BIOL 117 - Environmental Biology

(4 credits)
Corequisite: BIOL 117L
Ecological relationships and current environmental issues are explored in class with a focus on how biological systems function and what impact humans have had on global biodiversity.Topics include biogeochemical cycles, human population growth, threats to endangered species, global climate change, sustainable use of renewable resources, and local impacts on global biodiversity. Laboratory exercises emphasize making observations and using quantitative reasoning to study effects of environmental factors on organisms; using computer models to study harvest impacts on world fisheries; and case studies to examine water use and world health issues. Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory weekly. Offered fall and spring semesters. (CNSL)