Week

Topics

Readings & Assignments

1

Prologue
Human Population
  Why do we have environmental problems?

Owen (2005)
Vitousek et al. (1997)

2

Society and the environment
  Tragedy of the commons
  The nature of scientific uncertainty

Team 1 Current Events
Hardin (1968)
Michaels & Monforton (2005)

3

How the world works, Part I
  System dynamics
  Positive & negative feedback, time delays
  1st and 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics Energy
  The four ‘spheres

Team 2 Current Events
Mon 8 Oct : Present Case Study #1 : Human populations
Fri 12 Oct : Ind. Project Proposals Due

4

How the world works, Part II
  From atoms to the atmosphere
  Water and major nutrient cycles
  Ecosystems, soils, climate

Galloway et al. (2003)
Zimmer (1995), Ellison&Gotelli (2002)

Fri 19 Oct : EXAM I

FIELD TRIP  Sunday, 21 October 9 am – 2 pm

5

Biodepletion
What is biodiversity? Genes, species, ecosystems
We should we care? Direct & indirect benefits

Team 3 Current Events

Wilson (1992) - for Weds
Constanza et al. (1997) - for Fri

6
 

Biodepletion (continued)
  What is causing biodepletion?
  Video: “Cane Toads: An Unnatural History”
  What can we do about biodepletion?

Team 4 Current Events
Mon 29 Oct : Present Case Study #2 : Bog
Fri 2 Nov: Ind. Project Installment Due

7

Energy Production/Use
  History of energy consumption
  Fossil fuels, peak oil

Campbell & Laherrère (1998)

Fri 9 Nov : EXAM II

8

Global Climate Change
  Natural and anthropogenic climate forcings

Team 5 Current Events
Kolbert (2005), Part I & II
Fri 16 Nov : Present Case Study #3 : Energy

9
 

Global Climate Change (continued)
  Feedbacks
  Climate modeling
        **No class 21 November**

Team 6 Current Events
Kolbert (2005), Part III

10

Epilogue
  Back to society: solutions
  Final project presentations

Team 7 Current Events

Rosales (2005)

Wed 28 Nov : Independent Project Symposium

Exam

Final Exam Mon 3 Dec 1 – 4 pm