BOTY 2534 - Environmental Biology

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of ecology and conservation with special emphasis on humanity’s impact on the environment.
• Use various laboratory instruments and techniques and apply these skills to selected laboratory experiments and field observations representative of certain ecological principles.
• Use the scientific method and critical thinking to make decisions from a scientific standpoint.
• Collect, organize, analyze, interpret, and present data in conjunction with preparation of a formal laboratory report and/or EMPACTS project.

• Students develop higher-level thinking skills.

• Basic ecological and conservation principles
• Concept of succession exploring various biotic and abiotic factors
• Forest ecosystems
• Human population growth
• Problems and management of wildlife populations
• Factors leading to extinction of certain populations
• Water conservation and pollution
• Karst bedrock formations in NorthWest Arkansas
• Water quality laboratory
• Microhabitat stream study
• Diversity of aquatic plants, phytoplankton, invertebrates, and fish populations.
• Air pollution effects on the environment
• Basic Chemical principles
• Energy related problems including nuclear energy

Learning activities

• Courses must, at a minimum, cover the core learning outcomes for each topic.

Assessments 

• Variable methods, which include but are not limited to, written and oral presentations utilizing project-based learning methodology, field activities, and laboratory activities.

Grading guidelines 

• A minimum of 70% of the grade must be proctored, supervise, or otherwise verified.
• Approximately 25% of the grade must come from lab work since the lab and lecture credits for this course are combined.