HON 305V - The Global Environment Syllabus, Spring 2012

January 18, 2012

Instructor

Dr. Mark C. Andersen Professor, Department of Fish Wildlife and Conservation Ecology Associate Dean, Honors College Oce: 204 Conroy Honors Center and 126 Knox Hall Phone: 646-8034 email: via Blackboard preferred Oce hours:

Class meeting

Class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:35 to 3:50, in CHC 205. Please be on time; attendance is expected.

Required materials

There is no textbook for this course. Readings will be posted to the course web site as web links or pdf les.

Course description

The global environment is a highly complex interconnected system; even now, when human impacts are becoming more pervasive, we do not fully understand how the global environment functions in the absence of such impacts. In this course, we will explore the major biogeochemical cycles, patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation, and broad-scale patterns of biological diversity. We will also examine some of the most important human impacts on the global environment, including climate change, loss of biodiversity, invasive species, etc.

Course objectives
Integrate information from introductory materials and the primary literature 1

Students will:

 Develop the ability to think critically about the scientic and popular literature on major environmental issues Develop and articulate a coherent and informed view of major environmental issues Understand basic ecological concepts and processes such as biomes, population growth, and biogeochemical cycles, as well as human impacts on them Understand fundamental concepts of biodiversity including extinction and species invasions Understand human impacts on the global climate system

Class policies

Absence: For an absence to be excused, I must be notied in advance of the absence and provided with some form of documentation. The student will be responsible for all assigned work even in the case of an excused absence. Student behavior: Students are expected to show consideration for the learning environment. This includes respecting others, using appropriate and civil language, and adherence to the NMSU Student Code of Conduct. Deadlines: Assigned written work is due in class (or, if applicable, in my oce) on the date indicated in the syllabus. If you know you are going to be absent on the day an assignment is due, turn the work in before you leave. Late work will receive an automatic 10% deduction for each day past the due date. Extra credit: Extra credit will not be oered. Incomplete grade: Incomplete grades will only be assigned in extreme circumstance and only if the student provides thorough documentation of an extraordinary cricumstance which precludes completion of the course. If such a circumstance arises prior to the last date to withdraw, the student should withdraw from the course rather than seeking an incomplete grade. The student must have completed at least half the course and be passing at the time the circumstance occurs. Plagiarism: Cheating or plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. Suspected instances of cheating or plagiarism will be dealt with according to applicable NMSU policies. For further information on plagiarism, see http://lib.nmsu.edu/plagiarism/. Cell phones: Please keep cell phones silent during the class; if you anticipate an emergency call during class, notify the instructor.

Grading
Value 20 20 20 20 20 100

Assignment 2 book reports, 10 pts. ea. journal club presentation, summary 4 journal club comments, 5 pts. ea. journal club discussion term research paper TOTAL

Score 99-100 92-98 90-91 88-89 82-87 80-81 78-79 72-77 70-71 68-69 62-67 60-61 Below 60

Grade A+ A AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D DF

Students with disabilities

Feel free to call Diana Quintana, Coordinator or Student Accessibility Services at 575-646-6840 with any questions you may have on student issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All medical information will be treated condentially. Feel free to call Gerard Nevarez, Director of Institutional Equity at 575-6463635 with any questions you may have about NMSUs Non-discrimination Policy and complaint of discrimination, including sexual harassment. Feel free to call Gerard Nevarez, Director of Institutional Equity at 575-646-3635 with any questions you may have about NMSUs Non-discrimination Policy and complaint of discrimination, including sexual harassment.

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Course Schedule (tentative)

Date 01/19/12 01/24/12 01/26/12 01/31/12 02/02/12 02/07/12 02/09/12 02/14/12 02/16/12 02/21/12 02/23/12 02/28/12 03/02/12 03/06/12 03/08/12 03/13/12 03/15/12 03/20/12 03/22/12 03/27/12 03/29/12 04/03/12 04/05/12 04/10/12 04/12/12 04/17/12 04/19/12 04/24/12 04/26/12 05/01/12 05/03/12 05/10/12 Topic Administrivia Course overview Biomes Water and soil Deforestation Desertication Deforestation/ desertication Journal Club Nitrogen and phosphorus cycles The global food supply Agriculture/urbanization Agricultural impacts on biogeochemical cycles Agriculture Journal Club Mass extinctions in the fossil record Speciation, biodiversity Patterns of species endangerment Conservation, restoration Reconciliation ecology Biodiversity Journal Club SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK Ecological risk assessment Global patterns of species invasion Invasive species impacts: Agriculture Invasive species impacts: Ecosystems Case studies of invasive species control Invasive species Journal Club Atmospheric/oceanic circulation; carbon cycle Climate change: what we know Climate change: impacts Climate change: Mitigation &adaptation The challenge of decarbonization Climate change 4 Journal Club Final meeting: 3:30 - 5:30 PM Reading Global change overview Terrestrial biomes Hydrologic cycle, soil Deforestation Desertication Due

Week

First book selection Nitrogen cycle FAO 2050 USDA/ERS Earthtrends Journal Club comments/reports Journal Club comments/reports

Mass extinctions Speciation Endangered species Biodiversity conservation Restoration ecology

Book report 1

9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17

Journal Club comments/reports

NISC, NISIC

Second book selection

Climate drivers Realclimate

Journal Club comments/reports

Breakthrough Institute Book report 2 Final paper Journal Club comments/reports