BIOLOGY 4615 APPLIED ECOLOGY. Fall 2007

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1 Instructor Office Office Hours BIOLOGY 4615 APPLIED ECOLOGY Fall 2007 Daniela Shebitz, Ph.D. (908) C132 Tuesday: Wednesday Thursday Class Meeting Times Lecture: TTh 11:00-12:20pm Required Text 9:20am-10:50am 1:30pm-3:30pm 9:20am-10:50am Lab: W 9:30am-12:20pm Withgott, J. and S. Brennan Environment: The Science Behind the Stories. Second edition. Pearson Education, Inc.: San Francisco, CA. COURSE OVERVIEW Through this course, we will further explore ecological principles introduced in BIO 3614 and understand how they can be applied in examining environmental problems, solutions, and management practices. Topics covered will include conservation and restoration ecology, natural resource management, environmental policy, and global climate change. Students must provide their own transportation for some labs. REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING The grade in this course is based heavily on active participation in class discussion, labs, and field trips. Grading will be based on the following: Journal article discussion lead: 10% Participation in article discussions 10% Labs and field trips assignments: 20% Case study: 10% Position Paper: 20%: Two 15% each: 30% Extra Credit: There will be opportunities for extra credit throughout the semester. I may award extra credit for participating in optional out-of-class ecological education opportunities and experiences (i.e. Institute of Urban Ecosystem seminars, local restoration work, or conferences). If a trip is required by this class, you do not earn extra credit for attending. 1

2 Correspondence: While I will check my each day, do not expect an immediate response in the evenings or on the weekends. I will assign final grades as follows: 94% A 90% A- 87% B+ 83% B 80% B- 75% C+ 70% C 60% D < 60% F Please note: 1. I do not drop the lowest grade within any set of tests or assignments. 2. Grades are not on a curve. 3. I am under no obligation to offer you extra credit for out of class work if I do not I feel that you have put forth enough effort to earn credit. Journal Article Discussion Lead: Some classes throughout the semester will end with discussions based on current journal articles that involve applied ecology. These 30 minute discussions will be lead by students in the class, either individually or as a pair of students. Each student must assist in leading at least one discussion. Your responsibility for that class session is twofold: First, to come up with a short (5 minute) summary of what you thought was most relevant about the article and second, to come up with at least five discussion questions based on the reading. You may wish to these questions to the class ahead of the discussion date so that others may prepare answers to the questions. The short presentations should be informal (they do not have to involve PowerPoint). The discussion days are marked with an asterisk (*) on the course schedule below. Those with two (**) are full discussion days with two articles, and two discussion leads. Case Study Debate: During our lectures on natural resource management, a case study will be assigned involving a particular community s issues in dealing with a given resource. Students will work in teams to defend an assigned perspective. Position Paper: We will be discussing numerous topics throughout the semester, but we unfortunately will not be able to explore all of these topics in detail. Through a position paper, you will not only further explore a topic of your choice, but you will take a position arguing your perspective on the issue. For example, if you choose to report on alternative energy, you would argue under what situation one 2

3 particular form of energy (eg. Wind, solar, nuclear, hydro, etc) is more favorable, in your perspective, than others. These papers should be 6-10 pages in length and use at least five journal article citations. Formal presentations of your paper (up to 10 minutes each) will be given and discussed with the class over the last two weeks of the semester. CLASS POLICIES 1. Attendance. I do not record attendance. However, please note that this class covers a lot of material, and you are expected to attend both lecture and lab regularly. Laboratory materials for particular topics are not available after their scheduled date of use. You are responsible for all material covered, whether you are present or not! Final grades will be influenced by excessive absence. 2. Testing. You are expected to be present for all exams. If you miss an exam, you must: a) Notify me in advance (in person, or by phone, or ) b) Have a serious excuse (illness, family emergency, car accident, court appearance, etc.). You WILL receive a zero grade for any unexcused absences from exams! If you miss an exam for an excused reason, you will be allowed to take a cumulative make-up exam during College Hour. Questions on the make-up exam will be derived from all of the course material covered up to that date, not just material you personally missed. This will be the only opportunity to make up any missed exams! If you miss the final exam (which occurs after the make-up date) for an excused reason, you will receive an Incomplete grade. 3. Deadlines. Assignments (reports, etc.) are to be handed in on or before their due dates. For each day late, I will deduct 20% off the assignment grade. 4. Academic Honesty. The Kean University Academic Integrity Policy is strictly enforced. If found cheating, there will be very serious consequences, including failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, or dismissal from the University. LABORATORY Many of the labs this semester will be held off campus. We will arrange carpools to those sites that require driving. Labs will be held weekly until Thanksgiving (except before an exam). While there are no lab reports to turn in, your participation is required and information covered in labs will be on the exams. Many of the labs will be held outside even in the rain. So, come prepared for field work when it is scheduled (warm layers and rain gear if necessary). 3

4 TENTATIVE COURSE SYLLABUS Date Lecture, Lab, and Project Topic Reading Assignment September: Conservation and Restoration Ecology 6 What is applied ecology? 11 Biodiversity and Conservation biology Chapter 11 (W&G) 12 (Lab) Conservation biology lab (edge effects on campus) 13 ** Biodiversity, ecosystem function and conservation biology discussion of articles 18 * Restoration ecology Biodiversity and ecosystem function AND Conservation of Biodiversity in a World of Use What is good ecological restoration? 19 (Lab) Restoration lab (Warinanco Lake) 20 * Restoration ecology discussion Restoring resources for an endangered butterfly 25 * Invasive species management Biological invasions and ecosystem processes: towards an integration of population biology and ecosystem studies 26 (Lab) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (Trip to USDA) 27 Environmental Careers in Wildlife Conservation (Guest) October: Natural Resource Management 2 Exam 1 3 (No lab) NO LAB replaced with field trip the next day 4 Optional field trip to Great Swamp Conservancy to assist in conservation activity with WildMetro (meet there at 9am) 9 Natural resource management: Soil and Agriculture Chapters 9 and 10 (W&B) 10 (Lab) Soil testing lab (on campus) 11 Fresh and salt water Chapters 15&16 (W&B) 16 * Wetland Restoration and Creating and restoring Delineation and Bioremediation wetlands 17 (Lab) Wetland and water lab (Watchung Reservation) 18 Air pollution Chapter 17 (W&B) 4

5 MON. 22 IUES SEMINAR (REQUIRED) 3:30 5:00pm 23 Natural Resource Management: Social Aspects (guest) Chapter 12 (W&B) 24 (Lab) Wetland plant identification and collection lab (Liberty Hall) 25 Forestry and wildlife management (guest?) 30 CASE STUDY PRESENTATIONS 31 (Lab) Biological surveying (Watchung Reservation) November 1 Global climate change and alternative energy Chapters 18, 19, 20, 21 (W&B) 6 Global Warming Sociology guest lecture 7 (Lab) Smoke and ash in seed germination Lab (or Bioremediation) 8 Global climate change and alternative energy Chapters 18, 19, 20, 21 (W&B) 13 Planet Earth: The Future 14 (No lab) NO LAB 15 EXAM 2 20 * Environmental technology and mapping Importance of GIS to community-based management of wildlife: lessons from Zambia 21 (Lab) GIS Workshop 22 THANKSGIVING 27 * Ecotoxicology and human health Chapter 14 (W&B) 28 (Lab) NO LAB 29 Environmental policy, local Chapter 3 (W&B) December: Discussing Current Issues 4 * Environmental policy, international 5 (No lab) NO LAB 6 * Consequences of changing biodiversity discussion 11 Sustainability: Applying ecological principles at Kean University 12 (No lab) Final presentations 13 Final presentations 18 Final presentations (if necessary) Biodiversity, ethics and international law Consequences of changing biodiversity 5

6 APPLIED ECOLOGY STUDENT FORMS PLEASE COMPLETE THE BELOW QUESTIONS AND TURN IN AT THE END OF CLASS TODAY: NAME ACADEMIC YEAR (E.G. FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORE): ADDRESS: 1. Why are you taking this class? 2. Do you have any special needs that I should be aware of? 3. What previous coursework have you completed that is applicable to Applied Ecology? Note where and when you took an introductory ecology class. 4. What previous or current ecological research or employment experience do you have? 5. What area of ecology interests you the most (e.g. plants, animals, soil, energy, sustainability, policy, global warming)? 6

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