8/31/2024 9:21:13 PM |
| Changed Course |
CATALOG INFORMATION
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Discipline and Nbr:
BIO 31 | Title:
TROPICAL BIODIVERSITY |
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Full Title:
Tropical Biodiversity and Conservation |
Last Reviewed:10/11/2021 |
Units | Course Hours per Week | | Nbr of Weeks | Course Hours Total |
Maximum | 2.00 | Lecture Scheduled | 1.50 | 17.5 max. | Lecture Scheduled | 26.25 |
Minimum | 2.00 | Lab Scheduled | 0 | 6 min. | Lab Scheduled | 0 |
| Contact DHR | 1.50 | | Contact DHR | 26.25 |
| Contact Total | 3.00 | | Contact Total | 52.50 |
|
| Non-contact DHR | 0 | | Non-contact DHR Total | 0 |
| Total Out of Class Hours: 52.50 | Total Student Learning Hours: 105.00 | |
Title 5 Category:
AA Degree Applicable
Grading:
Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:
00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As:
Formerly:
Catalog Description:
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Survey of the ecology, flora, and fauna of rainforests, cloud forests, and dry forests. Typically taught abroad. Countries such as Costa Rica are used to illustrate both the current extinction crisis and conservation efforts.
Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Schedule of Classes Information
Description:
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Survey of the ecology, flora, and fauna of rainforests, cloud forests, and dry forests. Typically taught abroad. Countries such as Costa Rica are used to illustrate both the current extinction crisis and conservation efforts.
(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
Associate Degree: | Effective: | Fall 2016
| Inactive: | |
Area: | C
| Natural Sciences
|
|
CSU GE: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
| B2 | Life Science | Fall 2016 | |
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IGETC: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
| 5B | Biological Sciences | Fall 2016 | |
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CSU Transfer: | Transferable | Effective: | Summer 2007 | Inactive: | |
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UC Transfer: | Transferable | Effective: | Summer 2007 | Inactive: | |
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C-ID: |
Certificate/Major Applicable:
Major Applicable Course
COURSE CONTENT
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1. Apply the scientific method and critical thinking techniques to evaluate biological information from the popular media.
2. Explain the patterns of biodiversity and species interaction found in tropical biomes in general, and in one country in particular.
3. Evaluate the impacts of human population growth and resource use on tropical rainforests.
Objectives:
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Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Apply the scientific method to problem solving.
2. Explain the principles of evolution, including natural selection and speciation, relate them to genetics, and be able to differentiate these principles from faith-based belief systems.
3. Describe the geological history, climate, and principle weather features of tropical rainforests.
4. Explain the patterns of biodiversity and species interaction found in tropical biomes and compare them to
other geographical biomes.
5. Contrast the historical and contemporary rates of rainforest clearance.
6. Evaluate the immediate and underlying causes of tropical rainforest destruction.
7. Explain the economic, political, cultural, and ecological value of intact rainforests.
8. Explain the impacts of indigenous forest cultures on disturbances to the forest flora and fauna.
9. Use case studies of conservation programs in different countries to describe potential solutions to worldwide
tropical deforestation.
10. Identify common species of flora and fauna found in the tropical rainforests of a particular country.
Topics and Scope
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Topics will include but not be limited to:
I. Scientific method versus other methods of processing knowledge and making decisions
A. What is science and how is the scientific process conducted?
B. Science versus pseudoscience
II. Principles of evolution
A. Natural selection and other mechanisms of evolution
B. Speciation
C. Adaptations
D. Relationship to biodiversity and the current extinction crisis
III. Tropical rainforests
A. Geological history
B. Climate and weather patterns
C. Moist versus dry forests
IV. Biodiversity
A. Species richness and measurements of diversity
B. Tropical rainforests compared to other biomes
C. Carrying capacity
V. Species interactions
A. Niche partitioning
B. Competitive exclusion
C. Trophic relationships
D. Pollination and dispersion
E. Co-evolution
F. Keystone species
VI. Threats and changes to rainforests
A. Historical versus contemporary versus projected rates of
destruction
B. Extinction
C. Succession
D. Causes and processes of clearance
VII. Value of intact forest and costs of destruction
A. Ways to assign value
B. Loss of biodiversity, resources, and environmental services
C. Local, regional, and global change
VIII. Indigenous cultures
A. Tribal forest populations
B. Threats and pressures
C. Impact on biodiversity
IX. Potential solutions to ecological challenges
A. Immediate action
B. Constraints
C. Protection and conservation
D. Restoration and reforestation
E. Sustainable use
F. Debt for nature swaps
X. Species identification
A. Dominant plants
B. Common animals
Assignments:
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Assignments may include:
1. Assigned reading from texts and other sources, 20-30 pages per
class meeting
2. Response papers and other written homework
3. In class work: exercises, oral presentations, class discussions
4. Field notes
5. Participation in class (including field trips)
6. Formal assessment: quizzes and 2-4 exams including objective and
essay questions
Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing. | Writing 20 - 40% |
Response papers, written homework, and field notes | |
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills. | Problem Solving 5 - 20% |
In class exercises, | |
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams. | Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0% |
None | |
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams. | Exams 50 - 70% |
Multiple choice, true/false, matching items, completion, essay, quizzes | |
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories. | Other Category 5 - 20% |
Participation, oral presentations, and class discussions | |
Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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The Diversity of Life, Wilson, Edward O., W.W. Norton and Company: 2010 (classic)
The Mammals of Costa Rica: A Natural History and Field Guide by Wainwright, M. Zona Tropical, Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell University Press: 2007 (classic)
Travellers' Wildlife Guides: Costa Rica, Beletsky,L.,Interlink Publishing: 2005 (classic)
Foundations of Tropical Forest Biology. Chazdon, R.L. and Whitmore, T.C.. University of Chicago Press: 2001 (classic)
Tropical Ecology, Kricher, John, Princeton University Press: 2011 (classic)
An Introduction to Tropical Rain Forests, 2nd edition. Whitmore, T.C.,Oxford University Press: 1998 (classic)
Breakfast of Biodiversity: The Political Ecology of Rainforest Destruction. Vandermeer, John and Perfecto, Ivette, Institute for Food and Development Policy: 2005 (classic)
The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinction. Quammen, David, Touchstone: 1996 (classic)
Instructor prepared materials
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