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2012-13 Undergraduate Index A-Z
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Ecology [clear]
| Title | Offering | Standing | Credits | Credits | When | F | W | S | Su | Description | Preparatory | Faculty | Days | Multiple Standings | Start Quarters | Open Quarters |
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Bret Weinstein
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Program | SO–SRSophomore - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 12 Fall | W 13Winter | Bret Weinstein | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | Fall Winter | |||||
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Dylan Fischer, Abir Biswas, Lin Nelson, Erik Thuesen, Alison Styring and Gerardo Chin-Leo
Signature Required:
Fall Winter Spring
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Program | JR–SRJunior - Senior | V | V | Day | F 12 Fall | W 13Winter | S 13Spring | Rigorous quantitative and qualitative research is an important component of academic learning in Environmental Studies. This independent learning opportunity is designed to allow advanced students to delve into real-world research with faculty who are currently engaged in specific projects. The program will help students develop vital skills in research design, data acquisition and interpretation, written and oral communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills—all of which are of particular value for students who are pursuing a graduate degree, as well as for graduates who are already in the job market. studies in nutrient and toxic trace metal cycles in terrestrial and coastal ecosystems. Potential projects could include studies of mineral weathering, wildfires and mercury cycling in ecosystems. Students could pursue these interests at the laboratory-scale or through field-scale biogeochemistry studies taking advantage of the Evergreen Ecological Observation Network (EEON), a long-term ecological study area. Students with backgrounds in a combination of geology, biology or chemistry could gain skills in soil, vegetation and water collection and learn methods of sample preparation and analysis for major and trace elements. studies marine phytoplankton and bacteria. His research interests include understanding the factors that control seasonal changes in the biomass and species composition of Puget Sound phytoplankton. In addition, he is investigating the role of marine bacteria in the geochemistry of estuaries and hypoxic fjords. studies plant ecology and physiology in the Intermountain West and southwest Washington. This work includes image analysis of tree roots, genes to ecosystems approaches, plant physiology, carbon balance, species interactions, community analysis and restoration ecology. He also manages the EEON project (academic.evergreen.edu/projects/EEON). See more about his lab's work at: academic.evergreen.edu/f/fischerd/E3.htm. studies and is involved with advocacy efforts on the linkages between environment, health, community and social justice. Students can become involved in researching environmental health in Northwest communities and Washington policy on phasing out persistent, bio-accumulative toxins. One major project students can work on is the impact of the Asarco smelter in Tacoma, examining public policy and regional health. studies birds. Current activity in her lab includes avian bioacoustics, natural history collections and bird research in the EEON. Bioacoustic research includes editing and identifying avian songs and calls from an extensive collection of sounds from Bornean rainforests. Work with the natural history collections includes bird specimen preparation and specimen-based research, including specimens from Evergreen's Natural History Collections and other collections in the region. Work with EEON includes observational and acoustic surveys of permanent ecological monitoring plots in The Evergreen State College campus forest. conducts research on the ecological physiology of marine animals. He and his students are currently investigating the physiological, behavioral and biochemical adaptations of gelatinous zooplankton to environmental stress and climate change. Other research is focused on the biodiversity of marine zooplankton. Students working in his lab typically have backgrounds in different aspects of marine science, ecology, physiology and biochemistry. Please go to the catalog view for specific information about each option. | botany, ecology, education, entomology, environmental studies, environmental health, geology, land use planning, marine science, urban agriculture, taxonomy and zoology. | Dylan Fischer Abir Biswas Lin Nelson Erik Thuesen Alison Styring Gerardo Chin-Leo | Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | Fall Winter Spring | ||
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Alison Styring
Signature Required:
Fall Winter Spring
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Research | JR–SRJunior - Senior | V | V | Day | F 12 Fall | W 13Winter | S 13Spring | Alison Styring | Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | Fall Winter Spring | ||||
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Dylan Fischer
Signature Required:
Fall Winter Spring
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Research | JR–SRJunior - Senior | V | V | Day | F 12 Fall | W 13Winter | S 13Spring | plant ecology and physiology, field ecology, restoration ecology | Dylan Fischer | Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | Fall Winter Spring | |||
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Abir Biswas and Clarissa Dirks
Signature Required:
Spring
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Program | JR–SRJunior - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | S 13Spring | This program is designed for students who have a strong background in biology or geology and would like to do advanced work around either topic as it applies to arid ecosystems in the Southwestern U.S. or Eastern Washington State, though there may be opportunities for students to contrast arid systems with more temperate forest ecosystems in Western Washington State. There will be an emphasis on student- and faculty-derived research projects throughout and students will meet regularly with faculty to discuss progress and receive feedback. Students with prior backgrounds or analytical experience in biology and/or geology, seeking to join the program in the spring to conduct field- and/or lab-based research projects are encouraged to contact the faculty early. Students will need to develop their research proposals in the first 2 weeks of the quarter while studying the primary literature. Students will then be conducting their proposed field work and/or laboratory work in weeks 3-6. Students will spend the rest of the quarter completing their analyses in preparation for presenting their work at the end of the program. The expectations and workload will be based on advanced work for upper division credit. In part, the content and themes of this program will be merged with another ongoing program offered by the faculty. Students continuing from that program will have developed group research proposals that will be the basis of their spring research project component. The work of those students is not advanced and the expectations are different. These two groups will meet together only for certain lectures or other activities whereby both will learn more about the faculty research projects and arid/southwest ecosystems. Advanced research students could potentially join the Grand Canyon river trip to conduct research studying Southwestern ecosystems but would need to contact the faculty as soon as possible (prior to Spring quarter registration). Students could also conduct comparative field work in arid or temperate ecosystems in Washington State that will be the basis of their quarter-long research project. | Abir Biswas Clarissa Dirks | Junior JR Senior SR | Spring | Spring | |||||
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Michael Paros and Steven Scheuerell
Signature Required:
Winter
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 12 Fall | W 13Winter | "The question of all questions for humanity, the problem which lies behind all others and is more interesting than any of them, is that of the determination of man's place in nature and his relation to the cosmos." - T.H. HuxleyCrop agriculture and animal production dominate human-managed ecosystems. Both provide forms of human sustenance yet simultaneously disrupt natural ecological functions. Tensions often exist between nature conservationists and agricultural communities. How do we balance biodiversity conservation and modern agricultural production? Is it possible to have both? Should public policy emphasize agricultural intensification to spare land for wildlife areas and keep conservation areas separate from human production activities? Can our planet afford to preserve culturally and biologically diverse agricultural systems? Are traditional agricultural practices vital to our sustainable future?Faculty and students will challenge and develop their own personal ethical framework in an attempt to address the many questions that arise when we alter natural systems through agriculture. This will be accomplished through experiential field trips, reading, writing, scientific analysis and open discussion. Students will visit a variety of Washington and Oregon farming operations and conservation areas that illustrate the agricultural and environmental ethical dilemmas that society currently faces. Multiple perspectives from land stakeholders will be presented. Fall quarter will focus on the fundamental principles of conservation biology and ethical theory, while familiarizing students with basic agronomic practices. In winter quarter, students will develop a personal land ethic while analyzing tensions between agriculture and conservation specific to a particular locale.This program will interest students who are open-minded and want to think critically about the agricultural sciences, conservation biology, and ethics. | Michael Paros Steven Scheuerell | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | Fall Winter | ||||
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Erik Thuesen
Signature Required:
Fall
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Program | JR–SRJunior - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 12 Fall | W 13Winter | In the 19th century, well-known European scientists such as Darwin, d'Orbigny and Bonpland traveled in Argentina and brought their knowledge of the flora and fauna back to Europe. The marine, desert and alpine environments of the Southern Cone harbor flora and fauna very different from similar environments in North America. In this two-quarter program, we carry out intensive natural history studies of the unique organisms and ecosystems of Argentina, focusing on those of Patagonia.After an introductory week in Olympia at the start of fall quarter, the study abroad portion of the program will commence with a 4-week intensive study of Spanish language in Buenos Aires to prepare us for our travels and studies in Argentina during fall and winter quarters. We will begin to study the flora and fauna of the Southern Cone through preliminary readings, lectures and class work in Buenos Aires. We will take a short trip to the sub-tropical province of Misiones during October, then move to the coastal and mountain regions of Patagonia in November. We will study the natural history of Patagonia, beginning with field studies on the Atlantic coast and then moving to the Andean Lakes District, taking advantage of the progressively warmer weather of the austral spring.Students will conduct formal field exercises and keep field notebooks detailing their work and observations. We will read primary literature articles related to the biodiversity of Argentina and augment our field studies with seminars.During winter quarter (summer in the southern hemisphere), students will reinforce their language skills with two weeks of intensive Spanish studies in Patagonia, examine montane and steppe habitats, then work in small groups on focused projects examining biodiversity topics. It will be possible to conduct more focused studies on specific ecosystems or organisms, including those in more southern parts of Patagonia, at this time of the year. Clear project goals, reading lists, timelines, etc., will be developed during fall quarter in order to insure successful projects in winter quarter. Examples of individual/small-group projects include: comparisons of plant/animal biodiversity between coastal, desert and alpine zones; comparative studies of the impacts of ecotourism activities on biodiversity; or examining community composition of intertidal habitats along a gradient from north to south, among others. | Erik Thuesen | Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | Fall | ||||
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Amy Cook and Gerardo Chin-Leo
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Program | FR–SOFreshmen - Sophomore | 16 | 16 | Day | F 12 Fall | Boundaries between habitats (ecotones) and extreme environments (temperature, pressure and salinity) often contain diverse and productive ecosystems. This program will explore the physics and chemistry of these environments and examine the organism adaptations and ecological interactions that determine their unique biodiversity and productivity. In addition, we will examine the ecotones and extreme environments created by the expansion of human development into natural ecosystems. An understanding of the structure and function of ecotones and extreme environments can contribute to conservation biology efforts such as the design of parks and reserves and allow us to better understand how human-dominated landscapes influence natural landscapes.Through lectures, workshops and field activities, students will learn how to identify local plants and animals and will learn about the composition and ecology of several common habitats in the Pacific Northwest including coniferous forest, freshwater stream and nearshore marine. Students will examine the ecotones between these communities by identifying the resident organisms, and describing the physical characteristics of the ecotones and the dynamics of biogeochemical cycles that cross community boundaries. Taking advantage of the Evergreen campus and nearby areas as natural laboratories, we will focus on the following ecotones: intertidal zones, the boundary between freshwater aquatic systems and terrestrial systems, the transition zone between marine and freshwater (estuaries) and the ecotones associated with human-dominated landscapes. In addition, we will examine the ecology of extreme environments such as hydrothermal vents and hypersaline lagoons and the physiological adaptations that organisms have made to live in these environments.The program will provide students with the opportunity to broaden their understanding of biology and ecology, develop skills in several of the major techniques used in field ecology and improve their writing, quantitative and communication skills. | Amy Cook Gerardo Chin-Leo | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO | Fall | Fall | |||||
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Martin Beagle and Trisha Towanda
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Program | SO–SRSophomore - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 12 Fall | W 13Winter | Biodiversity. What is it and why does it matter? How is it measured? How is it threatened? Should we do anything about it? Around the world, people are working to develop strategies to protect Earth’s biodiversity at all levels: from the molecular codes within our cells to ecosystems that can span entire continents. Over the course of two quarters, we will undertake a systematic study of biology in order to understand and address these questions.In fall quarter, students will investigate the foundations of biology: cellular and molecular biology, genetics, physiology, evolution, and their context through the study of different biomes. We will develop an understanding of the quantitative and scientific methods used in biology as well address current issues in biology via seminar and workshop. Laboratory sessions will focus on acquiring proficiency in the techniques and instrumentation commonly used in the study of biology. Field studies will offer opportunities to experience and quantify biodiversity in the Pacific Northwest.Studies in winter quarter will continue studies of general biology and further integrate the fundamental principles of biodiversity through evolution, conservation biology, and ecology as we examine the diversity of life on our planet. We will study the flow of energy and the fluxes and pools of elements within ecosystems, while considering the diversity of organisms involved and their functional roles.Students will achieve a broad and balanced understanding of general biology through a variety of activities: workshops, seminars, lectures, labs and fieldwork, as well as student presentations. Students will apply biological concepts to explore the importance of diversity at genetic, species and ecosystem levels. Successful completion of this program will prepare students for upper-division work in the natural sciences, biology, conservation biology, environmental studies, and teaching and health professions. Upper-division science credit will not be available in this program. Upon successfully completing this program, students seeking the equivalent of can take the full-time program spring quarter to prepare for further study in natural sciences. | Martin Beagle Trisha Towanda | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | Fall Winter | ||||
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Gerardo Chin-Leo and Lucia Harrison
Signature Required:
Spring
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | W 13Winter | S 13Spring | This program will examine marine environments and life (The Sea) from the perspectives of science and visual arts. This program is designed for beginning students in either discipline. The Sea accounts for a major portion of the biomass and diversity of life and plays a major role in global cycles. The Sea also is a source of inspiration for artists, and artwork provides insights into the relationships of humans to this environment. Currently, The Sea faces major crises caused by human activities such as habitat degradation and natural resource over-exploitation. Science and art can contribute to effective solutions to these major environmental problems by providing an understanding of natural phenomena and insights into how nature is perceived and valued by humans. We will examine how both visual artists and marine scientists use close observation to study The Sea and produce images to communicate the results of their work. We will also study how scientific findings can provide a foundation for expressive art and how art can effectively convey the implications of scientific findings to how humans relate with nature.Activities will develop concepts and skills of marine science and visual art and examine how each discipline informs the other. Lectures will teach concepts in marine science and aesthetics and develop a basic scientific and visual arts vocabulary. Labs and field trips to local Puget Sound beaches, the San Juan Islands and Olympic Peninsula will provide opportunities to experience The Sea and to apply the concepts/skills learned in class. Weekly workshops on drawing and watercolor painting will provide technical skills for keeping illustrated field journals and strategies for developing observations into polished expressive thematic drawings. Seminars will explore how scientific and artistic activities contribute to solving environmental issues. For example, we will study how the understanding of human relationships with The Sea can be combined with knowledge of the science underlying marine phenomena to promote effective political change (artists and scientists as activists). Other themes that explore the interaction of science and art will include the Sea as: a source of food, a metaphor for human experience, a place of work or medium of transportation, and a subject of inquiry. Most assignments will integrate science and art.In winter quarter, we will focus on marine habitats including estuaries such as the Nisqually River estuary, the inter-tidal zone and the deep sea. Spring quarter will focus on the diversity and adaptations of marine life. Both quarters will include week-long overnight field trips. This program will include an outreach component where students will contribute to environmental education by developing and presenting science and art curriculum to local schoolchildren. | visual arts, education, marine science, biology and ecology. | Gerardo Chin-Leo Lucia Harrison | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Winter | Winter Spring | |||
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Michael Paros
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | S 13Spring | This academically rigorous field-based course will provide students with the fundamental tools to manage livestock and grasslands by exploring the ecological relationships between ruminants and the land. We will begin the quarter learning about the physiology of grasses and their response to grazing and fire. Practical forage identification, morphology and production will be taught. Ruminant nutrition, foraging behavior, and digestive physiology will be covered as a precursor to learning about the practical aspects of establishing, assessing and managing livestock rotational grazing operations. We will divide our time equally between intensive grazing and extensive rangeland systems. Classroom lectures, workshops and guest speakers will be paired with weekly field trips to dairy, beef, sheep and goat grazing farms. There will be an overnight trip to Eastern Washington where students can practice their skills in rangeland monitoring. Other special topics that will be covered in the program include: co-evolutionary relationships between ruminants and grasses, targeted and multi-species grazing, prairie ecology and restoration, controversies in public land grazing, and perennial grain development. | animal agriculture, ecology, conservation, rangeland management, animal physiology and behavior. | Michael Paros | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Spring | Spring | ||||
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Andrew Brabban, Clyde Barlow and Kenneth Tabbutt
Signature Required:
Winter Spring
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Program | SO–SRSophomore - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 12 Fall | W 13Winter | S 13Spring | "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." For scientists, beauty may be at the scale of the landscape, the organism, or the atomic level. In order to describe a system, scientists are required to collect quantitative data. This is a rigorous program that will focus on investigations in geology and biology supported with analytical chemistry. Instrumental techniques and chemical analysis skills will be developed in an advanced laboratory. The expectation is that students will learn how to conduct accurate chemical, ecological and hydrogeological measurements in order to define baseline assessments of natural ecosystems and determine environmental function and/or contamination. Quantitative analysis, quality control procedures, research design and technical writing will be emphasized.During fall and winter quarters, topics in physical geology, geochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, freshwater ecology, genetics, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, GIS, and instrumental methods of chemical analysis will be addressed. Students will participate in group projects studying aqueous chemistry, hydrology, and the roles of biological organisms in the nutrient cycling processes of local watersheds. Analytical procedures based on EPA, USGS and other guidelines will be utilized to measure major and trace anion and cation concentrations. Molecular methods and biochemical assays will complement more classical procedures in determining biodiversity and the role of specific organisms within an ecosystem. Computers and statistical methods will be used extensively for data analysis and simulation and GIS will be used as a tool to assess spatial data. The program will start with a two-week field trip to Yellowstone National Park that will introduce students to regional geology of the Columbia River Plateau, Snake River, Rocky Mountains and the Yellowstone Hotspot. Issues of water quality, hydrothermal systems, extremophilic organisms and ecosystem diversity will also be studied during the trip.Spring quarter will be devoted to extensive project work continuing from fall and winter. There will be a 5-day field trip to eastern Washington. Presentation of project results in both oral and written form will conclude the year. | geology, hydrology, chemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, ecology, chemical instrumentation, environmental analysis and environmental fieldwork. | Andrew Brabban Clyde Barlow Kenneth Tabbutt | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | Fall Winter Spring | ||
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Martha Henderson
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Course | JR–GRJunior - Graduate | 2, 4 | 02 04 | Day, Evening and Weekend | Su 13Summer | As the largest island in the Caribbean, with the highest percentage of environmental scientists and engineers and a long-standing commitment to policies that promote environmental protection and sustainable development, Cuba is uniquely positioned to provide leadership in enlightened environmental policy and practice in our shared ecosystem. The rationale and potential for mutual collaboration between US and Cuban environmentalists in this vital and shared ecosystem is considerable.This course will be joining for its biannual research program on environmental protection and sustainable development in Cuba, which includes an opportunity for interchange with participants in the IX International Conference on Environment and Development hosted by the . Trip dates are 7/5/13-7/14/13. Course requires separate registration in April through Eco Cuba Network; please contact Gail Wootan at wootang@evergreen.edu if interested in this course.For more information about the research program, please see . For more information on the conference in Cuba and conference schedule: Students may choose to take this course for two credits or four credits. Two credit students will be required to complete reading assignments and virtual meetings in June prior to leaving for Cuba. Two credit students are required to submit their field notebooks with a reflective essay by July 29. Four credit students are required to complete reading assignments, short paper assignment and all virtual class meeting times prior to leaving for Cuba. Upon returning from Cuba, four credit students are required to submit a 15 page paper based on field and archival work by July 29. All students are required to write a short autobiography and short essay on their trip expectations. They must also submit a resume. Students will ‘meet’ in the virtual classroom. A Moodle site will be set up for virtual class meetings.The cost of the Eco Cuba Network program, including flight from Cancun, Mexico is $2600. Students are responsible for purchasing airfare to Cancun. Students may also choose to arrive early or stay late for personal travel. If enough students are interested, a service project after 7/14/13 may be organized.NOTE: Students interested in this course must register through Eco Cuba Network separately sometime in April. Please contact Gail Wootan, Assistant Director of the Graduate Program on the Environment, at wootang@evergreen.edu if interested in this course. | Martha Henderson | Summer | Summer | ||||||
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Dylan Fischer and Alison Styring
Signature Required:
Spring
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Program | JR–SRJunior - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | S 13Spring | This program will focus on intensive group and individual field research on current topics in ecological science. These topics will include forest structure, ecosystem ecology, effects of forest management, ecological restoration, riparian ecology, fire history, bird abundance and monitoring, insect-plant interactions, and disturbance ecology. Students will be expected to intensively use the primary literature and student-driven field research to address observations about ecological composition, structure and function. Multiple independent and group research projects will form the core of our work in local forests of the south Puget lowlands, national forests, national parks, state forests and other relevant natural settings. Students are expected to "hit the ground running" and should develop research projects for the entire quarter within the first several weeks of the program.Through a series of short, intensive field exercises, students will hone their skills in observation, developing testable hypotheses, and designing ways to test those hypotheses. We will also explore field techniques and approaches in ecology, and especially approaches related to measuring plant and avian biodiversity. Students will have the option to participate in field trips to sites in the Pacific Northwest and the Southwest (U.S.). Research projects will be formally presented by groups and individuals at the end of the quarter. Finally, student research manuscripts will be created throughout the quarter utilizing a series of intensive multi-day paper-writing workshops. We will emphasize identification of original field research problems in forest habitats, experimentation, data analyses, oral presentation of findings, and writing in scientific journal format. | Dylan Fischer Alison Styring | Junior JR Senior SR | Spring | Spring | |||||
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Donald Morisato and Martha Rosemeyer
Signature Required:
Winter Spring
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 12 Fall | W 13Winter | S 13Spring | What should we eat? What is the link between diet and health? How do we define "organic" and "local" food? How are our agricultural practices linked to issues of sustainability?This program will take a primarily scientific approach to food and cooking. The topics will span a broad range of scale, from ecological agriculture to molecular structure, including sustainable production, the coevolution of humans and food, the connection between food and medicine, as well as the transformation of food through the processes of cooking and fermentation. Throughout history, food and cooking have not only been essential for human sustenance, but have played a central role in the economic and cultural life of civilizations. This interdisciplinary exploration of food will take a broad ecological systems approach as it examines the biology and chemistry of food, while also incorporating political, historical and anthropological perspectives.Students will directly apply major concepts learned in lectures to experiments in the laboratory and kitchen. Field trips will provide opportunities for observing food production and processing in the local community. Program themes will be reinforced in problem-solving workshop sessions and seminar discussions focused on topics addressed by such authors as Michael Pollan, Harold McGee, Gary Paul Nabhan, Sidney Mintz and Sandor Katz.In fall quarter, we will introduce the concept of food systems, and analyze conventional and sustainable agricultural practices. We will examine the botany of vegetables, fruits, seed grains and legumes that constitute most of the global food supply. In parallel, we will study the genetic principles of plant and animal breeding, and the role of evolution in the selection of plant and animal species used as food by different human populations. We will consider concepts in molecular biology that will allow us to understand and assess genetically modified crops.In winter quarter, we shift our attention to cooking and nutrition. We will explore the biochemistry of food, beginning with basic chemical concepts, before moving on to the structure of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. We will study meat, milk, eggs, vegetables and cereal doughs, and examine what happens at a biochemical level during the process of cooking and baking. We will explore how our bodies digest and recover nutrients, and consider the physiological roles of vitamins and antioxidants, as well as the complex relationship between diet, disease and genetics. Finally, we will study the physiology of taste and smell, critical for the appreciation of food.In spring quarter, we will examine the relationship between food and microbes, from several different perspectives. We will produce specific fermented foods, while studying the underlying biochemical reactions. We will also consider topics in microbiology as they relate to food safety and food preservation, and focus on specific interactions between particular microbes and the human immune system. | Donald Morisato Martha Rosemeyer | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | Fall Winter Spring | |||
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Noelle Machnicki and Lalita Calabria
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Program | JR–SRJunior - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 12 Fall | W 13Winter | Fungi. What are they? Where are they and what roles do they play in terrestrial ecosystems? How do they get their energy? How do they grow? What do they taste like? How do they interact with other organisms? During this two-quarter long program we will answer these and other questions about fungi. Fall quarter will cover the fundamentals of fungal and lichen biology, fungal and lichen diversity, physiology, and systematics. Students will learn to describe and identify fungi and lichens using chemical and microscopic techniques, along with a wide variety of taxonomic keys. Students will participate in a quarter-long project to curate their own collections of herbarium-quality lichen and mushroom specimens. Several multi-day field trips and day trips will provide students with an opportunity for collecting specimens and studying the natural history of western Washington. During winter quarter, we will explore fungi and lichens through the lens of forest ecology. Forest ecosystems rest on a foundation of fungi, and students will learn about the pivotal roles fungi and lichen play as mutualists to plants and animals, as nutrient cyclers, disease-causing agents, and indicators of environmental quality. Lab work will focus on advanced methods and examining taxonomically-challenging groups of lichens and fungi. Students will also learn about museum curation by organizing and accessioning the class lichen and mushroom collection for submission into the Evergreen herbarium. Students will engage in a two-quarter-long group research project relating to fungi. Research topics may include ecology or taxonomy-focused lab and field studies, cultivation or herbarium research. During fall quarter, students will participate in research and writing seminars and quantitative skills workshops to inform their research. Each group will prepare a concise research proposal including a thorough literature review and a pilot study exploring the most appropriate data collection and analysis methods for answering their research questions. During winter quarter, students will conduct research experiments in the field and/or lab, analyze their data and write a research paper outlining their results. | Noelle Machnicki Lalita Calabria | Mon Mon Tue Thu Thu | Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | Fall | |||
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Laurance Geri and Peter Dorman
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 12 Fall | W 13Winter | In this program we will explore the interconnections between global finance, energy systems, and climate change. We will seek to understand the causes of the 2008 financial collapse, the complexity of energy systems and their relationship to changes in the climate, and the range of actions that would stabilize the national and global economies and reduce the risks associated with a warmer planet.The program will include an introduction to micro and macro economics, the study of energy systems, and the science of climate change. We will consider how international organizations influence national and global policies in the financial, energy and environmental spheres. Using these frameworks we will study the linkages between these phenomena and the actions we can take to speed the global energy transition and create a more stable and just international system.Program activities will include lectures, workshops, guest speakers, seminars on books and papers, films and possibly field trips. Credit may be awarded in micro and macro economics, international political economy, energy policy, and energy and climate change. | Laurance Geri Peter Dorman | Mon Wed Thu | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | Fall Winter | |||
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Karen Hogan and Emily Lardner
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 12 | 12 | Evening and Weekend | W 13Winter | S 13Spring | Humans have always been interested in plants and our lives are interwoven with plants in myriad ways. This program is intended for students with an interest in plants, including students who are starting to notice plants for the first time. Through a mix of readings, workshops, field trips, and projects, we will investigate three major questions: • • • The overarching goal for this two quarter program is to help students develop their capacities as civic botanists. Winter quarter will focus primarily on developing an understanding of plant biology and ecology, and exploring several approaches to writing about nature in general and plants in particular. Spring quarter will focus on "civic botany"–the role plants play within human communities. We will focus particularly on urban agriculture, stormwater management, and the role of parks and open spaces. Students will keep field journals, assist with community agriculture projects, and develop a practice of writing that supports effective civic engagement. | Karen Hogan Emily Lardner | Mon Wed Sat | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Winter | Winter Spring | |||
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Jennifer Calkins
Signature Required:
Spring
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Contract | JR–SRJunior - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day, Evening and Weekend | S 13Spring | This individual study opportunity will facilitate independent student molecular genomic lab and evolutionary ecological field work with animal species. Students may also have the opportunity to integrate creative writing and multimedia work into their studies. With faculty guidance, students will engage in integrative projects investigating the evolution of focal taxa by incorporating methods such as sequencing, bioinformatic analysis, niche analysis and vertebrate field ecology. All participants will also work as a cohesive lab group, meeting regularly to share and trouble-shoot projects and read and discuss research papers. They will also have the opportunity to interact with faculty, students and postdocs from other colleges such as the UW and Occidental College in Los Angeles. | Jennifer Calkins | Junior JR Senior SR | Spring | Spring | |||||
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Erik Thuesen
Signature Required:
Spring
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Contract | SO–SRSophomore - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | S 13Spring | This is an opportunity for advanced students to create their own course of study and research in environmental studies. Prior to the beginning of spring quarter, interested individual students or small groups of students must consult with the faculty sponsor about their proposed projects. The faculty sponsor will support students to carry out studies in environmental fieldwork, ecology, zoology and marine science. Students wishing to conduct laboratory-based projects or carry out extensive fieldwork should have the appropriate skills needed to complete the project. | Erik Thuesen | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Spring | Spring | |||||
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Jennifer Calkins
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Program | JR–SRJunior - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | W 13Winter | Ecology, evolutionary biology | Jennifer Calkins | Mon Tue Thu | Junior JR Senior SR | Winter | Winter | ||||
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Peter Impara
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Program | SO–SRSophomore - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | S 13Spring | At what scale should we manage or study an ecosystem or landscape? What is a natural landscape, and how do (or can) we manage it? Geographers and ecologists have pondered the question of scale in ecosystems, and how to apply scale issues to conservation and research. Many ecosystem and related studies have been conducted at fine spatial scales, yet many of the problems and issues of resource management and conservation are best approached at broader, landscape-level spatial scales. This program will investigate broader scale approaches to on-going conservation and management activities in important ecosystems and approaches of scientists regarding the issues of scale and the ecological patterns and processes used to define "natural systems."Scale, landscape analysis and pattern-process interactions will be addressed using computer labs in GIS and spatial analysis. Students will learn about landscape ecology concepts through lectures, field trips to nearby natural areas to observe pattern-process interactions, and through the design and implementation of a landscape ecology research project. Through class and field work students will learn about important ecological principles such as disturbance regimes, biotic diversity and species flow, nutrient and energy flows, and landscape change over time. Seminar readings will tie landscape ecology principles to on-going ecosystem management activities.Students will develop skills in ecological pattern and spatial analysis, natural history and field interpretation, and the generation of multiple research hypotheses and methods to address those hypotheses. | Peter Impara | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Spring | Spring | |||||
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Alison Styring and Dina Roberts
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 12 Fall | Birds are the most diverse vertebrates found on the earth. We will explore the causes of this incredible diversity through a well-rounded investigation of general bird biology, the evolution of flight (and its implications), and the complex ecological interactions of birds with their environments. This program has considerable field and lab components and students will be expected to develop strong bird identification skills, including Latin names, and extensive knowledge of avian anatomy and physiology. We will learn a variety of field and analytical techniques currently used in bird monitoring and research. We will take several day trips to field sites in the Puget Sound region throughout the quarter to hone our bird-watching skills and practice field-monitoring techniques. Students will keep field journals documenting their skill development in species identification and proficiency in a variety of field methodologies. Learning will also be assessed through exams, quizzes, field assignments, group work and participation. | Alison Styring Dina Roberts | Tue Wed Thu Fri | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | Fall | ||||
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David Muehleisen, Melissa Barker and Stephen Bramwell
Signature Required:
Fall
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Program | SO–SRSophomore - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 12 Fall | What does it take to start up and run a small-scale agricultural business? Do you know how to grow organic food? Are you interested in contributing to the success of the campus Organic Farm? Join us on the farm for hard work and a wide-ranging examination of these and other questions.In this three-quarter program which begins spring quarter, we will integrate the theoretical and practical aspects of organic small-scale direct market farming in the Pacific Northwest by working on the Evergreen Organic Farm through an entire growing season (spring, summer and fall quarters). All students will work on the farm a minimum of 20 hours per week. The program is rigorous both physically and academically and requires a willingness to work outside in adverse weather on a schedule determined by the needs of crops and animals.Our exploration of critical agricultural topics will occur through a curriculum that is intricately tied to what is happening in the fields as the growing season progresses. The major focus of the program will be developing the knowledge and skills needed to start up and operate a small-scale agricultural operation based on a sound understanding of the underlying science and business principles. At the same time, hands-on farm work will provide the context for developing applied biology, chemistry and math skills.Each quarter, we will cover a variety of seasonally appropriate topics needed to operate a sustainable farm business. In spring, we will focus on soil science and nutrient management, annual and perennial plant propagation, greenhouse management, crop botany, composting, vermiculture and market planning. In summer our focus will be on entomology and pest management, plant pathology, weed biology and management, water management and irrigation system design, animal husbandry, maximizing market and value-added opportunities and regulatory issues. Fall quarter's focus will be on season extension techniques, production and business planning, the use and management of green and animal manures, cover crops, and crop storage techniques and physiology.Additional topics will include record keeping for organic production systems, alternative crop production systems, apiculture, aquaponics, urban agriculture, small-scale grain-raising, mushroom cultivation, and techniques for adding value to farm and garden products. Students will learn how to use and maintain farm equipment, ranging from hand tools to tractors and implements. Students will have the opportunity to develop their personal agricultural interests through research projects. Topics will be explored through on-farm workshops, seminars, lectures, laboratory exercises, farm management groups, guest lectures, field experimentation and field trips to regional agricultural operations. Books typically used in the program include by Gershuny, by Mohler and Johnson (eds.), by Wiswall, by Ekarius, by Altieri, and by Coleman. If you are a student with a disability and would like to request accommodations for this course/program, please contact the instructor or the office of Access Services prior to the start of the quarter. Access Services, Library Bldg. Rm. 2153. Contact Program Coordinator Steve Schmidt, PH: 360.867.6348; TTY 360.867.6834; E-mail: schmidts@evergreen.edu. If you require accessible transportation for field trips, please contact the instructor well in advance of the field trip dates to allow time to arrange this.Students planning to take this program who are receiving financial aid should contact financial aid early in fall quarter 2011 to develop a financial aid plan that includes summer quarter 2012. | David Muehleisen Melissa Barker Stephen Bramwell | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | Fall | |||||
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David Muehleisen and Stephen Bramwell
Signature Required:
Spring
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Program | SO–SRSophomore - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | S 13Spring | Do you want produce food for yourself, your family and other families in your community? What does it take to grow food and feed yourself and others every day throughout the year? This three-quarter program (spring, summer and fall quarters) will investigate how food production systems operate with our primary focus on small-scale organic production. We will concentrate on the scientific knowledge, critical thinking and observation skills, management and business tools, and practical hands on training needed to successfully grow food and fiber in a sustainable way. We will explore the details of sustainable food production systems and evaluate them through the three pillars of sustainability—economic, environmental and social justice.We will be studying and working on the Evergreen Organic Farm through an entire growing season, seed propagation to harvest. The farm includes a small-scale direct market stand and CSA as well as a variety of other demonstration areas. All students will work on the farm every week as part of the practicum. The program is rigorous both physically and academically and requires a willingness to work outside in adverse weather on a schedule determined by the needs of crops and animals raised on the farm.During spring quarter, we will focus on soil science, nutrient management, and crop botany. Additional topics will include introduction to animal husbandry, annual and perennial plant propagation, season extension, and the principles and practice of composting. In summer, the main topics will be disease and pest management, which includes entomology plant pathology, weed biology. In addition, water management, irrigation system design, maximizing market and value-added opportunities and regulatory issues will also be covered. Fall quarter's focus will be on production and business planning, cover crops, and crop storage techniques and physiology. Students will develop and present a detailed farm and business plan, which will integrate all the topics covered in the program into a culminating project to allow students to demonstrate their learning and creativity.Additional topics will include record keeping for organic production systems, alternative crop production systems, and techniques for adding value to farm and garden products. Students will learn about hand tool use and maintenance, farm equipment safety, and types of field operations. Topics will be explored through on-farm workshops, seminars, lectures, laboratory exercises, farm management groups, guest lectures, field experimentation and field trips to regional agricultural operations. Books to be used in the program include by Theriault and Brisebois, by Huelsman, by Smit, 3 ed by Magdoff and van Es, , by Damerow, by Costenbader, by The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture. If you are a student with a disability and would like to request accommodations, please contact the faculty or the office of Access Services prior to the start of the quarter. Access Services, Library Bldg. Rm. 2153. Contact Program Coordinator Steve Schmidt, PH: 360.867.6348; TTY 360.867.6834; E-mail: . If you require accessible transportation for field trips, please contact the instructor well in advance of the field trip dates to allow time to arrange this. Students planning to take this program who are receiving financial aid should contact financial aid early in fall quarter 2012 to develop a financial aid plan that includes summer quarter 2013. | David Muehleisen Stephen Bramwell | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Spring | Spring | |||||
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Stephen Bramwell and David Muehleisen
Signature Required:
Summer
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Program | SO–SRSophomore - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | Su 13Summer Full | This is a spring, summer, fall program and is open only to students continuing from the spring. For the full program description, see . | Stephen Bramwell David Muehleisen | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Summer | Summer | |||||
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Karen Hogan
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 12 | 12 | Evening and Weekend | F 12 Fall | This program is an introduction to some of the central concepts in evolutionary theory. We’ll read works by and about Darwin and some of his contemporaries and learn about the scientific and cultural context of Darwin’s work. Darwin's work provided the foundations for evolutionary biology and ecology by developing the concept that ecological interactions can be best understood by looking at how adaptations of the organism (form, physiology, behavior) interact with its environment (physical conditions, competition, predation, etc.) to influence the organism's evolutionary fitness (reproductive success).We'll study the importance of sex in evolutionary biology. Why is sexual reproduction virtually ubiquitous in biology even though, in sexually reproducing organisms, only half of the individuals (females) produce offspring and the offspring only carry half of the genetic information from each parent? Why do few strictly asexual organisms exist? We will read works on the natural history of reproduction in animals and plants as we study evolutionary theory, genetics, and ecology.Students will be expected to approach the topics with rigor from a scientific perspective. Some upper division credit may be awarded for upper division work by arrangement with the faculty at the beginning of the quarter and ongoing communication with the faculty throughout the quarter. | environmental sciences, ecology, and evolutionary biology. | Karen Hogan | Mon Wed Sat | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | Fall | |||
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Steven G. Herman
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 8 | 08 | Day, Evening and Weekend | Su 13Summer Session II | Summer Ornithology is a three week bird-banding course taught entirely in the field. We leave campus on the first day, travel through some of the best birding country in Oregon, then over the next few days find and set up camp in a place where we can net, process, and band a sufficient number of birds to provide all students with appropriate experience. We spend the next two weeks netting, processing, banding, and releasing several hundred birds of about 25 species. We focus on aspects of banding protocol, including net placement, removing birds from nets, identification, sexing, ageing, and record-keeping. We balance the in-hand work with field identification and behavioral observations, and during the last week we tour Steens Mountain and the Malheur area. This course has been taught for over 30 years, and more than 24,000 birds have been banded during that time. Lower or upper-division credit is awarded depending of the level of academic achievement demonstrated. A photo essay on this program is available through and a slide show is available through . | Steven G. Herman | Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Summer | Summer | ||||
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Matthew Smith and Dylan Fischer
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 12 Fall | W 13Winter | “There are two ways to die in the desert, too much water and not enough.” In this two-quarter program, we will focus an interdisciplinary lens on the myriad ways we survive when water is scarce and when water is overwhelmingly present.Life and growth in the west has always been limited by availability of water. Human interactions with rivers, lakes, rainfall, snow pack, and ground water resources have been central themes of the western experience. Ownership of water and apportioning its use has been a constant dilemma and struggle among myriad users and claimants, human and natural. Climate change threatens different patterns of precipitation and more rapid evaporation. This will intensify these dilemmas and calls for new physical and policy responses, along with new adaptations and efficiencies in water use.Water has limited the spread of organisms in the American West for millions of years. We will examine how organisms have adapted to water scarcity in diverse and interesting ways. Understanding biological adaptations to water abundance and scarcity requires an understanding of general ecology that may provide analogies for solutions to the current water crises humans face in an era of climate change. Just as humans deal with what climate change means for the future of water availability, ecosystems have been adapting to changing water availability since the dawn of terrestrial life forms.This program will first explore what it’s like to live with water scarcity (in the fall), and then what it’s like to live in the presence of overabundance of water (in the winter). We will contrast wet and dry landscapes in the American west using water as a central theme. We will use a combination of modern environmental literature, classic environmental nonfiction, field trips, hands-on experiences, guest speakers and seminars to help us delve deep into the central theme of this program. | Matthew Smith Dylan Fischer | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | Fall Winter |
