ENVS 168: Biogeochemistry and the Global Environment
Course Webpage: https://people.ucsc.edu/~wxcheng/envs168/
Instructor: W. Cheng; Office: 416 ISB; Email: wxcheng@ucsc.edu ; Phone: 831-457-2585 (Home)
Class meets: MWF 10:40 -11:45 am via Zoom Meetings
Office Hours: 1:00-3:00 pm Tuesdays via Zoom, and by appointment
Course Description:
This course studies biogeochemical cycles and related environmental issues such as global environmental change, eutrophication, and acid deposition. The transformation and movement of major nutrient elements are discussed in the context of watershed ecology and societal implications.
Evaluation:
Students will be evaluated by their performance on two assignments (each 15%), the midterm examination (30%), and the final examination (40%).
Required Textbooks:
William H. Schlesinger and Emily S. Bernhardt. 2013. Biogeochemistry: An Analysis of Global Change. 3rd edition, Online ebook is available at UCSC Library (click the link) or search through the "Available-online" at the UCSC Library front webpage.
Readings:
Additional readings are given to enrich class discussion and understanding. Links to some additional readings are inbedded in the following outline, and others are given as e-Journal sources which can be found by searching e-Journal databases at USCS Library.
Home Assignments:
(Text of all homework should be typed. Figures and mathematical expressions can be given as digital images in common formats.)
Homework- 1: Consider an idealized average household in the US and construct a carbon model of the household at the present time. If we set a target of attaining 50% reduction in CO2 emission from each household by the year 2070, what options shall be considered possible and reasonable? Please provide at least five options and discuss the implications of each option in terms of life style changes and global consequences. The amount of text in your report should be kept within 1,000 words (approximately 4 pages of double space, 12-point font, with one inch margins all around). You may include as many figures and tables as you want.
Web links for Carbon Footprint Calculators: US EPA: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html and The Nature Conservancy: http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/index.htm
Homework-1 is due to be received on Wednesday, October 28.
Homework- 2: An Essay on Life Cycle Assessment (or Analysis) Click here> Reading for home assignment #2: Life cycle Assessment
This homework is designed to enhance your self-learning capability. Please write a five-page essay (double spaced, 12 point font, 1.0 inch margins) about Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). You will need to use the key reference (posted on the front page of the course web page) and to go to the UCSC library web page and search for relevant articles either via online Journals (e.g., The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment) or Articles & Databases (e.g., Web of Science/Web of Knowledge) both under the RESEARCH MENU. Your essay is expected to have at least four sections: (1) introduction (general definition and description of key features of LCA); (2) a case study of using LCA for greenhouse gas emissions (provide a summary of a journal article); (3) another case study of using LCA for energy outcomes (a summary of another journal article); and (4) conclusion remarks (pros and cons of LCA). You will also need to provide a literature cited section, you should list all cited references in a scientific format. Please see the example:
Sajid, Z; Khan, F; Zhang, Y 2016. Process simulation and life cycle analysis of biodiesel production. Renewable Energy 85 (Volume): 945-952 (pages) DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2015.07.046.
Homework-2 is due to be received on Wednesday, November 25.
Principles of Community, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Academic Integrity:
As members of the University of California, Santa Cruz, we are committed to promoting and protecting an environment that values and supports every person in an atmosphere of civility, honesty, cooperation, professionalism and fairness. We embrace diversity in all its forms and we strive for an inclusive community that fosters an open, enlightened and productive environment. We believe free exchange of ideas requires mutual respect and consideration for our differences. We are a participatory community united by shared commitments to service to society; preservation and advancement of knowledge; and innovative teaching and learning. We promote mutual respect, trust and support to foster bonds that strengthen the community. We are committed to due process, respect for individual dignity and equitable access to resources, recognition and rewards. We seek to advance common goals through reasonable and realistic practices, procedures and expectations. We celebrate the heritage, achievements and diversity of the community and the uniqueness and contributions of our members. (The statements above are mostly excerpts from the webpage: UCSC Principles of Community. Please click on the link to read more.)
As the instructor of this course, I accept the responsibility to pursue these principles in an atmosphere of personal and intellectual freedom, security, respect, civility and mutual support. I welcome and value helps, suggestions, expressions of opinion from every member involved in the learning process and the academic space. I explicitly acknowledge that the space of remote instruction (e. g., Zoom meetings, webpages, and all forms of electronic information used and referenced in the learning process) is considered part of UCSC, and therefore part of our teaching and learning community. I also want to be totally clear that all work that you hand in has to be your own original work. Cheating and academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated (please see this Academic Integrity webpage).
Schedule and Course Outline:
1. October 2, Friday: Course introduction, highlights
Readings: Course syllabus
2. October 5, Monday: Introduction to Biogeochemistry
Readings:
(2) Schlesinger & Bernhardt, Biogeochemistry: Chapter 1
(3) Schlesinger, W.H. 2004. Better living through biogeochemistry, Ecology, 85(9): 2402-2407. (E-journal)
3. October 7, Wednesday: The lithosphere-I
4. October 9, Friday: The lithosphere-II
Readings (for Lithosphere-I & -II):
(4) Schlesinger & Bernhardt, Biogeochemistry: Chapter 4
(5) Anderson S. Proposed Initiative Would Study Earth’s Weathering Engine EOS,Vol. 85, No. 28, 13 July 2004. (PDF)
(6) Vitousek P. et al. Soils, Agriculture, and Society in Precontact Hawaii. Science 304 (11 JUNE 2004): 1665-1669. (E-journal)
5. October 12, Monday: A primer of quantitative reasoning—PROCESS MATTERS
Readings:
(7) John Harte 1988. Consider a Spherical Cow, Chapter 2. (PDFs: Part 1, Part 2, & Part 3)
6. October 14, Wednesday: The atmosphere-I
7. October 16, Friday: The atmosphere-II
Readings (for Atmosphere-I & II):
(8) Schlesinger & Bernhardt, Biogeochemistry: Chapter 3
(9) Menon S. Hansen J. Nazarnko L. Luo Y. 2002. Climate Effects of Black Carbon Aerosols in China and India. Science, 297(27 September 2002): 2250-2253. (E-journal)
8. October 19, Monday: Primary production and respiration on land
Readings:
(10) Schlesinger & Bernhardt, Biogeochemistry: Chapter 5
(11) Ryan MG. 2004 An experimental test of the causes of forest growth decline with stand age. Ecological Monographs, 74(3): 393-414 (E-journal)
9. October 21, Wednesday: Terrestrial nutrient cycling-I
Readings:
(12) Schlesinger & Bernhardt, Biogeochemistry: Chapter 5, 6
(13) Vitousek, P.M. and Farrington, H. 1997. Nutrient limitation and soil development: Experimental test of a biogeochemical theory. Biogeochemistry 37: 63–75 (E-journal)
(14) Likens, G. E. 2004. Some perspectives on long-term biogeochemical research from the Hubbard Brook ecosystem study. Ecology, 85(9): 2355-2362. (E-Journal).
10. October 23, Friday: Terrestrial nutrient cycling –II
Readings:
(15) Schlesinger & Bernhardt, Biogeochemistry: Chapter 6
(16) Johnson et al. 2004. Effect of elevated CO2 on nutrient cycling in a sweetgum plantation. Biogeochemistry 69:379-403. (E-journal)
(17) Schimel, J.P. and Bennett, J. 2004. Nitrogen mineralization: challenges of a changing paradigm. Ecology 85(3): 591–602. (E-journal)
11. October 26, Monday: Nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems-I: Fresh water
Readings:
(18) Schlesinger & Bernhardt, Biogeochemistry: Chapter 7, 8.
(19) Issues in Ecology Number 3, Nonpoint pollution of surface waters with phosphorus and nitrogen. (PDF)
12. October 28, Wednesday: Nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems-II: The oceans
Readings:
(20) Schlesinger & Bernhardt, Biogeochemistry: Chapter 9
(21) Coale, KH. et al. Southern Ocean Iron Enrichment Experiment: Carbon Cycling in High- and Low-Si Waters. Science, 304(16 APRIL 2004): 408-414 (E-journal)
13. October 30, Friday: Midterm Examination
(Take-it-at-home with "open-book" but the duration is limited to 65 minutes total)
14. November 2, Monday: The global water cycle
Readings:
(22) Schlesinger & Bernhardt, Biogeochemistry: Chapter 10.
(23) Vörösmarty et al. 2004. Humans transforming the global water system. EOS, Vol. 85, No.48, November 30. (PDF)
15. November 4, Wednesday: The global carbon cycle
Readings:
(24) Schlesinger & Bernhardt, Biogeochemistry: Chapter 11
(25) M. Battle, M. L. Bender, P. P. Tans, J. W. C. White, J. T. Ellis, T. Conway, R. J. Francey. Global Carbon Sinks and Their Variability Inferred from Atmospheric O2 and δ13C. Science, Vol 287 (31 March 2000): 2467-2470 (E-journal)
16. November 6, Friday: The global nitrogen cycle
Readings:
(26) Schlesinger & Bernhardt, Biogeochemistry: Chapter 12
(27) M.A. Walvoord, F. M. Phillips, D. A. Stonestrom, R. D. Evans, P. C. Hartsough, B. D. Newman, R. G. Striegl. 2004. A Reservoir of Nitrate Beneath Desert Soils. Science Vol 302(7 November 2003): 1021-1024. (E-journal)
(28) R. B. Jackson, S. T. Berthrong, C. W. Cook, E. G. Jobbagy, R. L. McCulley. 2004. Comment on “A Reservoir of Nitrate Beneath Desert Soils” Science, Vol 304 (2 April 2004): 51b. (E-journal)
17. November 9, Monday: The global phosphorus cycle
Readings:
(29) Schlesinger & Bernhardt, Biogeochemistry: Chapter 12
(30) Sundareshwar, P. V., J. T. Morris, E. K. Koepfler, and B. Fornwalt. 2003. Phosphorus Limitation of Coastal Ecosystem Processes. Science 299:563-565. (E-journal)
18. November 11, Wednesday: Veterans Day, No class
19. November 13, Friday: The global sulfur cycle
Readings:
(31) Schlesinger & Bernhardt, Biogeochemistry: Chapter 13
(32) Turchyn, A. V., and D. P. Schrag. 2004. Oxygen Isotope Constraints on the Sulfur Cycle over the Past 10 Million Years. Science 303:2004-2007. (E-journal)
20. November 16, Monday: The global cycles of trace metals
Readings:
(33) Jacobson et al. 2000. Earth System Science, Chapter 15 (PDF-Chapter15)
(34) Lindberg, S. E., S. Brooks, C. J. Lin, K. J. Scott, M. S. Landis, R. K. Stevens, M. Goodsite, and A. Richter. 2002. Dynamic oxidation of gaseous mercury in the Arctic troposphere at polar sunrise. Environmental Science & Technology 36:1245-1256. (E-journal)
21. November 18, Wednesday: Research Seminar--Do you know how plant roots control soil carbon cycling?
Readings: A short vidoe to be posted on Canvas; and two reprints of research articles also on Canvas
22. November 20, Friday: Who is controlling the Biosphere? Nature or Humans?
Readings:
(35) Vitousek, P. M. et al. 1997. Human Domination of Earth's Ecosystems, Science, 25 July, 277:494-499 (E-journal)
(36) Tragedy of the Commons? Science, 302: 1861-1917. (E-journal)
23. November 23, Monday: Global environmental change-I: issues of concern
Readings:
(37) Climate Change 2014: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Synthesis Report: Summary for Policymakers (PDF).
(38) Climate Change 2014: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Synthesis Report (The long one) (PDF)
(39) Vitousek, P. M. 1994. Beyond Global Warming - Ecology and Global Change. Ecology 75:1861-1876 (E-journal) (PDF)
24. November 25, Wednesday: Global environmental change-II: carbon sequestration
Readings:
(40) Buesseler, K. O., J. E. Andrews, S. M. Pike, and M. A. Charette. 2004. The effects of iron fertilization on carbon sequestration in the Southern Ocean. Science 304:414-417. (E-journal).
(41) Dumanski, J. 2004. Carbon sequestration, soil conservation, and the kyoto protocol: Summary of implications. Climatic Change 65:255-261 (E-journal)
(42) Richards, K. R., and C. Stokes. 2004. A review of forest carbon sequestration cost studies: A dozen years of research. Climatic Change 63:1-48 (E-jourmal).
(43) Schlesinger, W. H. 1999. Carbon and Agriculture: Carbon Sequestration in Soils. Science 284:2095- (E-journal).
(44) Izaurralde, R. C. e. s., W. B. McGill, N. J. Rosenberg, and W. H. Schlesinger. 2000. Carbon Cost of Applying Nitrogen Fertilizer. Science 288:809c- (E-journal)
(45) Smith, P., D. S. Powlson, and W. H. Schlesinger. 2000. Considering Manure and Carbon Sequestration. Science 287:427e- (E-journal)
November 26-27, Thursday and Friday, Thanksgiving Holidays, No class.
25. November 30, Monday: Acid deposition
Readings:
(46) Underwood, L. 2001. Case Studies in Environmental Science, Unit 9, pages 286-311. (PDFs: Part 1 and Part 2).
26 December 2, Wednesday: Algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico
Readings:
(47) Rabalais, N. N., R. E. Turner, Q. Dortch, D. Justic, V. J. Bierman, and W. J. Wiseman. 2002. Nutrient-enhanced productivity in the northern Gulf of Mexico: past, present and future [Review]. Hydrobiologia 475:39-63 (E-journal)
(48) Rabalais, N. N., R. E. Turner, and D. Scavia. 2002. Beyond science into policy: Gulf of Mexico hypoxia and the Mississippi River. Bioscience 52:129-142 (E-journal)
(49) Turner, R. E., and N. N. Rabalais. 2003. Linking landscape and water quality in the Mississippi river basin for 200 years. Bioscience 53:563-572 (E-journal)
27. December 4, Friday: The Everglades
Readings:
(50) Noe, G. B., D. L. Childers, and R. D. Jones. 2001. Phosphorus biogeochemistry and the impact of phosphorus enrichment: Why is the everglades so unique? [Review]. Ecosystems 4:603-624 (E-journal)
(51) Smith, E. P., and P. V. McCormick. 2001. Long-term relationship between phosphorus inputs and wetland phosphorus concentrations in a northern everglades marsh. Environmental Monitoring & Assessment 68:153-176 (E-journal)
28. December 7, Monday: A peek into the future
Readings:
(52) State of the Planet, Special Issues in SCIENCE, November 14 through December 5 of 2003 (E-journal)
(53) Tragedy of the Commons? A Special Issue in SCIENCE, December 12, 2003 (E-journal)
29. December 9, Wednesday: Synthesis and discussion
30. December 11, Friday, Final exam preparation and summary
Final Examination: Friday, December 18, 8:00–11:00 a.m.
Online Resources:
UCSC Library: http://library.ucsc.edu/
Ecological Society of America: http://www.esa.org/esa/science/issues
The US Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) Network: http://lternet.edu/
Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study: http://www.hubbardbrook.org/
Coweeta LTER Site: http://coweeta.ecology.uga.edu/
HJ Andrews Experimental Forest LTER: http://www.fsl.orst.edu/lter/
USGS WaterWatch: http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): http://www.ipcc.ch/