ENVR-1302 Issues in Environmental Science

Mark Shepherd

Credit Summer 2024

Section(s)

ENVR-1302-010 (80278)
LEC PER HYD DIL

LEC PER

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:

 

CO1: Describe major earth systems processes (atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, geosphere)

CO2: Define biodiversity, describe how it is measured, summarize, and describe threats to biodiversity and the importance of conservation efforts.

CO3: Outline the major energy sources, uses and challenges, including describing renewable energy sources, technology, and challenges.

CO4: Completion of field activities related to monitoring wildlife and water quality sampling.

CO5 - Demonstrate critical thinking skills including creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information. (THECB Core Objective)

CO6 - Demonstrate communication skills including effective development, interpretation, and     expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication. (THECB Core Objective)

CO7 - Demonstrate teamwork skills to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal. (THECB Core Objective)

CO8 - Demonstrate personal responsibility including the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision making. (THECB Core Objective)

Readings

Required Text                   The New Neotropical Companion by John C. Kricher  | Mar 7, 2017

 

 

 

Course Requirements

Class Format & Materials Needed:

This course is offered in both online (first two weeks) and traditional face-to-face formats (14 days in Costa Rica).  The course requires access to Blackboard where students will access information about the course schedule, submit assignments, take exams, read announcements, learn about grading and course outcomes.  While not required, a camera phone or digital camera is highly recommended.  Field journals are also required. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Issues in Environmental Science (emphasis on tropical biodiversity)

This course covers concepts of biological diversity (biodiversity), where biodiversity occurs, how biodiversity is defined, how biodiversity is measured, why biodiversity is important, how biodiversity varies spatially and historically, and the impact that humans have and are having and local and global biodiversity.   

Grade Component

Component

Possible Points

1 Exam

200

1 Quiz

100

 1 Student Project

200

1 Field Journal

200

1 Presentation

200

Total

900

 

At the professor’s discretion, students will lose points from the total course grade for any of the following and/or may be removed from the course:

Point Deductions

Component

Possible Point Loss

Unauthorized collecting or handling of plants and animals (each instance)

200

Hiking the trails with inappropriate clothing, such as short-pants, open-toed shoes (each instance)

50

Leaving the station without notification (each instance)

50

Not participating in course activities (each day)

 25

Repeated late arrival to class or activities (each instance)

10

Course Grade 

This is how your course grade will be determined:

Course Grade Calculation

Grade

A

B

C

D

F

Percentage

90-100%

89-80%

79-70%

69-60%

59-0%

Monitor Your Progress

You can check your grades throughout the course by selecting the My Grades link in the menu.

I will provide the feedback for each assignment in one week after your submission.

One exam will be given during the semester. The course will be graded on a standard grade scale (70- 79% = “C”; 80-89%= “B”, etc.). There will be no large curve at the end of the course to drastically alter averages and “save the day”.  Regardless of how convincing the arguments or how much you feel you deserve it, I do not “give” grades not earned. I simply do the math at the end of the semester and what you earn is your final grade.

Exam Structure: 15 multiple-choice and matching type questions. The exam is timed and generally you will be given 40 minutes to complete it.  The exam is a standalone measure of how well you have learned the material covered in the designated chapters.

Final Exam: there is no separate final exam for this course.     

No Makeup Exams: There is no makeup exam – If you miss an exam and have a valid reason, I may allow you to take the exam late.  A valid excuse must be written, signed (by the student), involve a circumstance(s) beyond your control to anticipate, be supported with written documentation (please do not disclose or provide medical information or privacy protected information.  If you are unsure what documents are covered by privacy, please check with prior to submitting the documents.

 

iNaturalist Project (optional) in place of the student project.  The professor will review the expectations and requirements.  

Course Subjects

Course Schedule

Module

Sources

Assignments/Assessments

Due Dates

Module 1

Tropical Biomes

 

The New Neotropical Companion

Course Overview
Orientation Quiz

 

Chapter 1: Welcome to the Torrid Zone ps. 15- 28 (14 pages)

 

Chapter 2: Why is it Hot, Humid and Rainy in the Rainforest ps.29-37 (9 pages)   

       

Week 1

May 28 – May 31

Module 2

Tropical Biomes and Ecosystems and Ecosystems Dynamics

The New Neotropical Companion

Chapter 3: Rainforest: Realm of the Plants ps.39-57 (17 pages)      

 

Chapter 5: Sun Plus Rain Equals Rainforest ps.73-79 (6 pages)      

Week 2

June 3 - 7

Exam 1

Chapter 1, 2, 3 & 5

Online Exam 1 opens Friday June 7 and students have until Sunday June 9th at midnight to turn submit it.

Exam 1

June 7

Module 3

Research Projects

Materials Provided

 

Research Projects – browse topics in the research project folder to identify a project you would like to participate in while in Costa Rica.

 

Week 3

June 10 – 14

Module 4

Field Activities

Materials Provided

See Field Activities Below

Week 4 & 5

June 14-30

NOTE: This schedule is subject to change during the semester. Topics and tests may not correspond to the above dates. You will be notified at least a week in advance of before changes are in effect.

 

 

FIELD ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE

 

Color Code Reference

  • Blue – Required Classroom Activity
  • Green – Required Field Activity
  • Orange – Required Tour
  • Black – Informational Directions
  • Red - Quiz

 

 

Itinerary for the field portion of the course at La Selva:

Date

Activities

Day 1

June 14
  • Flight: Austin, TX to San Jose, Costa Rica
  • Dinner at the Hotel

Day 2

Saturday

June 15

 
  • Transfer from San Jose to La Selva Research Station
  • Check into rooms.
  • Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Safety orientation & briefing 2:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m. (required) - classroom.
  • Introduction to field site facilities (required) – classroom.
  • Overview of the Organization for Tropical Studies—research, education, and conservation in the tropical rainforest (required) - classroom.
  • 1st Day Hike Secondary Forest 3:00 – 5:00 (required) (all groups)
  • Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

 

Day 3

Sunday

June 16

 

 

Research Methods & Project Development

AM:

  • Breakfast 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
  • Introductory Forest Hike 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 am (Guided Tour) (Required)
  • Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1: 00 p.m.

 

PM:

  • Scientific Method & Projects Instructions 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (classroom) (required all groups)
  • Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Light Trapping Insects 8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. (required) (all groups)

Day 4

Monday

June 17

 

 

Wildlife Methods

AM:

  • Breakfast 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
  • Tropical Bird Survey 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. (required) (all groups);

Download Merlin app from Cornell Lab to your mobile device.

  • Camera trapping orientation and preparation 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (classroom) (required) (all groups)
  • Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1: 00 p.m.

 

PM:

  • Deploy camera traps in 4 groups 2 p.m. – 4:30 pm (required) (all groups)
  • Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Introductory Night Hike (required) (Group 1 and 3)
  • Group 2 & 4 Time for biodiversity observations, field journals

Day 5

Tuesday

June 18

 

 

Biodiversity

 

 

Quiz

Biodiversity

Reading

Assignment

The New Neotropical Companion chapter 9

AM:

  • Breakfast 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
  • Morning Free 9:00 a.m.– 11:30 a.m. (all groups) (individual projects) (check camera traps)
  • Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1: 00 p.m.

 

PM:

  • Measuring Biodiversity 2 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Discussion: Chapter 9 Why Are There So Many Species (21 pages) (Quiz) (classroom) (required all groups)
  • Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Introductory Night Hike (8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.) (Required Group 2 and 4)
  • Group 1 & 3 Time for biodiversity research/observations, field journals.

Day 6

Wednesday

June 19

 

 

 

AM:

  • Breakfast 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
  • Invertebrate Form, Function and Diversity 8:00 am – 10:30 am (Lecture only) (classroom) (required all)
  • Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1: 00 p.m.

 

PM:

  • Afternoon Free 1:00 p.m.– 6:00 p.m. (all groups) (individual projects) (check camera traps)
  • Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Optional night hike/light trapping with Dr. Shepherd (8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)

Day 7

Thursday

June 20

(Chocolate tour)

AM:

  • Breakfast 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
  • Travel to town for the chocolate tour 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (Required) (all groups)
  • Chocolate Tour 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

 

PM:

  • Pizza Lunch in town 12:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Required) (all groups)
  • Travel back to La Selva Research Station 2:00 a.m. – 2:30 a.m.
  • Time for biodiversity observations, field journals
  • Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. :00 am – 10:30 am (Lecture only) (classroom) (required all)
  •  
  • Optional night hike/ light trapping with Dr. Shepherd (8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)

Day 8

Friday

June 21

 

Biodiversity and Conservation

AM:

  • Breakfast 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
  • Morning Free 9:00 a.m.– 11:30 a.m. (all groups) (individual projects) (check camera traps)
  • Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1: 00 p.m.

 

PM:

  • Introduction to Insect biodiversity and ant lab. (Collecting, trapping, preservation) 2:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (classroom) (required) (all groups)
  • Optional night hike/ light trapping with Dr. Shepherd (8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)

Day 9

Saturday

June 22

 

 

Research Projects

 

AM:

  • Breakfast 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
  • Morning Free 9:00 a.m.– 11:30 a.m. (all groups) (individual projects) (check camera traps)
  • Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1: 00 p.m.

 

PM:

  • Presentation: One Strange Rock 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Optional night hike/ light trapping with Dr. Shepherd (8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)

Day 10

Sunday

June 23

 

 

Butterfly Tour

AM:

  •  Breakfast 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
  • Lepidopterans 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. (Lecture only) (classroom) (required all)
  • Travel to town for the butterfly tour 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (Required) (all groups)
  • Butterfly Tour 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
  • Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1: 00 p.m.

 

PM:

  • Lunch in town 12:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Required) (all groups)
  • Travel back to La Selva Research Station 2:00 a.m. – 2:30 a.m.
  • Time for biodiversity observations, field journals
  • Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Optional night hike/ light trapping with Dr. Shepherd (8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)

Day 11

Monday

June 24

 

 

AM:

  • Breakfast 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
  • Morning Free 9:00 a.m.– 11:30 a.m. (all groups) (individual projects) (check camera traps)
  • Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1: 00 p.m.

PM:

  • 25 Myths that are Destroying the Environment 2 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (classroom) (required all groups)
  • Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Time for biodiversity observations, field journals.
  • Amphibian diversity survey 7:30 pm -10:00 pm (required) (group 2 & 4)
  • Group 1 & 3 Time for biodiversity observations, field journals.

Day 12

Tuesday

June 25

 

 

AM:

  • Breakfast 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
  • Morning Free 9:00 a.m.– 11:30 a.m. (all groups) (individual projects) (check camera traps)
  • Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1: 00 p.m.

 

PM:

  • Introduction to amphibian ecology and biology and conservation 2 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (classroom) (required all groups)
  • Amphibian diversity survey 4:30 pm -5:30 pm (required)
  • Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Amphibian diversity survey 7:30 pm -10:00 pm (required) (group 1 & 3)
  • Group 2 & 4 Time for biodiversity observations, field journals.

 Day 13

Wednesday

June 26

 

 

 

Water Quality

 

 

AM:

  • Breakfast 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
  • Morning Free 9:00 a.m.– 11:30 a.m. (all groups) (individual projects) (check camera traps)
  • Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1: 00 p.m.

 

PM:

  • Energy Sources and Use – focus on US and Costa Rica, Climate Change and Biodiversity 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (classroom) (required) (all groups)
  • Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  •  Time for biodiversity research/observations, field journals
  • Optional night hike/ light trapping with Dr. Shepherd (8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)

Day 14

Thursday

June 27

 

Bat Tour

 AM:

  • Breakfast 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
  • Retrieve Camera Traps; Individual Projects & Journals 9:00 a.m.– 11:00 a.m. (all groups)
  • Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1: 00 p.m.

 

PM:

  • Individual Projects & Journals 1:00 p.m.– 6:00 p.m. (all groups) (check camera traps)
  • Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  •  Bat Tour 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Day 15

Friday

June 28

AM:

  • Breakfast 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
  • Individual Projects & Journals 9:00 a.m.– 11:00 a.m. (all groups)
  • Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1: 00 p.m.

 

PM:

  • Student Project Presentations 2:00 p.m.– 5:00 p.m. (Required all groups) 
  • Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Submit biodiversity observations, field journals, research projects, etc.

Day 16

Saturday

June 29

AM:

  • Breakfast 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
  • Transfer from La Selva to San Jose 8 am

 

PM:

  • Preparation for travel back to Austin (or other locations in Costa Rica)
  • Dinner at the Hotel

Day 17

Sunday

June 30
  • Flight: San Jose to Austin, TX

Office Hours

T Th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM HLC Building 4 Room 4.2310.33

NOTE Or by appointment

M T W Th F 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM HLC 4.2310.33

NOTE or by appointment 512-574-4227

Office Hours

T Th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM HLC Building 4 Room 4.2310.33

NOTE Or by appointment

M T W Th F 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM HLC 4.2310.33

NOTE or by appointment 512-574-4227

Published: 06/07/2024 11:47:32