BIOLOGY 3999 – GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
WINTER 2013
MWF 9:20 – 10:30 AM
South Science 205
DR. TYLER EVANS
Office: South Science 350 Phone: 510 885 3475
Office hours: Mon, Wed. 10:30 – 12:00 PM, or by appointment
Lab: South Science 252 Phone: 510 885 2881
E-mail: tyler.evans@csueastbay.edu
Website: http://evanslabcsueb.weebly.com/
GOALS & EXPECTATIONS
Broadly, the primary goal of this course to gain a broad understanding of the mechanisms by which plants, animals, and
ecosystems are responding to global change and to appreciate the links between physical, chemical, and biological
systems and anthropogenic (human) activities.
Major learning objectives include:
1.) To acquire a broad understanding of the connection between human activities and the structure and function of
biological systems
2.) To enhance your ability to engage primary research and synthesize data presented within journal articles
3.) To achieve a higher level of critical thinking that enables proper evaluation and educated decision-making
regarding issues in global change
GRADING
Your final grade will be determined based on your performance on two midterm exams, one writing assignment and the
final exam.
MIDTERM #1………………………………25% (Feb 1)
MIDTERM #2………………………………25% (Feb 22)
WRITING ASSIGNMENT………………20% (due Mar 15)
FINAL EXAM………………………………..30% (TBA)
TOTAL…………………………………………100%
EXAMS
All three exams will be a combination of short (e.g. multiple choice, matching) and long answer (e.g. multiple sentences)
questions. Exams will focus on material covered in lectures. Scores are required to be posted on CSUEB’s Blackboard
(https://bb.csueastbay.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp)
Please make every effort to avoid missing the scheduled exams. In case of an emergency or legitimate conflict, you may
be eligible to take a specially scheduled make-up exam. In these cases, you are required to notify me and provide
documentation supporting your absence at least one week in advance of the schedule exam. You must provide
verifiable, written documentation for your absence. Any unexcused absence from an exam will result in a score of 0 for
that exam. Missing more than one exam will result in an “F” in the course.
WRITING ASSIGNMENT
The writing assignment is simple: choose an organism and describe how it is or will be affected by global change in
approximately two written pages. The writing assignment should be based upon information contained in one or several
scientific journal articles. These articles must be properly cited. The writing assignment is due prior to the final exam.
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LECTURE FORMAT
Lectures will be presented using powerpoint. Each lecture will be posted on my website and Blackboard prior to class. It
is important to realize that these powerpoint slides represent only a basic outline of the material covered. Important
details that will be covered in exams will be added by the instructor verbally in each lecture. Thus attending class and
taking detailed notes is the key to success. This is a 10-week course, thus a considerable amount of material is covered in
a very short period of time. Each lecture covers about 3.4% of the material, so you if you miss three classes, that’s over
10% of the total for the course.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
There is no required text for this course. Alternatively, lectures will rely heavily on material from the primary scientific
literature. Research articles discussed during lecture will be available through my website and Blackboard and may be
assigned as required reading. The ability to acquire and synthesize information from scientific research papers is an
important goal of this course and an essential skill for a career in the life sciences.
GENERAL CSUEB COURSE POLICIES
PREREQUISITES: Ensure that you have the appropriate prerequisites to enroll in this course.
GRADING: A grade of “incomplete” can only be given when a major portion (> 50%) of the course has been completed
at a passing level (“C” or better), and you have verifiable, extenuating circumstances that prevent you from completing
the course. An “incomplete” is not an alternative to dropping the course due to poor performance. When an “I” is
assigned, you will have one academic year to complete only the unfinished portion of the course.
SPECIAL ACADEMIC ACCOMODATIONS: If you have a documented disability and have registered with SDRC, you will
need to discuss this with and provide your Determination of Accommodations form to me as well as your lab instructor.
Special accommodations must be arranged at least one week in advance of all exams.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: It is imperative you understand what academic dishonesty is and how serious it is. You are
required to review the information at http://www.csueastbay.edu/ecat/current/i-120grading.html#section12. Included are the
details of what comprises academic dishonesty and the consequences thereof. As a rule, CSUEB instructors cannot
tolerate cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty. You will receive no credit for the exam,
assignment, or activity on which you acted dishonestly. This may result in an “F” in the course and a formal Academic
Dishonesty Incident Report filed against you. Further punitive action, e.g. academic record notation (five years
duration), suspension, or expulsion may be taken by the Student Disciplinary Officer and the Office of the Vice President
of Student Affairs.
COURTESY: Please turn off all audible sounds to any electronic devices (phones, PDAs, etc.) while in lecture and lab!
Refrain from using your laptops for activities not related to lecture during class time, e.g. emailing or browsing the web.
Use of these items is strictly prohibited during all exams.
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LECTURE SCHEDULE *
DATE
LEC # TOPIC
M Jan. 7
W Jan. 9
F Jan. 11
1
2
3
Intro and economic value of Earth’s ecosystems
Drivers of global change
Relationship between carbon dioxide and temperature
M Jan. 14
W Jan. 16
F Jan. 18
4
5
6
Effects of temperature on organism function
Ocean Change Case Study: the intertidal and porcelain crabs
Ocean Change Case Study: the intertidal and mussels
M Jan. 21
W Jan. 23
F Jan. 25
7
8
NO LECTURE – Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Range shifts in the marine environment
Temperature and corals
M Jan. 28
W Jan. 30
F Feb. 1
9
10
11
Introduction to ocean acidification
Naturally acidified marine environments
EXAM 1: Lectures 1 – 10
M Feb. 4
W Feb. 6
F Feb. 8
12
13
14
Rapid environmental change in polar environments
Environmental physiology of Antarctic organisms
Effects of a changing climate on salmon
M Feb. 11
W Feb. 13
F Feb. 15
15
16
17
Climate change and freshwater ecosystems
Range shifts in terrestrial environments
Climate change and population dynamics of pests and parasites
M Feb. 18
W Feb. 20
F Feb. 22
18
19
Altitudinal shifts in terrestrial environments
Effects of simultaneous exposure to multiple climate change variables
EXAM 2: Lectures 9 – 17
M Feb. 25
W Feb. 27
F Mar. 1
19
20
21
Temperature change and seasonal timing events
Temperature change, flowering time and pollination
Global Warming Case Study: The pitcher plant mosquito
M Mar. 4
W Mar. 6
F Mar. 8
22
23
24
Climate change and food production
Climate change, disease vectors and human health
Potential for evolutionary adaptation to rapid environmental change
M Mar. 11
W Mar. 13
F Mar. 15
25
26
27
Research techniques in global change biology: marine environments
Research techniques in ocean change biology: terrestrial environments
Question and answer period in preparation for final exam
Written Assignment due
M Mar. 18
FINAL EXAM 9:00-10:50 (all content)
* Lecture schedule is subject to change. Any changes will be announced.
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