BIOL 315 – Environmental Biology
Syllabus Spring 2012
Instructor: Dr. Michael Delong
Office: 215 Pasteur
Telephone: 457-5484
Email: mdelong@winona.edu
Office Hours: MWF 10-11; MW 12-2; Th 8-11; other times – I am available if my office door is
open
Textbooks (required): Miller, G.T. and S.E. Spoolman. 2009. Living in the environment, 16th
edition. Brooks/Cole Publishing.
Easton, T.A. 2011. Taking sides: clashing views on environmental issues,
14th edition. McGraw Hill Publishing.
Evaluation – Course evaluation will be based on scores on: four lecture exams, lead in weekly
discussion; participation in weekly discussion, weekly environmental issue summaries, and
participation in regular discussion of environmental issues. Grade scale is A >90%, B>80%,
C>70%, D>60%, F<60%. Final course evaluation will be 50% exams, 50% oral.
Attendance – is the responsibility of the student. If you miss a lecture, it is your responsibility
to get those materials and not the professor’s (best bet – get them from a colleague in the class).
Points will not be received for participation if you are not in attendance on days with discussion
(Monday and Wednesdays).
Weekly Both Sides of an Issue Discussion (Fridays and most of April)
The book by Easton (2011) will serve as the basis for discussion on Fridays. Two students will
lead each discussion with one taking the pro and the other taking the con. Do not be hesitant to
take the con side of an argument. A key component of this exercise is to learn that you cannot
make a strong argument on an issue without understanding both sides of the issue. Both the pro
and con must provide sound arguments. Preparation for making your argument will not be
limited to what is contained within the book. Additional literature research is expected and
citations for papers used for your argument must be submitted to me on paper or by email by 2
pm on the Wed before your presentation. Arguments will include a 10 – 15 min PowerPoint
presentation. After both sides have been presented, the remainder of the class time will be used
for discussion among the rest of the class. Each side of the class will be designated as taking the
pro perspective of discussion and the other the con. I will determine which side is which by coin
toss after the leaders make their presentation (17 total).
Weekly Environmental Issues Discussion (Mondays)
Everyone will find an article from the newspaper, magazine, journal, or internet (reputable
website) and bring a written summary (half-page typed) along with citation. I will select one of
the summaries and we will spend part of the lecture time discussing what happened, potential
impacts, and potential for remediation (11 total). What you should consider, but not limited to
this, in the written summary is: 1) nature/cause of the issue; and 2)nature of the impact. They do
not have to be recent events (e.g., a spill or contamination) but can also pertain to new
information on long-standing environmental issues.
Lecture Schedule
Lecture
Readings
Most of the initial lectures will be review of general ecology
Introduction
Chapter 1
Matter, Energy, & Systems
Chapter 2
Ecosystems
Chapter 3
Biodiversity and Evolution
Chapter 4
Species Interactions and Controls
Chapter 5
Impact of Human Population
Chapter 6
Exam - 1 February
Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity
Aquatic Biodiversity
Sustaining Biodiversity
Food, Soil, and Pest Management
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapters 9-11
Chapter 12
Exam - 7 March
Water Resources
Geology and Nonrenewable Minerals
Nonrenewable Energy
Renewable Energy and Efficiency
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Exam - 4 April
Air Pollution
Climate Change
Water Pollution
Solid and Hazardous Waste
Sustaining Human Societies
Exam - May 8 – 10 am
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapters 23-25