a joint degree program between the
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES and
THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

concentration in ECOSYSTEM SCIENCE

Example Question 1:  How does one define a wetland (old growth forest; tidal marsh/estuary; desert) and why are they important?

map of New Albany Shale

Biol B364 Summer Flowering Plants
Biol L465 Advanced Field Biology
Biol L474 Field and Laboratory Ecology
Biol L579 Community Ecology
Geog G405 Hydroclimate
SPEA E400 Forest Ecology (Topics in Environmental Studies)
SPEA E440 Wetlands: Biology and Regulation
SPEA E442 Habitat Analysis-Terrestrial
SPEA E443 Habitat Analysis-Aquatic

NOTE: In most instances, it would be advisable to include at least one tool course from the list above


Amanda Porfidio "Chemical analysis of soils developed on the Henryville Member of the Devonian New Albany Shale: The effects of development time on soil chemistry." BSES Senior Thesis, 2002

ABSTRACT
(Devonian – Mississippian) New Albany black shale is an organic rich rock, abundant in pyrite sulfur and metals, such as Co, Zn, Cu, and Pb. Due to its physical and chemical nature, black shale is readily weathered by oxidation of many reduced compounds. As the shale is weathered, specifically by water, the sulfur and metals dissolve in solution as image of New Albany Shalesulfate and metal oxides. Because of their high metal concentrations, New Albany shales are potentially valuable resources, yet they release sulfur to their surrounding environment, which may have detrimental effects on local watersheds and soils. For example, run-off from tgraph of New Albany Shalehe rock and soil can possibly alter the pH of nearby lakes, resulting in eutrophication. Previous research shows that soils overlying Devonian-Mississippian oil shale outcrops are relatively shallow, acidic, and infertile (Hower et al., 1992). Because these soils are characteristically infertile, the Indiana Department of Transportation finds it more difficult to establish and maintain groundcover.

 

 



Example Question 2: How can organisms be used as indicators of environmental stress in terrestrial environments?

Biol B300 Vascular Plants
Biol L376 Biology of Birds
Biol L377 Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles
Biol L433 Tropical Biology (Costa Rica or Cayman Islands) 
Biol L465 Advanced Field Biology
Biol L472 Microbial Ecology
Biol L474 Field and Laboratory Ecology
Geog G470 Micrometeorology
Geol G415 Geomorphology
SPEA E400 Field Techniques in Ecology
SPEA E442 Habitat Analysis-Terrestrial

NOTE: In most instances, it would be advisable to include at least one tool course from the list above

Example Question 3: How can organisms be used as indicators of environmental stress in aquatic environments?

Biol Z374 Invertebrate Zoology (lecture)
Biol Z375 Invertebrate Zoology (lab)
Biol Z406 Vertebrate Zoology
Biol L474 Field and Lab Ecology
Geog G405 Hydroclimate
Geol G404 Geobiology
SPEA E443 Habitat Analysis-Aquatic
SPEA E455 Limnology
SPEA EXXX Stream Ecology

NOTE: In most instances, it would be advisable to include at least one tool course from the list above.