This course is designed for students majoring in environmental science, environmental studies, education, as well as students needing a science sequence.

Topic 1: Biomes, Human Impacts: Overview and Biomagnification 

Reading:
     Ecosystems: Chapter 44 
     Ecosystems web page: http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/ecosystems.htm
     Lecture Notes 01a:  Ecosystems       PDF     PowerPoint   

How to Print PowerPoint Notes Out For Class
Note: password required to open lecture files

     Biomes: Chapter 45 
        Biomes Web Page   
           Lecture Notes 01b: Biomes             PDF       PowerPoint

         More on Competition (read through competition in details)
         Keystone Species 

      Exam 1 - Week of February 5th

Study Guide! (1)

Environmental Problems: Chapter 46
     How do humans affect ecosystems? Chapter 46
     How do environmental toxins move up the food chain?  Biomagnification Web Page
          Critical Pollutants  
          PCB's 
          Heavy Metals in the Mississippi River    
          Mercury - overview 
          Mercury - USGS 
          Mercury - AEP
      Cancer - one effect of toxins  pp. 145,146, 153, 159-161
         Lecture Notes 01c: Human effects, biomagnification, cancer  PDF       Word

Extra Credit:

PDF          Word

Complete this assignment.  While it won't be graded, if you do a good job it is worth up to 5 points. and is excellent study practice for the 2nd exam.  Due when we begin to cover biomagnification in class.  

Topic 2: Temperate Forests and Succession

     Reading:
          Temperate deciduous and temperate rainforests     Chapter 45
              Temperate Forests Web Page        European Forest Web Page       Temperate Rain Forest Web Page
           Succession/Fire Ecology/Mining     Section 44.2
           Slide show - Succession (not available online - come to class!)
           Succession Web Page
           Lecture Notes 02 - Temperate Forests and Succession           PDF       WORD

Exam 2 - Week of March 4

Study Guide!!! (2)

Topic 3:  Tropical and Boreal Forests and Deforestation

     Reading:
           Tropical Rain and Dry Forests, Savanna, Taiga    Chapter 45
           Tropical Rain Forest Web Page            Tropical Seasonal Forest Web Page   
            Taiga Web Page 
           Lecture Notes 03 - Tropical and Boreal Forests and Deforestation  
                                                                                                              PDF                    WORD
           What is happening to forests? Sustainable forestry        
                 NASA - Tropical Deforestation
                 Causes of Deforestation
                 Consequences of Deforestation
                 Sustainable Forestry
                 Home Depot
           Nutrient cycling in ecosystems  - water and phosphorous     Section 44.4
           How do tropical rain forests hold onto nutrients?                                            
                                    Ecology 59(3) pp. 434-437  

Homework 1

Rootmat

Due in Class.

March 6th, 2008

pdf      doc

Turnitin.com Instructions

Topic 4:  Deserts, Desertification, Homeostasis & Survival 

Reading:
     Deserts    Chapter 45 (section on deserts), 46.6 (desertification), 
                         31.7 (homeostasis),5.3 (diffusion), 7.6 (photosynthesis)

   Desert Web Page 
     Lecture Notes 04 - Deserts, Desertification, 
                    Homeostasis and Survival                    PDF            WORD
     How do deserts spread?      
                 UN - Causes of Desertification
                 UN - Consequences of Desertification
     

Topic 5: Grasslands, Plants and Agriculture 

Reading: 

     Chapter 45 (section on grasslands),   Chapters 27 & 28 Section 29.3
                 Grasslands Web Page 
                 Lecture Notes 05 - Grasslands, Plants and Agriculture  
                                                                                                                  PDF             Word
     Nutrient Cycling - Carbon and Nitrogen                           Section 44.4 (cycles)
     

Topic 6.  Wetlands, Lakes and Streams, Competition, Predation, Eutrophication

Reading:  
        Wetlands, Lakes and Streams                          Chapter 45.6

Lakes and Aquatic Habitats	Lake Habitat Tour	Wetland Tour
Streams and Rivers	Stream Habitat Tour

       Lecture Notes 6 - Wetlands, Lakes, Streams,  Predation,  Eutrophication
                                                                                               PDF             Word

                                    Predation                            Section 44.1
             
       Eutrophication: pollution of aquatic habitats       Web Reading 

Due in class

Thursday April 10th

Homework 2

pdf   doc

Note: Homework Help Sessions:

Wednesday,  April 2, 5:30pm
Tuesday, April 8th,  6pm

Study Guide! (3)

Exam 3 - Week of April 14

Topic 7.   The Ocean  & Symbiosis                                                                                     

Reading: 
      The Ocean                                                           Chapter 45.7
      Symbiosis                                                           Chapter 44.1
             
       Symbiosis Web Page                  Ocean Habitats

Take These Tours:

   Lecture Notes 7 - Oceans and Symbiosis
                                                                                                    PDF             Word

Human Impacts on Oceans

Topic 8.  Acid Rain and Air Pollution

Reading:  
     Lecture Notes 8 - Acid Rain and Air Pollution 
                                                                                       PDF             Word
     Acid Rain Web Page

 Topic 9.  Human Population Growth

Reading:  Chapter 43