The focus of this course will be to examine the historical and ecological distributions of organisms. Students should be familiar with general concepts of ecology and geography to succeed in this class. Understanding of climate, topography, earth history, and taxonomy will enable students to learn about past and present distributions of organisms. The approach will be problem based/project based for learning material. This requires that students be computer literate (have an active email account and understand how to use the computer to seek information in the library) and willing to work with others. Group contracts outlining responsibilities of members to each other and to the success of the class will form the basis of cooperative efforts.

Evaluation will be based on four criteria: completion of problem journal (4 case studies), completion of project (observation), satisfactory evaluations on at least two of three quizzes, and completion of a final presentation. ALL WORK MUST BE DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER. LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR CLASS CREDIT. UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE ONE WEEK FROM THE INITIATION DATE. Students are expected to complete readings PRIOR to class to enable participation in problems and discussions.

The following is a tentative schedule for the class. Adjustments may be necessary to accommodate interests of participants.

Week                                      Topic                                                                         Readings/comments

1                                 Introduction to Biogeography                                                   Unit 1; library quest

2                                 The physical setting                                                                Ch 3, 4; case 1; QUIZ

                                   Single species distributions

3                                 Communities                                                                         Ch 5; library reading

4-5                              Changing Earth                                                                      Ch 6,7; film; case 2

6-7                                 Speciation, Extinction, and Dispersal                                    Ch 8, 9, 10; library                                                                                                                                           reading

Break

9                                History of Lineages and reconstructions                                     Ch 11, 12; case 3;                                                                                                                                            QUIZ

10-11                        Island Biogeography                                                                  Ch 13, 14, 15; project                                                                                                                                           option 1,library reading

12                                Biogeography and conservation                                              Ch 16

13                                Status of Biodiversity                                                             Ch 17; project option 2

                                                                                                                               library reading

14                                  Applied Biogeography                                                          Ch 18; case 4; QUIZ

15                                 Presentations and wrap up