Biol/ES 1100, CRN 26448, 26391, 3 Credit Hours

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Conservation of Biodiversity

Spring 2015

Biol/ES 1100, CRN 26448, 26391, 3 credit hours

Instructor: Dr. Dawn M. Ford

Phone and Email: 423-425-4204; [email protected]

Office Hours and Location: Virtual office hours on Monday & Thursday 12:00-1:00, or by appointment

Course Meeting Days, Time, and Location: Online

Course Catalog Description: An introduction to systematic ways in which the human mind comprehends the natural world; emphasis on studies of living systems, natural processes, and related phenomena including evolution, population biology, ecosystem properties, biomes, extinction, human overpopulation, deforestation, global climate change, preservation of species, conservation ethics and economics, public policy, and sustainability. Lecture 3 hours. Credits not allowed toward the Biology and Environmental Science majors if the student has previously completed BIOL 1120 or ESC 1510. May be registered as ESC 1100. Credit not allowed in both BIOL 1100 and ESC 1100.

Course Student Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course, students will be able to Describe and apply knowledge of biodiversity and its importance to ecological functioning Describe and apply knowledge human activities that impact biodiversity in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats Perform basic ecological sampling strategies for biodiversity studies Describe and apply knowledge of public and private efforts to protect biodiversity

Course Pre/Co Requisites: None

General Education Statement: This course is a General Education Natural Sciences course (non-laboratory) and a designated Experiential Learning course. Upon completion of the required credit hours in this category, students will be able to:

 Explain intellectual foundations, conceptual approaches, and methodologies of the natural sciences.

 Understand and explain scientific terminology.

 Discuss historical, social and political issues related to scientific data and advances.

 Construct graphic and analytical models from a description of a specific natural phenomenon.

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 Formulate a hypothesis based on empirical data.

 Apply the scientific method to solve problems.

 Design experiments to test hypotheses.

 Express conclusions and implications from scientific experiments using a variety of methods.

Course Materials/Resources: Required textbook - Free textbook available online, Conservation Biology for All, http://www.conbio.org/publications/free-textbook

Course Assessments and Requirements: (due dates are in the course calendar)  Discussion boards (9@50 pts each) 450 pts (you may skip one of 10 discussions)  Quizzes (5@50 pts each) 250 pts (6 quizzes - lowest quiz dropped)  Projects (2@50 pts;3@100 pts) 400 pts  Project Reflections (5 @ 10 pts) 50 pts  Course pre-reflection and post-reflection 50 pts TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE 1200 points

Grading Scale: 90-100 = A; 80-89 = B; 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D; <60 = F

Attendance Policy: This is not a self-paced course. You are expected to complete scheduled activities every week. You should log-in to the course regularly – several times per week - to post to the discussion board, engage with the instructor and other students, read/view your weekly course content, take quizzes as scheduled, and work on your projects.

Policy for Late/Missing Work: There is some flexibility built-in to the course assignments to allow for personal emergencies. You can choose one discussion board to skip. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped and the 2nd lowest will be counted twice. All five projects must be turned in on time for consideration for full credit. Late projects will be subject to a 10 point per day deduction (one letter grade).

Course Calendar/Schedule:

Weekly Schedule: Each week starts with Monday as day 1 and ends with Sunday as day 7.

 Week 1 = January 5-11, Conservation Biology & Biodiversity o Review course content o Discussion Board 1: Post your introduction and discussion 1 post by day 3 (Wednesday) and response posts by day 6 (Saturday) o Course pre-reflection  Week 2 = January 12-18, History of Conservation o Review course content o Discussion Board 2: Post initial post by day 3 and response posts by day 6 2 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

o Take Quiz 1 by day 6 (Saturday)  Week 3 = January 19-25; How Populations Evolve, Evolution of Biodiversity o Review course content o Submit Project 1 by day 7 (Sunday); Project reflection  Week 4 = January 26 - February 1; Ecology and Ecosystem Function & Services o Review course content o Discussion Board 3: Post initial post by day 3 and response posts by day 6 o Take Quiz 2 by day 6  Week 5 = February 2-8; Habitat destruction, fragmentation, and landscape change o Review course content o Submit Project 2 by day 7; Project reflection  Week 6 = February 9-15; Overharvesting and Invasive Species o Review course content o Discussion Board 4: Post initial post by day 3 and response posts by day 6 o Take Quiz 3 by day 6  Week 7 = February 16-22; Global Climate Change o Review course content o Submit Project 3 by day 7; Project reflection  Week 8 = February 23 - March 1; Extinction, Fire & Biodiversity o Review course content o Discussion Board 5: Post initial post by day 3 and response posts by day 6 o Take Quiz 4 by day 6  Week 9 = March 2-8; Impacts on Aquatic Habitats o Review course content o Discussion Board 7: Post initial post by day 3 and response posts by day 6  Spring Break, March 9-1  Week 10 = March 16-22; Conservation Planning and Priorities o Review course content o Discussion Board 7: Post initial post by day 3 and response posts by day 6 o Take Quiz 5 by day 6  Week 11 = March 23-29; U.S. Endangered Species Management o Review course content o Submit Project 4 by day 7; Project reflection  Week 12 = March 30 - April 5; Conservation in Public Lands o Review course content o Discussion Board 8: Post initial post by day 3 and response posts by day 6 o Take Quiz 6 by day 5 (Friday)  Week 13 = April 6-12; The Role of People in Conservation; Ethics and Economics o Review course content o Discussion Board 9: Post initial post by day 3 and response posts by day 6  Week 14 = April 13-19; Theory to Practice/Conservation Biologist’s Toolbox o Review course content o Discussion Board 10: Post initial post by day 3 and response posts by day 6

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o Submit Final Project by day 7 o Course Post-Reflection

Accommodation Statement: If you are a student with a disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) and thing that you might need special assistance or special accommodations in this class or any other class, call the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 425-4006 or come by the office, 102 Frist Hall.

Counseling Center Statement: If you find that personal problems, career indecision, student and time management difficulties, etc. are adversely impacting your successful progress at UTC, please contact the Counseling and Career Planning Center at 425-4438.