EST/EFB 220 Urban Ecology Course Calendar, Autumn 2008

Week

Date

Lecture

Reading

Wednesday Lab

1

8/31

The  Ecology of Cities: A Systems Perspective using Urban Metabolism

 

Douglas, chpts. 1, 2

 

SYSTEM INPUTS: WATER: Tracing hydrological runoff paths in the urban environment, considering its impact

9/4

Cont….

2

9/7

NO CLASS

Douglas, chpt. 5

McDonnell & Pickett (1990)

Lab 1. Rapid rural to urban bio-assessment of Onondaga Creek benthic community

(additional time will be required on Thursday evening 7-9)

9/11

Mitigating impacts of urban runoff using green infrastructure (recorded lecture by Nancy Stoner, NRDC, presented at ESF, April, 2008

3

9/14

Urban Heat Islands, their Causes and Effects -- Guest: David Murphy

Douglas, chpt. 4

Lab 2. ENERGY (SUNLIGHT): Quantifying the Urban Heat Island

 

9/18

Urban Energy Flows

Guest: Dr. Charles Hall

4

9/21

NO CLASS

Odum et al., chpts. 3, 4 (1998) 

Lab 3. ENERGY (FOSSIL FUEL): Measuring the metabolism of an urban block

9/25

Calculating Urban Metabolism

5

9/28

NO CLASS

Nowak (2000),

Craul (1992)

Lab 4. URBAN TREES

Determining potential for added canopy cover in the Near West Side Community

 

10/2

The Urban Forest

Costs and Benefits

Guest: Dr. David Nowak (USDA Forest Svc)

6

10/5

Changes in the Global Nitrogen Cycle: Causes and Consequences

Douglas, chpt. 6

Lab 5a. NUTRIENT INPUTS (FOOD): Nutrient Flows: P&C Food Distribution Center

10/9

Nutrient Flows through the Urban Ecosystem

7

10/12

Nitrogen Cycling Impacts on Onondaga Lake

Douglas, chpt 9, pp 146-151

 

Tango & Ringler (1996)

Lab 5b. NUTRIENT OUTPUT LOADING: Metropolitan Sewage Treatment Plant and Onondaga Lake

10/16

Onondaga Lake Superfund Site Response to the ACJ Decree, Guest Sam Sage

8

10/19

Designing a Public Survey – Dr. Brenda Nordenstam

Sterngold et al (1994) and Nordenstam (1998)

 

Lab 6. THE HUMAN FACTOR: Gathering Public Opinion on: subject to be announced

10/23

Public Opinion and Risk Perception

 

9

10/26

Whose Backyard? Environmental Justice or Injustice

Bullard (1994)

Intro., chpt. 1

 

Lab 8. THE HUMAN FACTOR:  Using Geographic Information Systems to Assess Community Demographics

Data

10/30

Lab 6 Data Analysis Presentations / Mid-term Review

10

11/2

Human Health Issues: Lead in Urban Soils

Dr. David Johnson

 

Douglas, chpt 10

 

Mielke (1999)

 

Lab 10.  Assessing toxicity of urban soils

11/6

MID-TERM

11

11/9

Urban Toxins – Perception, Propoganda, and Risk – Dr. Tsutomu Nakatsugawa

Douglas, chpt. 9

 

 

 

Lab 9. MATERIAL FLOWS:

 Visit to OCCRA: Waste to Energy Plant   

11/13

Urban Biogeography

12

11/16

Urban Wildlife Adaptation, Guest: Dr. James Gibbs

 

Douglas, chpt. 8

 

 

 

Lab 7. The Squirrel Project

11/20

Class Discussion

13

11/23

Let’s Talk Turkey: Forrester, Adolphson and Remor, Kunstler,  and Van der Ryn: Real Solutions or Green Washing?

Adolphson and Remor (2002)

 

Van der Ryn (1999)

 

Kunstler (2008)

NO LAB

11/27

NO CLASS –

Thanksgiving Break

14

11/30

Planning for Sustainable Cities: What Went Wrong with our Urban Centers

Prof. Emanuel Carter

Douglas, chpt. 12

 

Forrester (1969) 

 

Data Collection for Final Projects

12/4

Urban Economic Dynamics

15

12/7

Ecological Engineering Solutions to Promote Urban Sustainability

Prof. Doug Daley

TBA

Data Collection for Final Projects

12/11

Synthesis: What would you do to enhance ecological functioning, and thus quality of life, in our cities?