Instructor:        Dr. Stephen D. Prince, Department of Geography, Room 1169, LeFrak Hall.

                            Tel: 301 405 4062.  E-mail: sprince@geog.umd.edu
 

Office Hours:    Tuesdays 2.00-3.00 p.m,  Thursdays  2.00-3.00 p.m, or by appointment. Held in Room 1169, LeFrak Hall
 
 

Teaching Assistant:    Sara Zeigler
                                 

Office hours:     Tuesdays 1.45-2.45 p.m, Thursdays 1.45-2.45 p.m, or by appointment. Held in 1113 LeFrak Hall.
                              Tel: 717 201 4229  E-mail: szeigler@umd.edu
 

Class Room/Time:      Room 2166 LeFrak Hall.  12.30-1.45p.m, Tuesday and Thursday.
 
 

Aims of the Course:

Biogeography is the study of the relationships between living organisms - animals, plants and microbes - and their environment, emphasizing the spatial and temporal patterns in their distributions over the face of the Earth. As the impact of humans on the Earth's surface intensifies and extends to influence ever more of the planet, we have become aware of the critical role played by living organisms in all aspects of global habitability. Thus some of the more traditional topics studied under biogeography have come to the forefront of public policy, including such issues as global warming, conservation of biodiversity, sustainability of harvested resources such as fish and lumber, the spread of pests and diseases, and appropriate farming practices that do not pollute or otherwise damage the environment. This class will concentrate on the fundamentals of biogeography with a strong emphasis on ecological processes. More advanced courses (e.g., GEOG442) build on this foundation.
 
 

Target Audience:

This course is for those who want to learn more about biogeography either as a termination for more general program or as a gateway to 400 level classes in Geography, especially GEOG442. Non-Geography students or undeclared majors are welcome.
 
 

Overlaps:

Biogeography shares many aspects of ecology, especially those ecological phenomena and processes that have a strong spatial component - e.g. species and community distributions, diversity, invasion, dispersal, adaptation at the physiological and genetic levels..

Other ecology classes above 200-300 level at the University of Maryland may overlap or duplicate some parts of the curriculum presented in GEOG 342, in particular BSCI 361 (Principals of Ecology). However, the material presented in this course should provide those taking other ecology classes with a strong foundation for pursuit of more advanced ecological, biogeographic, and conservation biology courses.
 
 

Prerequisites:

Essential: GEOG20l or equivalent (consult Instructor), or be prepared to review selected chapters of textbook (Elemental Geosystems by R.W. Christopherson) as an additional task (not for credit in this class).

Desirable: GEOG211 and Biology classes at 100 level or equivalent or be prepared to review selected chapters of textbook as an additional task (not for credit in this class).

Useful: PBIO/GEOL/METO/GEOG 123 and any additional ecology, biology, zoology, botany, plant biology classes (but see Overlaps above ).
 
 

Enrollment limit: 60
 
 

Geography Major Program Information:

This course counts as a gateway course for Geography majors. See GEOG advisers in LeFrak Rm. 2108 (Tel. 301 405 4073) for further information on course selection.  For Geography course information see http://www.geog.umd.edu/academic/courses.htm
 
 

Course Structure:

Classes will include lectures but mainly structured around individual study, written assignments, and regular one-on-one meetings with the Instructors. Details of the course structure can be found at GEOG342 Spring 2008-Course Structure
 
 

Text book:

Krebs, C. J., 2001, Ecology with Ecology Action Guide & CD    ISBN # 0321068793    5th Edition Addison-Wes1ey.       
 
 

Assessment:

Exams: 1st (March 6th) and 2nd (April 15), Final exam (May 20). The date of the final examination is scheduled by the University and cannot be changed except in documented emergencies.

Exams 1 & 2: each 1 hr (30%). Final exam: 2 hr (40%).

Exam structure: Multiple choice (25%), short essay questions (75%). The final exam has one additional general section from which you will answer one out of a choice of questions dealing with overviews of the whole course. Grades on the Final are as follows: Multiple choice (25%), short essay questions (50%), general question (25%). The multiple choice and essays will examine material presented since the last exam (i.e., it is not cumulative). The general questions examine the broad concepts covered in the entire class.

See here for an example test

See Final Exam for examples of general questions

Disabilities:

      If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact the Instructor as soon as possible.

Religious observances:

If you observe any religious please contact the Instructor as soon as possible. The University Policy is as follows. "it is the student's responsibility to inform the instructor of any intended absences for religious observances in advance. Notice should be provided as soon as possible but no later than the end of the schedule adjustment period. Faculty should further remind students that prior notification is especially important in connection with final examinations, since failure to reschedule a final examination before the conclusion of the final examination period may result in loss of credits during the semester. "

Honor Code:

The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/whatis.html
For more information contact: HonorCouncil@umd.edu

News, articles, quotes

Intro Biogeography enrichment opportunities. Click here for meetings, news, articles, quotes etc
                  

Draft List of Class Topics:

The following material will be included, but the sequence may change. Chapter numbers refer to the course textbook.

Topic I.

Geography of species

Ecophysiology Ch 7

Dispersal & Habitat Selection Chs 4 & 5

Interactions of species Ch 6

Topic II.

Geography of Populations

Description and demography Chs 9 & 10

Pop Growth Ch 11, and bits of Ch 12-16

Topic III

Adaptation

Ch 12 (part), Ch 2, Ch 15 (part) & other bits

Topic IV

Communities

Communities and community dynamics (Chs 20, 21, & 24)

Leslie Matrices….

Community properties

Biodiversity Ch 22

Topic V

Ecosystem processes

Productivity (Ch 15, 26 and bit of Ch23)

Nutrient cycling (Ch 27)

Topic VI

Human impacts

Ch 17, 18, 19, 28,

Topic 7 (Extra Credit)

Integrative topics from entire Course