BIOL 402
Topics in Ecology: Biological Resources
Last Offered Fall 2005
Division III Writing Skills
Cross-listed ENVI 404
This course is not offered in the current catalog

A tutorial course investigating the patterns and processes in human-dominated ecosystems, especially those that produce food and fiber, process wastes, or provide a context for human activities such as recreation. The course will draw heavily upon the experiences that students have had in other biology courses. Topics will include: the relationships among diversity, ecosystem function, sustainability, resilience, and stability of biological resource systems, nutrient pools and processing in human-dominated ecosystems. Four field trips will be taken to biological resource sites in the region. These experiences will serve as introductions to readings and the topics of papers to be written by student participants. Each student will write four papers that deal with questions requiring extensive reading of primary resources. Paper presentations will alternate with serving as a critic of other student papers. Students will be given the opportunity to revise and rewrite two of the four papers in the week following their tutorial presentation thereby being able to respond to the criticism and discussion of the tutorial group.