Syllabus
Course: “Environmental Biology” (ESC 59C.01)
Instructor: Raşit Bilgin (rasit.bilgin@boun.edu.tr)
Place: Boğaziçi Üniversitesi, Çevre Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Hisar Kampüs,
Time:
“Environmental Biology” is a graduate course (for 4th year undergraduate and
graduate students) focusing on understanding basic concepts and applications in
environmental biology and conservation biology. The first half of the course will
involve a review of basic concepts in environmental biology, such as the organization
of living forms, individuals, populations and ecosystems, and the effect of pollution.
This will be followed by a focus on biodiversity and conservation. This will include
examination of changes in biodiversity, conservation of populations and habitats and
genetic basis of conservation biology, and human impact on biodiversity. The weekly
reading load for students will average around 20-40 pages. There will be one midterm
(comprising 30 % of the final grade) and one final exam (50%). Each student will also
be required to give a 10-15 minute presentation (10%) and write a 2000-4000 word
report (10%) on a conservation topic that captures their interest.
The course will follow five books. These are:
1) Environmental Biology (EB) (2004) by A. M. Jones. (available online as an ebook at the university library).
2) Conservation Biology (CB) (1996) edited by I.F. Spellberg.
3) Biodiversity I (B1) (1988): understanding and protecting our biological
resources. Edited by M. L. Reaka-Kudla, D. E. Wilson, and E. O. Wilson.
4) Biodiversity II (B2) (1997): understanding and protecting our biological
resources. Edited by M. L. Reaka-Kudla, D. E. Wilson, and E. O. Wilson.
(available online as an e-book at the university library).
5) Future of Life (FL) (2002) by E. O. Wilson.
Week 1: Introduction.
Week 2: The Basic Organization of Living Forms (EB, Chapter 1).
Week 3: Conditions and Resources: Major Determinants of Ecology (EB, Chapter 4).
Week 4: Individuals (EB, Chapter 5).
Week 5: Populations (EB, Chapter 6) & Communities and Ecosystems (EB, Chapter
7).
Week 6: Midterm I (comprising 30% of the grade)
Week 7: Biodiversity: What is it? (B2, Chapter 2) & Biodiversity: Why Is It
Important? (B2, Chapter 3).
Week 8: The Loss of Diversity: Causes and Consequences (B1, Chapter 2), The
Planetary Killer (FL, Chapter 4).
Week 9: Conservation of populations (CB, Chapter 11) & Conservation of habitats
(CB, Chapter 12).
Week 10: The genetic basis of conservation biology (CB, Chapter 10).
Week 11: Politics and Economics (CB, Chapter 4) & Legislation (CB, Chapter 5).
Week 12: Student Presentations.
Final