Global Change and Ecosystems

Catalog description

Ecosystems across the planet are facing unprecedented pressures and changes as society seeks to support continued population growth and increasing standards of living. The course provides students with a general understanding of global change, ecosystems, and linkages among them. This course: 1) Surveys the diversity of Earth's ecosystems, considering life on land and water and linkages among terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. 2) Explores human drivers of global change, including climate, land use, and pollution. 3) Presents major environmental issues confronting humanity and the natural world. 4) Considers ecosystem and societal responses to climate change. 5) Considers options for mitigating and adapting to climate change in ecosystems, toward sustainability. 6) Develops critical thinking skills, considering the many relationships between society and natural systems.