|
Dr. Nancy E. Todd |
FALL |
|
OFFICE: BR
228a OFFICE HOURS: See
webpage |
T, F: T:
Phone: x5121 Email: [email protected] Web Page:http://www.geocities.com/elephaslady |
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
How is the
biosphere affected by human and natural influences? This capstone course for
the Environmental Studies area of strength will include both lecture and a
laboratory and will focus on the ecological effects of pollution, disturbance
and other stresses on ecosystems. Particular attention will be paid to stresses
associated with human activity and the ecological damage they are causing.
LECTURE TEXTS:
Miller, G. T.
2004. Living in the Environment,
Principles, Connections and Solutions. New York. Brookes Cole Publishing
Company, 13th Edition.
Leopold, A.
1966. A Sand County Almanac. Oxford
University Press. (Reprinted by Ballantine Books, N.Y.)
Extra optional
reading as assigned.
LABORATORY TEXT:
Will be
provided by instructor.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
BLACKBOARD:
Students will be required to enroll in Blackboard at Manhattanville.
This is an online system for downloading assignments, checking web pages and
announcements and discussion. To enroll in the class, go to http://blackboard.mville.edu/. If you
dont have an account, click on Create account and follow the
directions. Once you have an account, click on Course catalogue.
Select Biology and look for this class in the list. Click on the Enroll
button to the far right. The password is Aldo.
LECTURE
Reading: Chapters from the text must be read before
coming to the scheduled lecture covering
that material. There may also be
additional handouts or reading assignments
to accompany the reading and lecture material.
Attendance and Class
Participation: Students are required
to attend two (2) lectures each week. Good attendance is required and will be
noted. Students are expected to answer
questions and offer discussion when appropriate.
Exams: There will be 3 exams based on the
lecture material
Student
project: Each student will develop a research project
to work on throughout the
course.
The project for 2004 will include a wetland restoration project, which will incorporate
literature research as well as field work on campus. All students in the class
will be working together on this project.
Graduate
Students: Graduate students in the school of education
will be required to
initiate
and complete a research project related to teaching environmental awareness.
This project will be designed by the student and will be presented to the class
as a lesson or study plan at the end of the course. This project will be a combination of
bibliographic searching, research and writing and practical application and
will be a substantial piece of work.
Students are
expected to be working on their projects throughout the course. There will be a strict timetable of required
work.
LABORATORY
Attendance
and lab performance: Students
are required to attend the lab session each
week.
Good attendance is required and will be noted.
Students are expected to actively participate in the laboratory work.
Lab
reports: There will be several lab reports and short
exercises that will be due
throughout the course.
Extra lab time
will need to be scheduled on an individual basis. Some of the lab projects will be conducted
throughout the semester and will need to be monitored by students on a
long-term basis.
LAB SAFETY: All students working in the laboratory must read the Biology Lab Safety Guidelines, which can be found at http://www.mville.edu/biology/biosafety.html. In addition, all students must read, print and sign the Student Safety Contract and hand it in to the lab instructor. This form can be found at http://www.mville.edu/biology/safetycontract.html.
CLASS CONDUCT: Students are expected to do their own work on the exams, written work and lab reports. Even though the lab projects will be done in teams, each student is responsible for his/her own write-up of the project. Copying or plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the class. All students must read, print and sign the Biology Honor Code Contract, which can be found at http://www.mville.edu/biology/honorcode.html. This is to be handed in to the lecture instructor.
THERE WILL BE NO MAKEUP EXAMS OR LABS. If you are going to miss a lecture or lab exam, you must contact me before the exam takes place, and you must produce a written excuse from your doctor or the dean's office. If you miss an exam or lab and do not contact the professors beforehand, you will receive a zero (0) for that exam or lab exercise.
LATE WORK: All work is due on specified dates. Late submission will result in a 5 pts. per day penalty. Work submitted more than 2 weeks beyond the specified due date will not be accepted.
ALL WORK MUST BE TURNED IN BY
THE LAST DAY OF CLASS. WORK SUBMITTED AFTER THIS DATE WILL NOT BE
ACCEPTED.
Graded
Material:
|
Lecture grade = 50% of overall grade for the course |
2 exams Class
attendance and participation |
% of Grade 80% 20% |
|
Lab grade = 50% of overall grade for the course **Graduate Students lesson plan will count
for an additional 20% to be figured into the final grade |
Lab reports Student
Research project ** Lab
participation |
60% 30% 10% |
LECTURE AND LAB SCHEDULE
|
Schedule |
LECTURE |
LAB |
Reading |
|
Week 1: |
Introduction
|
Basic field ecology Sampling methods |
Chap. 1-2 |
|
Week 2: |
Energy Ecosystems |
COASTAL
ECOLOGY Greenwich
Pt., CT |
Chap. 3 Chap. 4 |
|
Week 3: |
Aquatic
ecology Terrestrial
ecology |
Stream Ecology Measuring Diversity I |
Chap. 7 Chap. 6 |
|
Week 4: |
Nutrient
cycles Community
ecology |
FORESTRY Calder
Center |
Chap. 4 Chap. 8 |
|
Week 5: |
Forestry Population
dynamics |
Forestry at Manhattanville Measuring diversity II |
Chap. 9 |
|
Week 6: |
EXAM #1 Evolution
and adaptation |
Wetland Restoration |
Chap. 5 |
|
Week 7: |
Geology and
soils Human
population |
Wetland Restoration |
Chap. 10 Chap. 11 |
|
Week 8: |
Water
resources Nonrenewable
resources |
Water testing and pollution |
Chap. 13 Chap. 14 |
|
Week 9: |
Renewable
energy Toxicology |
Soil composition |
Chap. 15 Chap. 16 |
|
Week 10: |
Air and air pollution
Climate change
|
Wildlife
Conservation at the Bronx Zoo |
Chap. 17 Chap. 18 |
|
Week 11: |
Water
pollution EXAM #2 |
Recycling
- YONKERS FACILITY |
Chap. 19 |
|
Week 12: |
Pesticides Solid
and hazardous waste |
Recycling
- WASTE REDUCTION |
Chap. 20 Chap. 21 |
|
Week 13: |
Biodiversity
crisis NO CLASS THANKSGIVING |
NO
LAB |
Chaps. 22-23 |
|
Week 14: |
Tropical deforestation Coral
reefs and overfishing |
Recycling |
Chap. 23 Chap. 24 |
|
Week 15: |
The human
condition Discussion
of the Land Ethic FINAL EXAM
IS DUE ON DECEMBER 13 |
Student
presentations Final
project DUE |
Leopold (1966) |
Laboratory Information
Lab Information
Students are
required to attend and actively participate in one lab section per week. Labs will include exercises that can be
completed in one lab period as well as those which will need monitoring over
longer periods of time. Lab exercises
will be a combination of in-lab work and field work. There may be field trips
off-campus.
Lab Reports
There will be
several lab reports that will be required during the course. These lab reports will include summaries of
the work done in lab, internet research and additional literature
searches. Students are encouraged to
prepare organized and well-thought out reports documenting their projects. The amount of time spent on this process will
be a direct reflection of the grade the student will receive. Students are
required to compete 6 out of 7 lab reports.
Student Conduct
Students are
expected to come to lab each week and complete the assigned work and be
responsible for maintaining and monitoring long-term projects. Although students will work in teams, each
student is responsible for his/her own lab reports. Suspected copying of written work among
students will result in a failing grade.
Field Trips
Field trips are
required and are listed in bold text on the schedule. Students are required to
wear shirts with sleeves, appropriate shorts or pants, long white socks and
sneakers or boots with a closed toe and ankle area. Proper attire is VERY
IMPORTANT to prevent sunburn, avoid mosquito bites and to check for ticks as
well as for safety during walking on the trips.
LAB REPORTS
1: Field ecology
and sampling
2: Diversity
3: Forestry
4: Soil
composition
5: Water quality
6: Wildlife
Conservation
7: Recycling and
waste reduction