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  Course Description
  
  EES Department

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to the study of plant and animals distributions, both past and present. This is a broad field overlapping several other disciplines, including biology, geography, and geology. The study of plant distributions will be emphasized and approached from historical, cultural and ecological perspectives. The goal is to foster student understanding of local, regional, and global biogeographic patterns and their underlying processes. Human impacts on biotic distributions will also be discussed. Applications of biogeographic knowledge and theory to conservation problems will also be discussed. The lab component will address quantitative aspects of biogeographic research through local examples. Prerequisites: Physical Geography (ERTH 112), Biology (110 or 140 or equivalent), or permission of instructor.

Texts Required

1) MacDonald, Glen. 2003. Biogeography: An Introduction to Space, Time and Life. John Wiley and Sons (available in the Willamette Bookstore)

2) Quammen, D. 1996. Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinctions. Simon and Schuster. (available in the Willamette Bookstore)

3) Additional Readings available electronically from Course Reserves at the Hatfield Library.

Course Requirements

Course Website
A WISE site has been created for the course. Lecture slides, supplemental readings, relevant links, course announcements, and other materials will be uploaded to this website throughout the semester. Lecture slides will be made available prior to each class.

Exams (450 points)
There are four exams, three in-class exams (100 pts each) and a final (150 pts). The three in-class exams will cover course materials directly preceeding them. The final will be comprehensive.

Labs (280 points)
The lab portion of the course will be devoted to investigating quantitative aspects of biogeographic patterns and processes. When possible we will use the local community as a lab.

Commentaries (270 points)
On most Fridays we will break from lecture to review and discuss 1) assigned papers from the biogeographic literature, or 2) chapters from Song of the Dodo. To encourage a healthy, vibrant discussion each student will prepare a 500 word commentary on the assigned reading that includes any questions the student may wish to bring up in discussion. Papers are available electronically from Course Reserves at the Hatfield Library. Please see the WISE website for guidelines or writing commentaries.

Attendance
Attendance is expected for all lectures, labs, guest presentations, and out of class activities. Students who are absent more than FOUR times during the semester without a valid excuse (legitimate medical condition or mandatory university activity) will be penalized 10% (100 points) from their total grade. I have final discretion on what is considered a legitimate absence.

Extra Credit (Up to 40 points)
Extra credit may be earned by completing a community service project, attending and writing a response to a lecture/meeting, or any other event/project related to biogeography. Extra credit projects must be agreed upon in advance in consultation with Professor Arabas. Up to 40 additional points may be added to a student's final point total in the class. Please see the WISE site for a list of some extra credit opportunities.

Computers and cell phones in the classroom
Laptop computers are excellent learning tools, and the expansion of WiFi on our campus has enhanced many learning opportunities. But such technological advances can have negative consequences in the classroom. Please feel free to use your laptop for taking notes in class, lab or in the field. Occasionally, we may want to look things up on line as well. However, please refrain from checking email, iChatting, websurfing, etc. during class. If you are observed doing so during class time, you will asked to stop bringing your laptop to class. Cell phones should be turned off prior to class.

Grading Policy

Make-up of exams is NOT permitted without a valid excuse. Any conflicts with exams must be resolved within the first week of the semester. Late labs and other assignments will be assessed a 25% penalty.

Any student eligible for and desiring academic accommodation due to a disability should provide documentation to Disability and Learning Services located in the Bishop Wellness Center within the first two weeks of the semester.