Biosphere Syllabus – 1 –

Lessons from the Biosphere

MAP NS-2 course V55-0311 Spring 2011 M&W 12:30 – 1:45 207 Silver Center

Tyler Volk

Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies 1157 Brown Building

(OFFICE HOURS: Mon. & Wed., 11:00 AM – 12:15, usually) take Waverly Building elevators to 11th floor, turn left;

also meetings by appointment; or just drop by) Mailbox: Biology Department, 1009 Silver

PHONE: (212) 998-3736 FAX: (212) 995-4015 EMAIL: tyler.volk@nyu.edu

TEACHING ASSISTANTS:

Tayebeh Bahmani tb1027@nyu.edu Malay Mathur mm4735@nyu.edu

Derek Tesser dst251@nyu.edu

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SYLLABUS 1. Monday January 24: Introduction to course.

-----EVOLUTION----- 2. Wednesday January 26: From the big bang to the origin of Earth (Liebes: pages 4-19 for main text, pages 8-19 for timeline text and images). No lab meeting this week. Lab sessions start next week. (Labs listed below refer to the week starting with the previously listed Monday. For example, Lab 1 will take place during the week of Monday, January 31 – Friday, February 4.) 3. Monday January 31: Earth comes alive and The molecules of evolution. (Liebes: pages 21-53 for main text, pages 21-38 for timeline text and images). 4. Wednesday February 2: Bubblers, bluegreens, & breathers and The multicreatured cell. (Liebes: pages 53-103 for main text, pages 38-104 for timeline text and images). LAB 1: Introduction to Lessons from the Biosphere. 5. Monday February 7: Multicelled creatures and Big life comes ashore. (Liebes: pages 103-140 for main text, pages 104-167 for timeline text and images). 6. Wednesday February 9: Reptiles reign and Asteroid impact brings mammals to the fore. (Liebes: pages 141-170 for main text, pages 167-196 from timeline text and images). LAB 2: Evidence for Evolution. 7. Monday February 14: The great brain experiment. (Liebes: pages 170-208 for main text, pages 196-203 for timeline text and images). 8. Wednesday February 16: Cultural evolution. (Readings to be announced) LAB 3: American Museum of Natural History trip (No formal lab meeting, students go on their own time for trip to American Museum of Natural History.)

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Monday February 21: NO CLASS PRESIDENT’S DAY 9. Wednesday February 23: Exam # 1 — Evolution LAB 4: Student Presentations on AMNH trip. -----BIODIVERSITY----- 10. Monday February 28: The great wealth of life: biodiversity. (Bush, chapter 1) 11. Wednesday March 2: Biodiversity video. LAB Week 5: Techniques of microscopy. 12. Monday March 7: Who needs sex anyway? (Bush, chapter 2) 13. Wednesday March 9: The power of predators. (Bush, chapter 3) LAB 6: Biodiversity of Microscopic Life Monday March 15 SPRING RECESS Wednesday March 17 SPRING RECESS 14. Monday March 21: Biomes. (Bush, chapter 4) 15. Wednesday March 23: Making connections: fisheries. (Bush, chapter 5) LAB 7: Biodiversity in the marketplace. 16. Monday March 28: Habitat fragmentation and extinction (Bush, chapter 6) 17. Wednesday March 30: Working to save biodiversity. (Bush, chapter 7) LAB 8: Student Presentations on Endangered Species. 18. Monday April 4: To be determined (possibly Exam #2 here). 19. Wednesday April 6: Exam #2 — Biodiversity

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LAB 9: Photosynthesis. (Initiates the “global cycles” part of the course.) -----GLOBAL CYCLES----- 20. Monday April 11: Introducing the CO2 molecule, the greenhouse effect, and the great cycle of carbon (Volk, chapters 1 & 2). 21. Wednesday April 13: The worldwide increase of CO2 (Volk, chapter 3). LAB 10: Respiration. 22. Monday April 18: Fossil-fuel carbon. (Volk, chapter 4) 23. Wednesday April 20: Carbon’s fluxes and the carbon cycle (Volk, chapter 5). LAB 11: Part 1 of Student Presentations on Helping the Biosphere. 24. Monday April 25: Ice-age CO2 (Volk, chapter 6 and handout). 25. Wednesday April 27: Wealth, energy, and CO2 (Volk, chapter 7). LAB 12: Part 2 of Student Presentations on Helping the Biosphere. 26. Monday May 2: The future of atmospheric CO2. (Volk, chapter 8). 27. Wednesday May 4: Options for future energy systems. (Volk, chapters 9 & 10). LAB 13: Wrap-up 28. Monday May 9: Conclusion and Open Review (last class session before final exam). FINAL EXAM Wednesday May 11 Noon – 1:50

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Books (3, one specialized for each section of the course):

1. For the "Evolution" section of the course—

Liebes, Sidney; Elisabet Sahtouris, & Brian Swimme.

A Walk Through Time: From Stardust to Us.

2. For the "Biodiversity" section of the course—

Bush, Mark B.

Ecology of a Changing Planet. (This is a custom printing of 7 chapters from a

larger text, specially chosen for this course).

3. For the "Global Cycles" section of the course—

Volk, Tyler.

CO2 Rising: The World’s Greatest Environmental Challenge.

GRADING:

Labs 35% Test#1 20% Test #2 20% Final 25%

• Labs are important; unexcused labs receive “0”, a total of three unexcused

labs results in “F” for the course.

Blackboard: I will use the blackboard site for the course to post this syllabus,

previous exams, and other information about the course during the semester,

usually in folders under “Course Documents.”