Dept of Biology, Lewis and Clark College		Dr Kenneth Clifton
	Biology 141 Lecture Outline

Course Summation

 

First off, a very quick overview of what we've done in this course

This course has examined the relationship between organisms and their environment

A few key points related to thinking about this relationship.

Ecological pattern emerges from how organisms respond to their environment

Ecologists seek to understand the mechanisms that promote and maintain this pattern

First, a recognition that a combination of abiotic and biotic features define the environment

Second, natural selection acting on individuals and associated patterns of evolution are fundamental aspects of an individual's relationship to the environment. Consequences include:

Adaptations seen in physiology, morphology, behavior

Population level patterns (births, deaths, movements) are driven by individual behaviors

Population level patterns contribute to community and ecosystem pattern.

Perhaps more than anything else, an awareness of the interconnectedness of many of these ideas and the potentially challenging complexity of the nature of these connections is the most important thing to take from this class.

 

What else should you take from this class?

As an LC student: deciding about possible majors

future Biology and ENVS majors typically represent about half the enrollment in Bio 141

The biology major

After the core (Bio 141, 151, and 200), it generally provides for a chance to obtain reasonable depth in a particular area of study (e.g., molecular and cell biology, developmental biology, physiology, evolution, behavior, ecology, etc).

Good background if interested in scientific research (possibly indoors, but especially outdoors), teaching, or working in a field (conservation law, policy, administration of conservation programs) that requires being well-versed in biology and the scientific method.

Maybe you've learned that ecology is not all that interesting to you. Remember that the realm of biology ranges from molecules to ecosystems, and Bio 141 focusses on one end of that spectrum.

The ENVS major

Broader scope.... even with an emphasis on biology there are aspects of social science and the humanities to consider with any environmental issue.

Such breadth demands that you must focus on an area of study to obtain depth (e.g., conservation biology, economics, international affairs, etc).

This breadth allows preparation for many fields particularly if additional graduate work or work experience are obtained (although graduate programs in ENVS continue to grow).

Remember, ecology is a part of every environmental issue

 

Other possibilities:

Major in ENVS or some other field and take bio courses as electives (pay attention to prerequisites).

 

If your passion lies in some other field are there are still lessons to take from this class?

 

Any person interested in understanding and solving environmental problems has an obligation:

 

To become as well-informed as possible about environmental issues (from all angles).

How?

Television and the Internet: lots of information, but much of it is driven by advertising and lacks verification

Newspapers are better, esp. specialized ones that focus on the environment (e.g. High Country News), although periodicals can also have editorial biases.

Newsweeklies, magazines specializing in environmental reporting (e.g., environmental sections of Mother Jones, and The Utne Reader) can provide in depth analysis of some issues.

Scholarly journals (great source for original data, but harder to digest).

Books (they can be especially synthetic for ideas, but become out of date fairly quickly).

To make personal choices that decrease our own impact on the environment.

Seek out alternatives to single-occupancy driving

Recycle as much as possible, purchasing recycled products, demanding minimal packaging, especially with plastics

Consume less energy: reduce heat, showers, lights, etc.

Don't succumb to the allure of advertising.

Positive action: volunteering time and/or donating money to an organization whose principles you support

To educate the people around us

Have informed discussions based on evidence, not emotion

Be an example

To participate in our democratic political process and choose our government representatives wisely, and to keep them informed of our views

Find out about the voting records of candidates on environmental issues: League of Conservation Voters

Know who represents you and write/e-mail them with your thoughts on environmental issues

House of Representatives

Senate