BIO 105: ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY
Spring 2014 Syllabus
(Subject to change)
MW 11:40 AM - 2:20 PM (CRN 21684)
Pima Community College West Campus, SCI K131
Instructor:
Carla Essenberg, cessenberg@pima.edu
Office Hours:
By appointment, in Santa Rita A-215
Texts:
Optional textbook: Houtman et al. 2013 Environmental Science for a Changing World, 1st ed. W. H.
Freeman.
Course website on MyPima (https://mypima.pima.edu): contains lecture slides, self quizzes/study
guides, lab manual, assignments, information on plagiarism and how to cite sources, tips for
creating PowerPoint presentations, and a lot more.
I. Course description and philosophy:
1. Course description:
Fundamentals of ecology and their relevance to human impact on natural ecosystems. Includes ecosystem
structure and function, population dynamics, and human impacts on air, water, land, and biodiversity.
2. Performance objectives:
 Describe ecological principles of how the Earth functions.
 Apply ecological principles and the human impact on the environment.
 Evaluate scientific basis of environmental issues.
 Describe possible causes and analyze potential solutions to current environmental issues.
 Demonstrate skills necessary for life-long learning, critical examination, and personal decisions
relative to environmental biology.
 Perform activities to demonstrate improvement in the general education goals of oral communication,
written communication, and critical thinking.
3. My philosophy:
As the human population grows and people across the world aspire to the standard of living enjoyed by those
in industrialized countries such as the United States, the earth’s resources are under increasing strain. Solving
the environmental problems created by humanity’s rapidly growing demands for food, fresh water, energy, and
other resources is one of the greatest challenges, indeed perhaps the greatest challenge, of our time. This
course will introduce you to the science behind environmental issues, helping you to assess competing
arguments in the many controversies surrounding our interactions with the natural environment. Specifically,
we will be studying fundamentals of ecology and earth science and their relevance to human impacts on
natural ecosystems. Environmental biology is a vast subject: in many cases, a topic on which I can only spend
a day or two could easily fill an entire semester. Therefore, I shall attempt to introduce you to the most
important ideas and hope that you will continue to learn more about these subjects in the future.
Students come to this course with a wide range of interests, abilities, and backgrounds. This diversity of
perspectives provides us with exciting opportunities to learn from one another, which I hope you will take full
advantage of during group activities and discussions. The course is designed so that students with a variety of
different strengths can be successful: the course contains a wide range of different kinds of assignments and
activities, points come from many small assignments and quizzes rather than a few large ones so that there is
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ample opportunity to practice the skills required for each type of activity, and you can earn many points just by
attending class, participating in activities, and turning in assignments on time. I want all of you to be
successful and will enjoy meeting with you outside of class to help you master the skills and concepts you
need to do well. Learning does require effort, but if you try, you will be rewarded!
II. Assignments and grading
1. Grading overview: You will be able to earn a total of 1000 points, which will come from the following activities:
Activity
Points possible
Quizzes
Environmental news
assignments
Individual homework
assignments
Lab assignments
Attendance and
participation
(≈64% from lab,
≈36% from lecture)
Environmental biology
event
Optional comprehensive
final exam
Final Grade: A
B
C
D
F
=
=
=
=
=
350
80
Percentage of total
points
35%
8%
70
7%
250
250
25%
25%
Make-up/extra credit (35 points)
Make-up/extra credit (50 points)
90 - 100%
80 - 89%
70 - 79%
60 - 69%
Below 60%
=
=
=
=
=
900 – 1000 points
800 – 899 points
700 – 799 points
600 – 699 points
000 – 599 points
2. Quizzes: We shall have a quiz almost every week, usually at the beginning of class on Monday. Each quiz will
cover topics discussed in lecture since the previous quiz. In some cases, other material (e.g., questions based on
lab activities or on the syllabus) may be included as well; I shall always let you know in class if I am going to
cover material from outside of the lectures. I believe firmly in communicating my learning goals to students, so
that you can take full responsibility for your learning. Therefore, I shall provide a study guide, formatted like a
quiz, for every topic I cover in lecture, which will cover the material that I expect you to know for the quiz. I
strongly encourage you to use the study guides to test your knowledge of the material from each week until you
are confident that you can answer every question without looking at your notes. Once you have done that, the real
quiz should be easy!
3. Environmental news assignments: An environmental news assignment, worth 10 points, will be due nearly every
week, usually at the beginning of class on Wednesday. For each assignment, you will find a news article related to
environmental biology (see the class schedule for ideas). Read the article and write down the title, news source,
and date, as follows:
Google Earth reveals Persian Gulf fish catch is six times larger than thought. The Guardian. Nov. 27, 2013.
You will turn this in during class. In addition, I shall ask you to spend 5 minutes at the beginning of class writing
down, from memory, a short paragraph (at least 80 words, which is about 4 sentences) describing something
interesting you learned from the article about environmental biology. If I am unable to find your article online, I
may ask you to give me a copy of your article before I give you a grade. Failure to do so within a week of my
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request will result in a score of 0 for the assignment. A more complete description of this assignment, including a
list of news sources that frequently carry relevant articles, my grading rubric, and examples of good assignments,
is posted on MyPima.
4. Individual homework assignments (35 points each):
Further details of these assignments are provided on the course website (on MyPima).
Easter’s end assignment: You will read Jared Diamond’s article “Easter’s End” about the collapse of the
civilization on Easter Island, write a brief summary of the article, and write a short essay reflecting on what
lessons the Easter islanders’ experiences may have for us.
Ecological footprint assignment: You will fill out a questionnaire online to determine the size of your ecological
footprint (that is, the amount of land required to provide all the natural resources needed to support your
lifestyle), record the results, and then answer some questions about them.
5. Labs:
Full details about the labs are provided in the lab manual on the course website (on MyPima). You must print
out the lab manual and bring the relevant portion with you to class every day!
Desert Ecology Lab (110 points): You and a partner of your choice will conduct a brief scientific study in the
desert on the Pima West Campus and present your results to the class.
Water Public Hearing (60 points): The class will conduct a simulated public hearing to decide how Arizona should
meet its future water needs. You will be randomly assigned to one of five special interest groups or to the panel
that makes the final decision.
Home Ecosystem Lab (80 points): You will be randomly assigned to collect data on either your use of water, your
use of electricity, or your production of trash. Data will be pooled across the class and presented by one of the
members of your group. You will also research a topic related to water, electricity, or trash and deliver a 4-5
minute presentation about it.
Fish Banks Lab (18 participation points): We shall simulate a fishery. The class will be divided into several
fishing businesses, each of which will try to be as profitable as possible in the long term.
Land Use Simulation (18 participation points): We shall simulate urban land use planning as new land comes up
for sale on the outskirts of a city.
Desert Museum Field Trip (18 participation points): The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a cross between a
botanic garden and a zoo and is one of Tucson’s main tourist attractions. This field trip will offer an opportunity
to learn about the ecology of the Sonoran Desert.
Sweetwater Wetlands Field Trip (18 participation points): The Sweetwater Wetlands is a key component to
Tucson’s innovative wastewater treatment system as well as a major attraction for bird enthusiasts. We shall see
the wetland and learn about how it harnesses natural ecosystem processes to clean waste water.
Grading of group work: The Desert Ecology Lab and the Water Public Hearing are group projects. All students
are expected to contribute substantial effort to each project. When you turn in each assignment, you will need to
describe briefly what each student contributed to it. Students will be graded independently, based on their
contributions.
6. Attendance and participation: You will have the opportunity to earn 8 points of attendance/participation points
during each class period (and 18 points each for certain labs, as described on the Grade Tracking Sheet), for a total
of up to 250 points during the course (a quarter of your grade!). You earn these points by completing and turning
in to me brief writing exercises during the lectures (which are graded on effort) and actively engaging in group
activities. You can expect to lose at least 1 point per 15 minutes of missed lecture or lab activities if you arrive
late or leave early (and more for some labs). Participating in lab requires that you have the lab manual with you –
you will lose 2 of your 8 points if I become aware that you have not brought the lab manual to class. You can also
lose some or all of your points for a day by doing activities unrelated to the class during lecture or lab activities,
such as texting or checking email, or by doing things that interfere with other students’ learning, such as talking
during lectures. I shall warn you if I observe you engaging in behavior during class that is going to lose you
participation points. As with the rest of your grade, you can track your participation points on MyPima.
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7. Environmental biology event (up to 35 points make up/extra credit): Full details about this optional assignment
are available on MyPima. In brief, you will attend an event related to environmental biology (after obtaining my
approval), obtain evidence that you were there, and write a report about what you learned at the event.
8. Optional final exam (up to 50 points make up/extra credit): The final exam is comprehensive and will cover
material from all of the study guides for the entire semester. It has 100 points, and you get 1 point of extra credit
for each point you earn over 50. For example, if you earned 90 points, you would get 40 points make-up/extra
credit (90 – 50 = 40).
III. Policies
Make-up and Late Work Policy: In general, make-ups and late work are not accepted. Quizzes and environmental news
assignments take place at the beginning of class, must be completed in the time allotted (usually 15-30 minutes for
quizzes and 5 minutes for environmental news assignments, but may be more or less), and cannot be made up. Likewise,
assignments are due at the beginning of class unless otherwise noted, and no make-ups or late work are accepted unless
otherwise stated (see grading rubrics). However, most work may be turned in early when you know you have to miss a
class. I suggest emailing your work to me early enough to receive a confirmation email from me. Email problems are
not an acceptable excuse for late work. Also, note that I drop the lowest 2 quiz and environmental news assignment
scores, and that it is possible to receive full points for attendance/participation even if you miss one or two class days.
The final exam and the environmental biology event serve as make-up/extra credit. If you are going to miss or have
missed a class, please see me as soon as possible.
Rebuttal System: If you think you were graded unfairly (or erroneously) on an assignment or quiz, please turn in a written
explanation (rebuttal) with your graded assignment/quiz to me within one week of getting your graded assignment back
from me. I will write a response and return it to you. We can set up an appointment if you disagree with my response.
Classroom Etiquette: I expect you to treat other students with courtesy and respect at all times. This includes treating your
fellow students’ viewpoints with respect, refraining from talking or causing distractions during a lecture or while
another student is talking, and doing your share in all group activities.
Academic Honesty: You are expected to abide by the College’s Student Code of Conduct (http://www.pima.edu/currentstudents/code-of-conduct/docs/Student-Code-of-Conduct.pdf). Breaches in scholastic ethic will be dealt with severely.
Cheating includes using an electronic device during a quiz.
Withdrawal (W): Students who fail to attend the first class or fail to attend 3 consecutive classes without notifying the
instructor may be withdrawn. If you decide you cannot continue in class, officially withdraw by the deadline. If you
wish to receive a grade of "W" after the withdrawal date, please give me a written request by the first day of final exam
week. Granting a grade of "W" will be up to my discretion.
Incomplete (I): Given only when a student has missed 20% or less of the course material for a reason acceptable to me.
Eligibility for an incomplete requires earned grades that average "C" or above at the time of request.
Americans with Disabilities Act: Pima Community College is committed to providing accommodations for qualified
individuals with disabilities in a timely and effective manner. To request a reasonable accommodation, students must be
registered with the campus Disabled Student Resources (DSR) office. Accommodations will be made based on
eligibility determined by Disabled Student Resources. Services can be requested at any time during the semester.
Requesting services well in advance will help to ensure that resources are available when needed. Please contact a DSR
office at 206-6688 or DSRhelp@pima.edu.
Mandatory Reporting Statement. Please be advised that, as a faculty member of Pima Community College, I am required
by law (A.R.S. §13-3620), to report, upon reasonable belief, any situation that may indicate that a minor (defined as
someone under the age of 18) has been the victim of child abuse (including physical injury and/or sexual conduct). This
duty also includes the obligation to report any previous abuse of a minor, regardless of the current age of the victim to
the College’s Department of Public Safety (DPS).
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Bio 105 Environmental Biology (CRN 21684) Grade Tracking Sheet
Quizzes (350 pts, 35% of final grade): 10 highest @ 35 pts each
Quiz 1 ________
Quiz 5 ________
Quiz 9 ________
Quiz 2 ________
Quiz 6 ________
Quiz 10 _______
Quiz 3 ________
Quiz 7 ________
Quiz 11 _______
Quiz 4 ________
Quiz 8 ________
Quiz 12 _______
Total of top 10 quizzes _______
Environmental news assignments (80 pts, 8% of final grade): 8 highest @ 10 pts each
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
Total of top 8 news assignments _______
Individual homework assignments (70 pts): 7% of final grade
Easter’s end (35)
_________
Ecological footprint (35)
_________
Total individual homework assignments _______
Laboratory assignments (250 pts, 25% of final grade)
Desert Ecology Lab (110)
 List of questions (homework) (10) ________
 Draft proposal (10) ________
 Proposal (25) ________
 Data table (10) ________
 Written report (25) ________
 Presentation (30) ________
Water Public Hearing (60)
 Brainstorming (homework) (15) ________
 Draft plans/criteria (10) ________

Plans or, for panel, criteria and preliminary
comments on plans (20) ________
 Public Hearing (15) ________
Home Ecosystem Lab (80)
 Home data (35) ________
 Group outline (5) ________
 Presentation outline (10) ________
 Presentation (30) ________
Total labs _______
Participation (250 pts, 25% of final grade): 8 pts possible per regular class day, 18 points possible for each field
trip, and 18 points each for the Fish Banks Lab and Land Use Simulation, 250 pts maximum
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
Total participation (250 pts maximum) _______
Environmental biology event = 35 pts. extra
Environmental biology event _______
Optional final exam (100) All points above 50 are added to total
Total points:
FINAL GRADE:
Exam: points over 50 _______
Grand total _______
A = 900 – 1000 points
B = 800 – 899 points
C = 700 – 799 points
D = 600 – 699 points
F = 000 – 599 points
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BIO 105: ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY
Spring 2014 (CRN 21684) Tentative schedule
Day
W
Date
1/22
Lectures
Introduction
M
1/27
W
1/29
The scientific method for
creating knowledge
(Ch. 2)
Statistics: How can you tell
what your data are saying?
M
2/3
W
2/5
M
2/10
W
2/12
M
2/17
W
2/19
M
2/24
W
2/26
M
3/3
W
3/5
M
3/10
W
3/12
M,W
3/17,
3/19
Causes of environmental
problems: Social traps and
externalities
(Chs. 1 and 5)
Environmental economics and
solutions to environmental
problems
(Chs. 1 and 5)
Introduction to ecology and
population growth
(Ch. 7)
Limits to population size and
sustainable harvest rates
(Ch. 7)
What if a population
overshoots its carrying
capacity? Have humans
already done that?
(Chs. 7 and 4)
Future of the human population
(Ch. 4)
Natural selection and pesticide
resistance
(Ch. 10)
Introduction to community
ecology: Species interactions
(Ch. 8)
Biodiversity and why it matters
(Ch. 9)
Labs
Desert Ecology Lab
(DEL): Introduction
DEL: Choose question
Quizzes and assignments due*
DEL: Work on proposal
Enviro. news assignm’t 1
DEL: Draft proposal due by 9am on
Sun., 2/2
Quiz 1
DEL: Revise proposal
DEL: List of questions due
DEL: Revise proposal
Enviro. news assignm’t 2
DEL: Proposal due by 9am on Thurs.,
2/6
DEL: Prepare for data
collection
Quiz 2
Fish banks lab
DEL: Data collection
Ecological footprint homework
assignment due
Quiz 3
DEL: Data collection
Enviro. news assignm’t 3
DEL: Analyze data and
begin written report
DEL: Finish written
report
Quiz 4
DEL: Data table due
Enviro. news assignm’t 4
Easter’s end homework assignment
due
DEL: Prepare
presentation
Quiz 5
DEL: Written report due
DEL: Prepare
presentation
DEL: Presentation
day!
Water Public Hearing
(WPH): Introduction
Field trip to Desert
Museum
SPRING BREAK
Enviro. news assignm’t 5
Quiz 6
DEL: Presentation due
*
Unless otherwise stated, assignments are due at the beginning of class. Assignment deadlines are very unlikely to
change and will never be earlier than listed on the schedule.
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Day
M
Date
3/24
W
3/26
M
3/31
W
4/2
M
4/7
W
4/9
M
4/14
W
4/16
M
4/21
W
4/23
M
4/28
W
4/30
M
5/5
W
M
W
5/7
5/12
5/14
Lectures
Conservation biology: What
can we do to conserve
biodiversity?
(Ch. 9)
Water: Why clean, fresh water
is scarce and what we can do
about it
(Chs. 15 and 16)
Introduction to ecosystem
ecology
(Ch. 6)
Forests: What we need them
for and how we can protect
them
(Ch. 11)
Agriculture: What does our
food cost us and what can we
do about it?
(Chs. 12 and 18)
Earth’s climate: How climate
shapes ecology, why some
places are warmer than others,
and why the wind blows
Earth’s climate: Why some
places are wetter than others
Climate change: What is
happening, what is causing it,
and what we can do about it
(Ch. 22)
Air pollution: Sources, effects,
and solutions
(Ch. 21)
Plate tectonics: Explaining
mountains, islands,
earthquakes, and volcanoes
Labs
WPH: Work on plans
and criteria
Quizzes and assignments due*
WPH: Brainstorming homework due
WPH: Work on plans
and criteria
Enviro. news assignm’t 6
Field trip to
Sweetwater Wetland
WPH: Revise plans and
criteria
WPH: Draft plans/criteria due
WPH: Work on
presentation/Review
plans
Quiz 8
WPH: Plans/criteria due
WPH: Work on
presentation/Review
plans
Enviro. news assignm’t 7
Water Public Hearing!
WPH: Panel’s preliminary comments
due at beginning of class and final
comments due at end of class;
Everyone else: presentations due
Quiz 9
Home ecosystem lab
(HE): Introduction
Quiz 7
HE: Prepare group
outline and work on data
Quiz 10
HE: Group outline due at end of class
HE: Work on data and
presentations
Enviro. news assignm’t 8
Environmental Biology Event Due
HE: Data due by 9am on Sat., 4/26
HE: Work on
presentations
Quiz 11
HE: Presentation outline due by 9am on
Tues., 4/29
Enviro. news assignm’t 9
HE: Work on
presentations
Home ecosystem
presentation day!
Land Use Simulation
Quiz 12
HE: Presentation due
Enviro. news assignm’t 10
Review
OPTIONAL FINAL EXAM
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