GEOG 442

BIOGEOGRAPHY (3 credits) Fall 2009

Instructor:      Dr. Stephen D. Prince

E-mail: sprince@umd.edu (best method of contact)

Tel: 301 405 4062

Office: LeFrak Hall 1169

Office hours: 2.00-3.00pm Tuesday & Thursday

Classes: 12.30 - 1.45pm Tues, Thurs,  LeFrak 2208

First Class: Tuesday 31^st August

End of schedule adjustment: 15^th September

Thanksgiving Holiday:  Tuesday November 23^rd and Thursday November 25^th

Last class: Thursday  December 9^th

Final examination: Friday, December 18^th 1:30pm-3:30pm

Class schedule – frequently updated consult before and after each class

Course objectives: The purpose of this course is to consider the patterns, processes and possible future of the distributions of living organisms. By means of a study of relevant aspects of biogeography, ecology, and evolutionary biology, including what can be determined of events in the recent and distant past, the contribution of biogeography to current environmental issues will be examined. Geographic factors (e.g., landform, soil distribution, climate, and human activities) are major factors in the spatial distribution of flora and fauna locally and throughout the world. Understanding how these factors interact with the biota in controlling the distribution of organisms is a key topic. The history and current status of knowledge on each topic will be discussed. Appropriate measurement techniques, analytical methods, and modeling strategies will be explained.

Course Outline: Provisional list of topics.

1. Introduction

2. Geographical ranges of living organisms

        Units of distribution (genes to biomes)

        Types of distribution

        Environmental correlates of ranges

                   Climate and climate change

                   Soils

        Biodiversity

3. Causes and processes of spatial and temporal distributions

Environmental factors

                   Primary production

                   Microclimatology

                   Soil processes, Nutrient transport, Nutrient cycling

                   Adaptation, Adaptive strategies, Functional types

       Biological

                   Disturbance, Land cover and land use change, Non-equilibrium dynamics

                   Metapopulation dynamics, Island processes

                   Pests and diseases

4. Synthesis - ecological biogeography

Target audience: Seniors and starting graduate students in Geography, Environmental Science and Policy, Biology, Agronomy and allied disciplines.

Prerequisites: Essential: GEOG342 Introduction to Biogeography or equivalent. Desirable: GEOG345 Climatology, GEOG340 Geomorphology. Useful: further environmental science and biological courses

Course Texts: No one textbook is adequate for this class. Selected readings in books and periodicals will be recommended in class

Course arrangements: Each of the major topics will be broken up into units to allow for application, discussion and review. There will be a lecture on each topic, a reading list of relevant current literature, and a class discussion. Outlines, readings and other materials will be posted on the class WWW page which should be checked before each class meeting. Some class sessions will include a practical component such as a field visit or data analyses. Most topics are scheduled for two class meetings: the first meeting will often start with a quiz on the earlier topics, followed by a lecture on the new topic. The second meeting will complete the lecture material, followed by a discussion and a list of quiz topics for the next meeting.

Office Hours: Room 1169 LeFrak Hall Tues and Thursday 2.00-3.00pm. The office hours serve a vital function for both student and Instructor providing the opportunity to talk over matters related to the course, but they are only beneficial when utilized. If you need help, or just want to talk over interesting topics, use this opportunity to interact with the Instructor.

Assessment: 60% of the grade will be contributed by three written examinations, two during the semester and a final (20% each). Each exam will be 1 hr 15min in duration and will consist of three essay questions selected from at least 6. The remaining 40% of the grade will be by assessment of 4 written accounts of topics or exercises carried out during the course. Each paper should describe the topic or exercise, the findings and the relevance to the general course themes. Length should not exceed 2000 words plus diagrams and must be the original work of the student (do not work together with other members of the class - see Academic Integrity Expectations below).

Examination dates:

Two in-semester exams (1hr 15min each). Provisional dates:  16Oct, 13Nov.

Final (See Schedule of Classes): Date: Friday, December 18^th 1:30pm-3:30pm.   This examination date is scheduled by the University and cannot be changed  (Fall 2009 Exam Schedule).

Official Notices:

• Attendance and participation: You are strongly advised to attend and participate in all lectures since this will provide a basic understanding of the subject matter of the course and no text book is adequate. 40% of the course grade is dependent upon successful completion of class projects. Active participation in discussions is an important part of this class. The campus policy on excused absences is stated on page 37 of the University of Maryland Undergraduate Catalog (http://www.umd.edu/catalog/0405/chapter4.pdf)
• Disabilities: If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact the Instructor as early as possible.
• Academic Integrity Expectations:  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
  To further exhibit your commitment to academic integrity, remember to sign the Honor Pledge on all examinations and assignments: "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this examination (assignment). "
• Students are expected to treat each other with respect. Disruptive behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. Students who are unable to show civility with one another, the teaching assistants, or myself will be subject to being referred to the Office of Student Conduct or to Campus Police. You are expected to adhere to the Code of Student Conduct.
• Campus Senate policy requires students who are absent due to illness/injury to furnish documentary support to the instructor. I require students to contact me by email or by phone prior to class time in which you indicate that you have an illness or an injury. You must provide written documentation verifying your illness/injury immediately upon your return to class. You will not be allowed to turn in missed assignments or make up quizzes, tests, papers, etc. if you have not provided this documentation. Documentation not presented to me in a timely manner will not be accepted. In addition, if it is found that you have falsified the documentation provided, I will refer you to the University’s Student Conduct Office.
• I will make every effort to accommodate students who are registered with the Disability Support Services (DSS) Office and who provide me with a University of Maryland DSS Accommodation form which has been updated for the Fall 2008 semester. This form must be presented to me no later than October 1, 2008. I am not able to accommodate students who are not registered with DSS or who do not provide me with documentation which has been reviewed by DSS after October 1, 2008.
• By September 15, 2008, students must provide me in writing a request for a make up exam if I have indicated a date on this syllabus that you are unable to make due to a specific religious observance (specify) on a specific date. Please refer to the Online Undergraduate Catalog Policy on Religious Observance.
• CourseEvalUM Fall 2009.  Your participation in the evaluation of courses through CourseEvalUM is a responsibility you hold as a student member of our academic community.  Your feedback is confidential and important to the improvement of teaching and learning at the University as well as to the tenure and promotion process.  CourseEvalUM will be open for you to complete your evaluations for fall semester courses between Tuesday, December 1 and Sunday, December 13.  Please go directly to the website (www.courseevalum.umd.edu) to complete your evaluations starting December 1.  By completing all of your evaluations each semester, you will have the privilege of accessing online, at Testudo, the evaluation reports for the thousands of courses for which 70% or more students submitted their evaluations.