BIOLOGY 2406 - ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY SUMMER I 2015 GENERAL INFORMATION Instructor: Dr. Robert Dearth Office: SCNE 1.312 Phone/Email: (956) 665 8750 dearthrk@utpa.edu Office Hours: TBA or by appointment REQUIRED MATERIALS Textbook: Miller, G. Tyler, Living in the Environment, 17 th edition (an older edition may be OK) Lab Materials: Lab Exercises Packet from the UTPA Bookstore plus a 3-ring binder, lab coat COURSE OBJECTIVES This course will study biology with an environmental focus. You will be introduced to ecology, different environmental problems, and discuss possible solutions. To understand the interrelatedness of humans and the environment, we will study topics such as ecosystems, biotic and abiotic components of the environment, human populations, energy, toxicology, pollution and others. Government policies and case studies will also be presented. LABORATORY (see lab section of syllabus) The laboratory portion of the course will consist of in-lab work, a recycling project, quizzes and videos. You will need to keep a laboratory notebook of your activities. The laboratory will be taught by a Teaching Assistant under my supervision. Laboratory participation is mandatory and constitutes 40% of your overall grade. EXAMS: 500pts (100pts each; 5 lecture exams total) The lecture portion of the course will include 5 exams (100pts each). Exam questions will be derived from a combination of information presented in the lecture, videos, lab, and textbook readings. Make-up exams will only be granted in the event of a family emergency (death in the family, serious illness). You or a family member must contact the instructor within 48 hours as to why you could not take the exam as scheduled before a make-up exam will be granted. The make-up exam will not be the same exam given in class. GROUP PRESENTATIONS: 100PTS Students will be divided into groups and assemble a brief 10 minute presentation on a famous environmental disaster. The presentation will take place during the final day of lecture and will be worth 10% of the overall grade. Students may make posters, handouts, Power Point presentations, or use other visual aids to highlight their presentation, and all students in the group should be prepared to answer questions concerning the disaster. More information on the presentation will be forthcoming. GRADING BREAKDOWN AND SCALE Lecture = 60% of total grade Lecture Exams = 500 pts (100 x 5) Point Range: 90 100 A Group Presentation = 100pts 80 89 B Total Lecture Grade = 600pts x.6 (60%) = 360pts 70 79 C 60 69 D Lab = 40% of Total Grade 59 F Quizzes = 80pts Notebook =100pts Recycling Project =40pts Total Lab Grade = 300pts x.4 (40%) = 120 pts CLASS GRADE: 360pts (lecture) + 120 pts (lab) = 480 points = A ACADEMIC DISHONESTY 1
Please refer to UTPA policy regarding academic dishonesty, which is outlined in the Student Handbook. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, and falsifying information. All cases of alleged academic dishonesty will be filed with the Dean of Students for possible disciplinary action. This may result in a zero (0) for tests and/or assignments, and possibly a failing grade for the class. Documents and materials will also be forwarded to the Dean of Students for evaluation. SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS If you have a documented disability which will make it difficult for you to carry out the work as I have outlined and/or if you need special accommodations/assistance due to the disability, please contact Disability Services, University Center, Room 108 immediately. Appropriate arrangements/accommodations can be arranged. Verification of disability and processing for special services, such as note takers, extended time, separate accommodations for testing, is required and will be determined by Disability Services. Consult with the Disability Services Coordinator at (956) 665-7005. LEARNING OUTCOMES At the conclusion of this course it is anticipated that students should: Be aware of the diversity of life on earth, be familiar with ecosystems on earth, and understand how nutrients and energy flow through the environment. Understand that the human population is increasing in size, distribution, and its activities; relate this to environmental impact (e.g., pollution, resource use, species loss). Be aware that politics, economics and social factors are interconnected with environmental issues. Understand the Scientific Method, be able to analyze and interpret data, and communicate in both oral and written form. Be prepared to accept employment in a variety of environmental and health related professions, pursue graduate degrees, or teach in public or private schools. LECTURE SCHEDULE Date Topic Miller, 17 th Edition June 8 Introduction Chapter 1, Lecture 1 9 Basic Chemistry & Physics Chapter 2, Lecture 2 10 Nutrient Flow in Ecosystems p. 54 66, Lecture 3 11 Biogeochemical Cycles p. 66 79, Lecture 4 12 Introduction to Geology p. 284; Chapter 14, Lecture 5 15 EXAM I 16 Evolution & Species p. 80 97, Lecture 6 17 Populations & Communities p. 97 124; 238; Lecture 7 18 Terrestrial Ecosystems Chapter 7; Lecture 8 19 Terrestrial Ecosystems Chapter 7; Lecture 8 22 EXAM II 23 Aquatic Ecosystems Chapter 8; Lecture 9 24 Humans Populations Chapter 6; p. 586 602; Lecture 10 25 Toxicology p. 203; 436 454; Lecture 11 26 Air Pollution p. 465 480; Lecture 12 29 EXAM III 30 Global Warming & Ozone Loss Chapter 19; Lecture 12 July 1 Water Issues Chapter 13, 20; Lecture 13 and 14 2 Solid Waste & Agriculture Chapter 21, 12; Lecture 15 and 16 3 Mining & Energy Resources Chapter 15, 16; Nat Geo Article; p. 355-369 6 EXAM IV July 7 Environment & Government p. 635 654; Lecture 19 2
8 Endangered Species Chapter 9, 10, 11; Lecture 20 9 GROUP PRESENTATIONS 10 GROUP PRESENTATIONS 13 EXAM V 12:45 A.M.-2:15 P.M. LABORATORY SYLLABUS: SUMMER I 2015 GENERAL INFORMATION Lab Instructor: Norma Gaytan Office: SCIE 2.326 Phone: (956) 665 3547 (no voice mail) Email: Office Hours: nlgaytan@broncs.utpa.edu TBA MATERIALS Students must purchase a packet of handouts containing the lab exercises. These packets are available at the UTPA Bookstore only. Students must also have a 3-ring binder and laboratory coat. Colored pencils are recommended. LAB SAFETY All students are required to read and sign the lab safety contract that will be distributed the first day of lab. Failure to adhere to lab safety procedures or dangerous, careless behavior in the lab will result in you receiving a zero (0) for your lab grade and possible failure for the course. ATTENDANCE: 80pts (5 pts each day missed) Attendance for lab is MANDATORY. Your instructor will take attendance for every scheduled lab (5 point deduction for each lab missed). Please be on time for lab. Arriving late will affect your participation grade and lessen the time you will have for quizzes. In the event of an emergency (death in the family, serious illness, accident) and you absolutely cannot attend lab, you or a family member must contact Ms. Gaytan or Dr. Dearth within 48 hours and provide a valid reason as to why you were absent. Because this is a 5-week summer course, there will be no time for you to make up a lab or a quiz. Therefore, your lab grade will be prorated based on your completed work. Prorated grades due to excused absences will be handled on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of Dr. Dearth. LAB NOTEBOOKS: 100PTS You are required to keep a laboratory notebook of your activities. The requirements for the notebook are as follows: The notebook should be a 3-ring binder (no spiral notebook, no composition books). The notebook should have your name, student ID number and the semester (i.e., Summer I, 2014) clearly marked on the cover or first page. The notebook should have a typed Table of Contents and be neatly organized. Your notebook should contain your signed lab safety contract. Data tables should be filled in, including tables of class data where appropriate. All questions in the lab activities should be answered unless you are instructed otherwise. Answers to questions, data tables and graphs should be neatly written or typed. Drawings and graphs should be done in the space provided in the lab handout OR on separate pieces of paper. Color pencils are useful for drawings and graphs. Documentation of your recycling efforts should be included (see below). Your complete notebook must be turned in at the beginning of lecture on Wednesday July 8 th, 2015. Late notebooks will NOT be accepted. 3
RECYCLING PROJECT: 40PTS As part of your lab, you will be asked to collect and recycle a category of recyclable materials for 4 weeks. Categories include, but are not limited to: aluminum cans, newspaper, plastic bottles, paper, tin, magazines or cardboard. Beginning the first week of the class, choose a category of recyclables and collect these materials from your home for 4 weeks. Use an empty box or trash bag(s) to collect your materials rather than throwing them in your regular trash. In your lab notebook, use a clean sheet of paper and begin a journal in which you measure the amount you have collected (i.e., weight of the material) each week. You should also document your results by taking pictures and making graphs to show the amount you recycle each week. You can use a bathroom scale to estimate the weight of the materials (weight the box or bag empty first). At the end of 4 weeks days (July 3 rd ), total up the amount you have collected and take this material to a local recycling center. On July 6 th you will present your results and we will total the amounts for the class and determine how many pounds of material we have kept out of local landfills. Recycling center locations for several cities are listed below. If your town/city is not listed, google it. Present your results and complete the assignment and you get 40 points. McAllen 4101 N. Bentsen Road (phone: 992 9162) Edinburg 3102 S. Closner Blvd. (phone: 292 2133) Weslaco 3101 S. Border (phone: 968 9623) Alamo 423 N. Tower Road (phone: 787 8321) Harlingen 1006 S. Commerce (phone: 427 8824) San Juan 500 W. First St. (phone: 702 6945) QUIZZES: 80 POINTS (10 PTS X 8 QUIZZES) Quizzes will be given at the beginning of some labs and will cover material in the previous day(s) labs including the videos, as well as any other information given by your instructor. BE ON TIME FOR LAB. You will have 10 minutes for the quiz; no extra time will be given and make up quizzes will not be allowed. A total of 8 quizzes will be given (10pts each). GRADES Your laboratory grade comprises 40% of your overall course grade: Lab = 40% of Total Grade Quizzes = 80pts Notebook =100pts Recycling Project =40pts Total Lab Grade = 300pts x.4 (40%) = 120 pts LAB SCHEDULE (next page) 4
June Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday * TA will set up hydroponic plants. 8 Intro & Safety Scientific Method 9 Quiz 1 Sonoran Desert 10 Introduction to the Microscope **Start Radish Plants 11 Quiz 2 Hidden Congo 12 Owl Pellets & 15 22 Soil & Soil Biodiversity Environmental Health Risks (Glo-Germ & Easy Gel) 16 23 Quiz 3 Blue Planet: Coral Seas Quiz 5 : Hot Times in Alaska 17 Community Ecology (Predator/Prey Game) *Start Acid Rain Bean Plants Experiment 24 Easy Gel (cont.) & UV Radiation 18 25 Soil Biodiversity (cont.) Human Footprint 19 26 Quiz 4 Blue Planet: The Deep Groundwater Resources Set up Detergents & Fertilizers 29 Quiz 6 Water Quality 30 : Future Car Set up Oil Degrading Microbes 1 JULY Quiz 7 : America s Endangered Species 2 JULY Open (collect data, work on notebooks, group presentations) 3 JULY Open Recycle Project Complete (collect data, work on notebooks, group presentations) 6 Lab Clean Up July Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 7 8 9 10 Quiz 8 Notebooks Due (beginning of Recycle Project lecture) Results 5
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