SYLLABUS
Name of
Course:
Introduction to Ecology & Ecological Concepts
Course
Instructor:
Gary Phillips, Environmental Studies Program Coordinator
Office phone number - (712) 362-7978 & e-mail address - gphillips@iowalakes.edu
Credits:
Lecture (SC118A) - 4 credits, Laboratory (SC118B) - 0 credits
Catalog
Description:
Introduction to Ecology & Environmental Concepts is an introduction
to the study of environmental science. This
course acquaints the student with the relationship between humans and their
environment and the environmental problems that often develop because of this
relationship. Topics covered include ecology, population dynamics, human
ecology, environmental law, global resources, resource management, environmental
pollution, and pollution control.
Text:
Sustaining the Earth by G. Tyler Miller, Jr.
Other
Materials:
Environmental Concepts Laboratory Manual
Objective of
Course:
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the study of
environmental science and to familiarize them with the existence of
environmental problems in the environment.
Course
Content:
Concepts of
ecology & population dynamics
Human ecology
& environmental law
Global resources
& resource management
Environmental
pollution & pollution control
Method of
Instructional Delivery:
There are three hours of lecture, demonstrations, and discussions each
week. A one-hour test will be given
after each of the four units covered in this course.
One 2-hour laboratory period is also part of this course.
These lab periods are used for the performance of experiments, field
trips, writing of lab reports, and work on special projects and research papers.
Define the
following terms; ecology, environment, ecosystem, community, biosphere,
habitat, niche, and competition.
List the primary
biotic components of ecosystems and describe how they interact with each
other.
List the major
types of ecosystems.
Describe the
primary pathways involved in the hydrologic, carbon/oxygen, nitrogen,
phosphorus, and sulfur cycles.
Describe the
flow of energy and materials in an ecosystem.
Define the
following terms; food chain, food web, trophic level, predation, primary
productivity, biomass, and ecological pyramid.
Define the
following terms; succession, pioneer community, climax community, ecotone,
ecocline, and restoration.
Define the
following terms; organism, population, population density, census,
population dispersion, and age structure.
Diagram and
label a J-shaped and S-shaped population curve.
Describe what is
happening to a population by looking at its population curve.
Describe the
concept of carrying capacity.
List the types
of environmental resistance which affect populations.
Define
survivorship and describe the difference between r-strategists and
k-strategists.
Outline the
history of human population growth.
List those
factors which limit human population growth and describe how
they affect human populations.
Describe the
basic concepts of human ecology and how they relate to current
population and environmental problems.
Describe how
human population growth impacts the environment.
Describe the
methods available to control human population growth.
Describe the
problems associated with world food supplies, hunger, and the utilization of
agricultural resources.
Describe the
relationships between human ecology and environmental health.
Describe the
concepts associated with risk analysis and how it is applied to
environmental problems.
Describe the
distribution of human populations and explain how these distribution trends
impact the environment,.
Explain how
demographics and land-use planning can be used to deal with
environmental problems.
Discuss the role
of politics, economics, and ethics in dealing with environmental problems.
Explain the
importance of the National Environmental Policy Act and how impact
statements required by this law are prepared and utilized.
Define the
following terms; environmental law, statutory law, common law, plaintiff,
defendant, and lawsuit.
Describe the
concept of global sustainability and discuss why achieving sustainability is
critical t the survival of the human species.
List and
describe the three basic categories of natural resources.
Define the
following terms; resources depletion, environmental degradation, sustained
yield, and common property resources.
Describe the
tragedy of the commons.
List and
describe the principle layers of the atmosphere.
List and
describe the factors that affect the climate.
Describe the
availability, distribution, and usage of world water resources.
Diagram and
label a soil profile.
List and
describe the major soil types.
Describe the
principle characteristics of soils.
Describe the
problems associated with soil erosion.
List the major
types of biological resources and describe the environmental problems
associated with each of these resources.
Describe the
distribution and availability of the world's mineral resources.
List the various
types of nonrenewable, renewable, and perpetual energy resources and
describe the availability and utilization of each of these resources.
Describe the
advantages and disadvantages of using the various types of nonrenewable,
renewable, and perpetual energy resources.
Describe the
various types of resource ownership.
Describe the
different types of resource management schemes used to manage natural
resources.
Describe the
techniques utilized to manage the following types of natural resources;
atmospheric water, soil, food, biological, mineral, and energy.
Describe the
problems associated with the utilization of the following types of natural
resources; atmospheric, water, soil, food, biological, mineral, and energy.
List and
describe the major categories of environmental pollution.
Define the
following terms; pollution, pollutant, point source, non-point source, acute
effect, and chronic effect.
List and
describe the major types of pollutants.
Describe the
factors that affect air quality.
List and
describe the various categories of air pollutants.
Describe the
effects of air pollutants on humans and the environment.
Describe the
factors that affect water quality.
List and
describe the various categories of water pollutants.
Describe the
effects of water pollutants on humans and the environment.
Describe the
scope and magnitude of the environmental problems associated with solid and
hazardous wastes.
List the two basic approaches to pollution control and the
methodology involved in each.
Describe the
techniques used to monitor and evaluate environmental pollutants.
List the
principal U.S. pollution control laws and summarize the key points of each
law.
Describe the
techniques used to control air pollution produced by mobile and stationary
sources.
Describe the
techniques used to control water pollution produced by non-point and point
sources.
Describe the
methodologies utilized in the management of solid wastes.
Describe the
methodologies utilized in the management of toxic and hazardous wastes.
Methods of
Evaluation: Four 1-hour tests
of 100 points each will be given during the semester.
These tests will include multiple choice and essay questions. Four quizzes will also be given during the semester.
Laboratory reports will be required for selected labs and will be graded
on accuracy, completeness, proper format, neatness, and scientific knowledge.
A 100 point research paper is also required for this course.
Students are expected to attend class except in cases of sickness,
emergencies, or excused absences. Students
who miss class for the above reasons will be allowed to make up their work.
Some extra credit may be earned for approved projects.
Grading:
Grading is determined by a percentage of total points for the semester.
Sixty percent is required to pass the course, seventy percent for a C,
eighty percent for a B, and ninety percent for an A.
Tests 400 points
Quizzes 40 points
Laboratory Reports 160 points
Research Paper 100 points
TOTAL POINTS 700