Course Outlines
Here's the topics you'll be exploring...
General Biology 281: Environmental Awareness
1. Introduction and Overview:
a. Environmental problems and causes
b. Population growth and human history
c. Economics and sustainability
d. Resource consumption
e. Technology
2. Ecology and Sustainability
a. Science in general
b. Matter, energy, and thermodynamics
3. Ecosystems
a. Ecology and life on Earth
b. Energy and matter cycling
4. Evolution and Biodiversity
a. Beginning of life on Earth
b. Energy and matter cycling
5. Climate
a. Climate and biodiversity
b. Biomes
6. Community and Population Ecology
a. Communities and species interactions
b. Population dynamics
7. Human Population Ecology
a. Population size, growth, and distribution
b. Urbanization and environmental problems
8. Sustaining Ecosystems
a. Human impacts on biodiversity
b. Managing resources
9. Sustaining Species Biodiversity
a. Species decline and extinction
b. Protecting species
10. Food, Soil, and Pest Management
a. Food production and threats
b. Soils and agriculture
c. Pest management
11. Water and Water Pollution
a. Water supply, use, and waste
b. Water pollution
12. Geology and Nonrenewable Minerals
13. Energy
a. Energy resources
b. Energy efficiency
14. Human Health and Pollution
a. Risks and hazards
b. Toxicology and risk analysis
15. Air Pollution
16. Climate Change
a. Past climate change
b. Greenhouse effect and global warming
c. Ozone layer
17. Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
18. Environmental Economics, Politics, and Laws
General Biology 493: Biology of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands
1. Introduction and Overview
2. Biology and Ecology of South America
3. Ecuador
a. Geography
b. Culture
c. History and Politics
d. Regions
4. Coastal Ecuador and the Pacific Ocean
a. Biology and Ecology of the Coastal Plains
b. Biology and Ecology of the Shore
c. Biology and Ecology of the Coastal Marine Ecosystem
d. Ecological and Environmental Issues Affecting the Coast and Ocean
5. Galapagos Islands and the Pacific Ocean
a. History of the Galapagos
b. Darwin's Research and Evolution
c. Ecology and Biodiversity of the Galapagos
d. Ecology and Biodiversity of the Pacific Ocean
e. Environmental issues affecting the Galapagos
6. The Amazon
a. History and Geography of the Amazon
b. Biodiversity in the Amazon Rainforest and Rivers
c. Environmental Issues Impacting the Amazon
7. The Andes
a. History and Geography of the Andes
b. Rainforests and Cloud Forests
c. Biodiversity in the Andes Region