Spring 2023 - EVSC 320 D100

Watershed Ecology (4)

Class Number: 6273

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 4 – Apr 11, 2023: Thu, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 14, 2023
    Fri, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    EVSC 100 or permission of the instructor and one of the following: BISC 204, REM 211, or GEOG 215.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Watersheds are fundamental organizational units on the landscape for physical processes, biological communities, and management. They also deliver many services that humans rely on. This course is intended to introduce students to landscape-scale thinking and spatial ecology, and teaches physical and biological approaches in watershed science. Students who have taken EVSC 395 under the title "Watershed Ecology" in Spring 2021 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

 Course Description: Watersheds are fundamental organizational units on the landscape for physical processes, biological communities, and management. They also deliver many services that humans rely on. This course is intended to introduce students to landscape-scale thinking and spatial ecology, and teaches physical and biological approaches in watershed science.

Prerequisites: EVSC 100, Intro to Environmental Science, or permission of the instructor, plus one of the following: BISC 204, Intro to Ecology; REM 211, Intro to Applied Ecology; GEOG 215, The Biosphere.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Identify and explain the physical structure of watersheds and riverine networks, and the processes that create them.
  • Identify links between terrestrial and aquatic components of watersheds, and explain how these links have contributed to the development of watershed and freshwater ecology theories.
  • Explain how biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem functions vary across the spatial structure of watersheds, from headwaters to outlets.
  • Explain how human modification to aquatic and terrestrial components of watersheds affects their functioning and ability to deliver ecosystem services.
  • Recognize the diversity of priorities held by stakeholders in watersheds.
  • Gain comfort reading and extracting knowledge from scientific and academic publications.

Grading

  • Assignments 50%
  • Mid-term Exam 20%
  • Final Exam 30%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

A laptop or tablet for use in lab.

REQUIRED READING:

Readings will be selected from scientific articles and book chapters, which will be provided as PDFs; you are expected to read them before the assigned date.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html