GEOGRAPHY 302                         BIOGEOGRAPHY                     SPRING 2006    

   Dr. Kathy Hansen                                                                  Office Hours:                                                    

   994-6912                                                                                Monday: 1-2pm       

   Traphagen 205                                                                       Tuesday: 2-4:00;

                                                                                                   or by appt.

     In this course, we will study the past and present geographic distributions of plants and animals.  In doing so, we will ask the geographic questions of what is it?, where is it?, why is it there?, and so what?  We will cover some basic biologic and geographic concepts and pursue both expected distributions as well as unique ones.  It is hoped that by the end of the semester we will be incited to learn more about the living world around us.

TEXTBOOKS:

MacDonald, Glen M.  2003. Biogeography; Space, Time, and Life.

Quammen, David. 1996.  The Song of the Dodo; Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinctions.

REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance is mandatory and will be noted.

Class participation is required.  In discussions of our reading materials you may volunteer information, or ask questions, or you may be called upon.

Three exams will cover all the material.  These are scheduled and will not change.

Each Tuesday you are required to bring in a hard copy of a news article that discusses something related to Biogeography.  You can summarize the article on paper or bring the orginal in.  The article must be adequately referenced (citation of author, date, title, publisher).  You will be asked to share this article, verbally, with the class either Tuesday or Thursday.

Grading:  Exams:  80%;  Attendance and Participation:  10%;  News article presentation

SCHEDULE:  We will follow this schedule as closely as possible, with some changes expected, but not in the test dates.  For each day it is expected that you will have read the material before coming to class and you should be able to discuss the reading materials in class.