Biology/Environmental Studies 260: Environment and Living Systems
Spring 2006
Instructor: Dr. Robert Pillsbury
Office: Halsey 41
Phone: 424-3069
email: pillsbur@uwosh.edu
Office Hours:? TBA
Texts: Ambrose et al. A Handbook of Biological Investigation (6th ed.)
Mc Connel and Abel. Environmental Issues: Measuring, Analyzing and
Evaluating (2nd ed)
Goals: The broadest goal of this course is to help people make better decisions
concerning environmental issues in their backyard, community and nation. This should
be one of the missions of any liberal arts college. To accomplish this I hope to take a
closer look at: how we build a framework for our knowledge, how to interpret statistics,
how to find reliable data, what are the basic laws of living systems, what happens when
these systems are impacted, what can we do about it?
Topics:
1. How do we know what we know?
Jan 30
Introduction
Pick local topics for first group projects.
Feb 1
What is Science?
Feb 3
No Class Today!!
Feb 6
What is Science?
Feb 8
Examine Reliability of facts and data
Feb 10
Library tour
Feb 13
Science and Society
Feb 15
Types of data
Feb 17
Statistics-How to analyze data
Feb 20
Local group presentations and reports due.
Feb 22
Local presentations
Feb 24
Statistics
Pick Regional Topics for group projects
Feb 27
Statistics
2. Properties of Ecosystems
March 1
Requirements for life
March 3
Exam I
March 6
Population ecology
March 8
human population
March 10
Debate-human population
Spring Break---------------------March 20
Ecosystems and community ecology
3. Impacted Ecosystem
Reading
Handouts
Ambrose-Ch.1
Ambrose-Ch. 2
Ambrose-Ch. 9
Handout
Ambrose-Ch. 10
Ambrose-Ch. 3, 4
Ambrose- Ch. 5, 6
Ambrose- Ch. 7
Ambrose-Ch. 8
March 22
Food and soil
March 24
Pest control
March 27
Biodiversity
March 29
Land use
March 31
Land use
April 3
Wetlands
April 5
Case study: Everglades
April 7
Why did Lake Erie die?
April 10
Exotic species
April 12
Video-exotic species
April 14
Exam II
April 17
Regional group projects due- presentations
April 19
Regional presentations
April 21
Impacted ecosystems
What can we do?
April 24
Restoration
April 26
Land management
April 28
Land management
May 1
Land management
May 3
Landfills and hazardous wastes
May 5
Landfills and hazardous wastes
May 8
Presentations
May 10
Presentations
May 12
Final
Assignments and Evaluation
Exams (3) at 15% each
Presentations and reports
Exercises
Participation
Total
45%
25%
20%
10%
100%
Grades
93-100%
88-92%
83-87%
78-82%
72-77%
68-72%
60-67%
59-0%
A
AB
B
BC
C
CD
D
F
Exams will be largely in essay format. Plan to bring a calculator.
Presentation and report
The group presentations and reports will be a study of an environmental issue
relevant to our campus, local community, state, county, or entire world. The topic should
have a strong scientific basis, but other aspects (e.g., social, ethical, aesthetic) should be
considered. Research will include description of the problem, comparison with similar
cases reported in the literature, and possible courses of action. Proposals for original
solutions are encouraged, but must be accompanied by through research into solutions
proposed for, or attempted in, similar situations (i.e., good ideas must accompany, not
substitute for, solid research).
Group project grades will be based on both the presentation and report. Since
individuals within a group will be responsible for specific questions, individual
assessment is possible. As a class, we will dedicate class time early in the semester for
research and reporting.
Reports will be submitted as a paper copy typed (12-point), double spaced, with
1-inch margins. There should be substantial library research for background material,
based on the primary scientific literature (we will define this in class). You can also use
government documents, personal interviews, and to a limited extent, web resources.
Length for each individual question will be 1-2 pages long. Make two copies: one for
submitting, the second for reference during your presentation. Clarity, brevity, grammar,
and spelling always count in communication. Improving clarity and brevity in your
writing usually requires editing and rewriting. If you cannot critique your own writing,
then find a peer who will. To improve grammar and spelling in your writing, you can use
the old-fashioned methods of using style books and dictionaries, or you will find
grammar and spell checkers on the work processing software provided by the university
for your use.
Exercises will be assigned mostly from the McConnell and Able workbook.
Exercises are due in class on the Friday of the week assigned. Exercises will consist of
answering all of the questions in the order presented.
Participation will be based primarily on your contribution to class discussions
and debates. From your readings, come prepared with several questions.
Makeup Policy: In general, there are no makeups. under extreme circumstances, a test
or an equivalent assignment can be made up. Exercises and term papers will be accepted
late but points will be taken off (10% per day).
Cheating Policy: Cheating on exams, plagiarizing material, or other academic
misconduct described in the. UWO Student Discipline Code could result in an F for the
course and other disciplinary action.