Prerequisites: At least two semesters of biology, chemistry, geology or environmental science, and permission of instructor; 1 meeting (3 hours); 4 credits; enrollment limited to 15.
Global climate models and recent evidence show that ecosystems in the northern latitudes are extremely sensitive to climate change. This interdisciplinary science course examines boreal, subarctic and arctic ecosystems through the study of nutrient cycling, plant ecology, hydrology, soil processes, and biosphere-atmosphere interactions. Topics include fundamentals of biogeochemical cycling of major elements such as carbon and nitrogen at scales from the microscopic to global, sensitivity and feedbacks to climate change, and disturbance processes such as fire and permafrost degradation.
The course will consist of lectures and discussions, with readings from recent scientific literature. Each week students will prepare written evaluations of the readings, summarizing the main points and identifying questions for discussion. Pairs of students will take responsibility for presenting the readings and leading the discussion each class. Everyone is expected to read the assignments and participate in discussion. Mid-semester, the class will divide into small groups to debate whether the missing CO2 sink in the global carbon budget could be located in the northern latitudes. Students will also conduct an in-depth investigation of a biogeochemical topic of particular interest, resulting in a presentation and peer-reviewed research paper. Detailed outlines with preliminary bibliographies are due before spring break.
Although the course is primarily a seminar format, students will have hands-on learning experiences with stable isotope laboratory techniques, trace gas measurements, and field visits to representative northern ecosystems. There will be one three hour meeting per week.
The primary text is William Schlesinger’s Biogeochemistry, 2nd ed. 1997, with a secondary text by F.S. Chapin III et al. Principles of Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology, 2002. These will serve as excellent background on most of the topics, but the class discussions will focus on papers from the primary scientific literature.
| Write-up of weekly readings | 20% |
| Class participation | 20% |
| Leadership of class discussion | 20% |
| Research paper and presentation | 40% |
Schedule and Topics
The first part of the course will focus on fundamental mechanisms and reactions including ecosystem, climate, and atmospheric processes. The second phase will explore major biogeochemical cycles, such as water, carbon, and nitrogen, with a focus on northern latitudes. Finally, we will examine the interactions between northern ecosystem processes and climate by studying the dynamics of permafrost, fire and trace gas fluxes.
| Jan. 30 | Introduction and overview: climate change and northern ecosystems | |
| Feb. 6 | Fundamentals of biogeochemical cycling: origins, terminology Winter ecology field trip; allocation of topics |
|
| Feb. 13 | Ecosystem ecology: history, definitions, carbon cycle of terrestrial ecosystems, Vegetation and nutrient cycling in northern ecosystems | |
| Feb. 20 | Climate and atmospheric chemistry IPCC reports |
|
| Feb. 27 | Global carbon cycle and missing CO2 sink: class debate | |
| March 5 | Global nitrogen cycle and nutrient cycling Oxidation-reduction reactions: wetlands |
Research projects Peer review proposals |
| March 12 | Ocean biogeochemistry (Angela Dickens) Hydrology the arctic water cycle |
Research outlines due |
| March 19 | Spring break | |
| March 26 | Fire and landscape disturbance Permafrost and climate change |
Peer review outlines |
| April 2 | Terrestrial production/decomposition in northern ecosystems Environmental controls on ecosystem CO2 and CH4 flux (Sari Juutinen) Trace gas flux measurements: field and laboratory experience |
|
| April 9 | Stable isotopes (Beth Hooker) Laboratory analysis with Steve Dunn |
|
| April 16 | Peatland biogeochemistry and ecology Field trip to Granby Bog |
First draft paper due |
| April 23 | Ecosystem modeling Scaling leaf to globe |
Peer review first drafts |
| April 30 | Research presentations | |
[TOP]