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HON 305V - The Global Environment

Syllabus, Spring 2012

January 18, 2012

1 Instructor

Dr. Mark C. AndersenProfessor, Department of Fish Wildlife and Conservation Ecology

Associate Dean, Honors CollegeOffice: 204 Conroy Honors Center and 126 Knox HallPhone: 646-8034email: via Blackboard preferredOffice hours:

2 Class meeting

Class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:35 to 3:50, in CHC 205. Please be on time; attendance isexpected.

3 Required materials

There is no textbook for this course. Readings will be posted to the course web site as web links orpdf files.

4 Course description

The global environment is a highly complex interconnected system; even now, when human im-pacts are becoming more pervasive, we do not fully understand how the global environment func-tions in the absence of such impacts. In this course, we will explore the major biogeochemicalcycles, patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation, and broad-scale patterns of biological di-

versity. We will also examine some of the most important human impacts on the global environ-ment, including climate change, loss of biodiversity, invasive species, etc.

5 Course objectives

Students will:

Integrate information from introductory materials and the primary literature

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Develop the ability to think critically about the scientific and popular literature on majorenvironmental issues

Develop and articulate a coherent and informed view of major environmental issues

Understand basic ecological concepts and processes such as biomes, population growth, andbiogeochemical cycles, as well as human impacts on them

Understand fundamental concepts of biodiversity including extinction and species invasions

Understand human impacts on the global climate system

6 Class policies

Absence: For an absence to be excused, I must be notified in advance of the absence and providedwith some form of documentation. The student will be responsible for all assigned work evenin the case of an excused absence.

Student behavior: Students are expected to show consideration for the learning environment.This includes respecting others, using appropriate and civil language, and adherence to theNMSU Student Code of Conduct.

Deadlines: Assigned written work is due in class (or, if applicable, in my office) on the date in-dicated in the syllabus. If you know you are going to be absent on the day an assignment isdue, turn the work in before you leave. Late work will receive an automatic 10% deductionfor each day past the due date.

Extra credit: Extra credit will not be offered.

Incomplete grade: Incomplete grades will only be assigned in extreme circumstance and only ifthe student provides thorough documentation of an extraordinary cricumstance which pre-cludes completion of the course. If such a circumstance arises prior to the last date to with-

draw, the student should withdraw from the course rather than seeking an incomplete grade.The student must have completed at least half the course and be passing at the time thecircumstance occurs.

Plagiarism: Cheating or plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. Suspected instances of cheat-ing or plagiarism will be dealt with according to applicable NMSU policies. For further in-formation on plagiarism, see http://lib.nmsu.edu/plagiarism/.

Cell phones: Please keep cell phones silent during the class; if you anticipate an emergency callduring class, notify the instructor.

7 Grading

Assignment Value2 book reports, 10 pts. ea. 20

journal club presentation, summary 204 journal club comments, 5 pts. ea. 20

journal club discussion 20term research paper 20

TOTAL 100

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Score Grade

99-100 A+92-98 A90-91 A-88-89 B+82-87 B80-81 B-78-79 C+72-77 C70-71 C-68-69 D+62-67 D60-61 D-

Below 60 F

8 Students with disabilities

Feel free to call Diana Quintana, Coordinator or Student Accessibility Services at 575-646-6840with any questions you may have on student issues related to the Americans with DisabilitiesAct (ADA) and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All medical information will betreated confidentially. Feel free to call Gerard Nevarez, Director of Institutional Equity at 575-646-3635 with any questions you may have about NMSUs Non-discrimination Policy and complaint ofdiscrimination, including sexual harassment. Feel free to call Gerard Nevarez, Director of Institu-tional Equity at 575-646-3635 with any questions you may have about NMSUs Non-discriminationPolicy and complaint of discrimination, including sexual harassment.

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9 Course Schedule (tentative)

Week Date Topic Reading Due

1 01/19/12Administrivia

Course overview

Global change

overview2 01/24/12 Biomes Terrestrial biomes2 01/26/12 Water and soil Hydrologic cycle, soil3 01/31/12 Deforestation Deforestation3 02/02/12 Desertification Desertification

4 02/07/12Deforestation/desertificationJournal Club

First bookselection

4 02/09/12Nitrogen and

phosphorus cyclesNitrogen cycle

Journal Clubcomments/reports

5 02/14/12 The global food supply FAO 20505 02/16/12 Agriculture/urbanization USDA/ERS

6 02/21/12

Agricultural impacts on

biogeochemical cycles Earthtrends6 02/23/12 Agriculture Journal Club

7 02/28/12Mass extinctions

in the fossil recordMass extinctions


7 03/02/12 Speciation, biodiversity Speciation

8 03/06/12Patterns of species

endangermentEndangered

species

8 03/08/12 Conservation, restorationBiodiversityconservation

Book report 1

9 03/13/12 Reconciliation ecology Restoration ecology9 03/15/12 Biodiversity Journal Club

10 03/20/12 SPRING BREAK

10 03/22/12 SPRING BREAK11 03/27/12 Ecological risk assessment


11 03/29/12Global patterns of

species invasion

12 04/03/12Invasive species impacts:

AgricultureNISC, NISIC

Second bookselection

12 04/05/12Invasive species impacts:

Ecosystems

13 04/10/12Case studies of

invasive species control

13 04/12/12Invasive species

Journal Club

14 04/17/12 Atmospheric/oceaniccirculation; carbon cycle

Climate drivers Journal Clubcomments/reports

14 04/19/12Climate change:what we know

Realclimate

15 04/24/12 Climate change: impacts

15 04/26/12Climate change:

Mitigation &adaptation

16 05/01/12The challenge ofdecarbonization

BreakthroughInstitute

16 05/03/12Climate change

Journal ClubBook report 2

17 05/10/12Final meeting:

3:30 - 5:30 PM

Final paperJournal Club

comments/reports

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