BIO 497 Environmental Biology

Spring Semester 2005

2:00 - 2:50PM MWF Room 209 Hope Hall

Instructor: Lawrence Blumer, 302 Hope Hall, Telephone: x2325 or 404 658-1142

e-mail: LBlumer@Morehouse.edu

Texts:

Annual Editions: Environment 2004/2005. 23th edition.

J.L. Allen (ed.), Dushkin/McGraw-Hill. 2004. (AE)

New Guinea Tapeworms and Jewish Grandmothers. R.S. Desowitz, Norton 1981. (JG)

Taking Sides. Clashing Views on Controversial Environmental Issues. 11^th edition. T.A. Easton (ed.), Dushkin/McGraw-Hill. 2005. (TS)

Eco-Economy: Building an Economy for the Earth. L.R. Brown, Norton 2001 (EE)

_______________________________________________________________________

Lecture Date Subject Reading

_______________________________________________________________________

1	W	1/12	Introduction to Course		2 TS
2	F	1/14	Global Problems, Resources and Sustainability			1, 4 AE
	M	1/17	MLK Holiday – No Classes
3	W	1/19	Ecosystems		3 EE
4	F	1/21	Ecosystems
5	M	1/24	An Historical View of Resourse Use		1 EE
6	W	1/26	Human Population Dynamics		13 TS
7	F	1/28	Human Population Dynamics		10 EE
8	M	1/31	Food Insecurity and Population		6 AE, 14 TS
9	W	2/2	Food Insecurity and Population		2, 7 EE
10	F	2/4	Water Resource Management	Essay #1 due in class
11	M	2/7	Ecology of Human Diseases		JG
12	W	2/9	Ecology of Human Diseases		JG
13	F	2/11	Ecology of Human Diseases		JG
14	M	2/14	Energy and Transportation		11-15 AE
15	W	2/16	Fossil Fuels (supplies and demands)
16	F	2/18	Nuclear Energy		12, 19 TS

17	M	2/21	Renewable Energy Resources		5 EE, 9-10 TS
18	W	2/23	Transportation and Urban Planning
19	F	2/25	Transportation Alternatives		9 EE
20	M	2/28	Waste Management (Water)		26 AE
21	W	3/2	Solid Waste Management		6 EE
22	F	3/4	Solid Waste Management	Essay #2 due in class

M	3/7	Spring Break – No Classes
W	3/9	Spring Break – No Classes
F	3/11	Spring Break – No Classes

23	M	3/14	Environmental Degradation		3 EE
24	W	3/16	Environmental Degradation		4 TS
25	F	3/18	Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss		8 EE, 19 AE
26	M	3/21	Pollution (Biological Magnification)		16 TS
27	W	3/23	Pollution (Acid Precipitation)		25 AE
	F	3/25	No Class - Good Friday Holiday
28	M	3/28	Pollution (Acid Precipitation)
29	W	3/30	Pollution (Ozone Depletion)
30	F	4/1	Pollution (Ozone Depletion)	Essay #3 due in class
31	M	4/4	Pollution (Photochemical Smog)		Case Study
32	W	4/6	Pollution (Photochemical Smog)
33	F	4/8	Pollution (Climate Change)		28 AE
34	M	4/11	Pollution (Climate Change)		2 EE
35	W	4/13	Pollution (Climate Change)
36	F	4/15	Pollution (Climate Change)
37	M	4/18	Environmental Politics & Economics		4, 11, 12 EE
38	W	4/20	Environmental Politics & Economics		16 AE, 3 TS
39	F	4/22	Environmental Justice		5 TS
40	M	4/25	Environmental Ethics
41	W	4/27	Student Poster Presentations

Final Examination, Tuesday, May 3, 8:00-10:00 am

Hope Hall 209

Course Objectives

This course will address current environmental problems and the biological bases for these problems. Our approach will be based in the science of Ecology but environmental problems have social, political, economic and ethical implications that we cannot ignore. We will study the interactions between humans and the environment, and the significance of these interactions in human affairs. Many environmental problems are of a global nature and different societies have environmental problems that may require different solutions, so we will take an international view of environmental issues. The implications of environmental problems for local and international conflicts will also be addressed. We will also address the issue of environmental justice as it concerns minority communities locally and globally. This is the capstone course for students who seek a Minor in Environmental Studies.

Course Evaluation

You will be evaluated in this course by preparing three research essays (see Essay Topics below), a case-study poster presentation, and a comprehensive final examination. The final examination will consist of multiple choice questions. There will be an emphasis on problem solving. This class will involve discussions more than lectures, so your regular attendance, preparation and participation in class are essential. Additional current events readings will be provided throughout the semester as will opportunities for community service activities.

Course Grading

Three research essays, 100 pts. each 300 points

Case Study poster presentation 100 points

Final Examination (comprehensive) 200 points

Total = 600 points

Letter grades will be assigned as described below:

A = 90 to 100%

A- = 88 to 89%

B+ = 86 to 87%

B = 80 to 85%

B- = 78 to 79%

C+ = 76 to 77%

C = 70 to 75%

C- = 68 to 69%

D+ = 66 to 67%

D = 60 to 65%

D- = 58 to 59%

F = 57% and less

Attendance Policy

Absences will not be excused unless permitted in writing by the Academic

Dean or the Dean of Students. No exceptions. More than three unexcused

absences will result in a failing grade. Class will begin promptly on the hour.

Academic Honesty (Plagiarism)

All the work that you complete in this course must be your own. Copying the work of others and submitting it as your own is dishonest and will not be tolerated. Attribution of the source of information is not sufficient, the words and phrases in your written work must be your own.

Essay Assignments

You will write three research essays on assigned subjects (see Essay Topics) concerning environmental issues. You should view the essays as major research papers and excellent preparation for class discussions and the Final Examination. The point of view pursued in the essay must be supported by facts (and consequently, at least five literature references, other than textbooks, are necessary in each essay). Please limit each essay to 10 typed pages. References should be cited in the text of your essay using the (author, date) method (see below). Do not use footnotes for references. A list of Literature Cited should appear at the end of the essay (not part of the 10 typed pages). Write for an audience of peers. You may imagine, if you wish, that you are writing a letter to the editor of a major newspaper or an editorial for a news magazine. Much like an editor, I will be happy to discuss your essay, and read and comment on a typed draft of an essay prior to the due date. The due dates are all listed in the Syllabus. Late essays will not be accepted.

The author, date method of literature citation can be used in two ways. Let's say you wish to cite a paper by A.J. Smith that was published in 1990. This paper could be cited in the text of your essay as: Smith (1990) found that energy conservation pays for itself. or Energy conservation pays for itself (Smith, 1990). In either case, the full reference for the Smith paper must also be given in the Literature Cited at the end of your essay. The Literature Cited is an alphabetical list (by the author's last name) giving the authors name, date of publication, title of article or book, and the publisher of the book or the volume and pages of the journal article. Tables and figures may be used in your essay but each table or figure must appear on a separate sheet and be given a number, a title, and a brief description in prose. Tables and figures are not part of the text of an essay and should be referred to in much the same manner as a literature citation. Any table or figure reproduced from published materials must be prepared as described above and referenced using the author, date method.

Essays should be organized like a laboratory report but not necessarily with laboratory report section headings. Give your essay a descriptive title (Essay #1 is not sufficient). Introduce the essay by providing context for the question you will address. You create context for your reader by providing background information and citing the work of others. The introduction must also have an explicit statement of purpose: "In this essay I will..." or "The purpose of this essay is..." The introduction is followed by a presentation of evidence and then a discussion (interpretation) of the evidence. The essay should end with a conclusion that follows from the purpose stated in the introduction. Literature citations are necessary and appropriate in the presentation of evidence and discussion. Assertions without evidence are unacceptable in these essays. Furthermore, evidence or opinions cited from published literature should be considered critically. Addressing the implications of evidence and opinions is necessary. The best scientific essays are those that allow the reader to reach conclusions based on the evidence without excessive advocacy on the part of the writer. The writers personal interpretations and opinions are best limited to the discussion and conclusion parts of an essay. The rubric for my evaluation of your research essays is given below followed by the essay topics.

Essay Evaluation Form

BIOLOGY 497

ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY

Essay Evaluation (100 points possible)

Introduction (20 points) _____

Evidence (40 points) _____

Discussion (20 points) _____

Format, References, Audience (20 points) _____

Comments:

Essay Topics

Essay #1 Population

Address the following question: Is the United States overpopulated? Is the world overpopulated? What does the assertion of overpopulation mean and how may it be measured? Is limiting population growth the key to protecting the global environment?

Essay #2 Sustainability

What is the meaning of "Sustainability" as it concerns the environmental issues we have been considering in this course? What does it mean to work toward sustainable agricultural system, or sustainable resource utilization (such as sustainable energy use)? Is "Sustainability" a desirable goal and is it realistic?

Essay #3 Personal Waste Production

What do you throw away each week? What are the types of materials that compose your trash? What happens to the trash you produce? Where does your trash go when the garbage truck hauls it away? How could you reduce your personal trash production? Each of you should keep a log of all the municipal solid waste you produce during a one-week period during the semester. Tabulate the weight and volume of each category of waste you produce during that one-week period.

Case-Study Analysis and Poster Presentation

Each of you will research a case-study on environmental justice and prepare a poster to be presented on the last day of class. Written details on the case-study and the format for the poster are at the Case Study Web Page

Department of Biology Mission

· Provide students with a fundamental knowledge of Biology.

· Prepare students for and assist them in entering graduate and professional school, and the workforce.

· Strengthen students' reading, writing and quantitative skills.

· Develop students' analytical reasoning and creative thinking skills.

· Expose students to contemporary research techniques in Biology and enhance their understanding of the Scientific Method.

· Conduct meritorious research in the field of Biology.

· Acquaint students with the history of Biology, including the contributions of Black scientists.

· Engender an appreciation among students of the social and economic implications of discoveries in Biology.

· Build students' awareness of ethical and moral issues related to basic tenets in Biology.