
Spring 2008 Bayou Building 2237
Course schedule (subject to revision):
Date / Topic / Resources / Reading: Moore (2007) /01/14 / Course introduction; Introduction to conservation biology / #1: The Environmental Cost of Growth
01/21 / No class: Martin Luther Day holiday
01/28 / Ecosystems and energy flow: biomes, energy flow and nutrient cycling / Chp. 1
02/04 / Ecosystems and energy flow: succession / #2: The Great Yellowstone Fire / Chp. 1
02/11 / Human populations / #3: The Population Paradox / Chp. 2
02/18 / Exam 1 (Chapters 1, 2; handouts; videos 1, 2, 3) / #4: Extinction
02/25 / Environmental degradation, wetlands / Chp. 3
03/03 / Loss of biodiversity, extinction of species / #5: E.O. Wilson: The Future of Life / Chp. 3
03/10 / Food security; overexploitation of fisheries / #6: Empty Oceans, Empty Nets / Chp. 3
03/17 / No class: Spring Break
03/24 / Environmental and emerging diseases / Chps. 4, 7
03/31 /
Exam 2 (Chapters 3, 4, 7; handouts; videos 4, 5, 6)
/ #7: Alien Invasion04/07 / Toxicity, pesticides / Chps. 5, 6
04/14 / Water and wastewater / #8: Strange Days on Planet Earth: Troubled Waters / Chp. 9
04/21 / Air pollution, global climate change / #9: Strange Days on Planet Earth: The One Degree Factor / Chp. 10
04/28 / Exam 3 (Chapters 5, 6, 9, 10; handouts; videos 7, 8, 9)
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