Overview

As a professional forester, environmental consultant, policy advisor or town-and-country planner, you will be expected to understand the underlying principles associated with water, air and soil quality. This includes understanding how anthropogenic (human-made) pollutants can impact the biosphere; more precisely, how these pollutants affect humans as well as plants and animals.

This central course in environmental science and management is therefore designed for students with the above training in mind. It deals with the physical (air, water, temperature, structure, texture), biological (soil organisms, nutrient cycles) and chemical properties of soil (cation and anion exchange, acidity, salinity) and the use of nutrients by plants (nutrient uptake mechanisms, essential nutrients, the rhizosphere). It also explores unique symbiotic relationships that exist between plants and soil microorganisms (e.g. Rhizobium in N2 fixation, mycorrhizas). The course covers major global environmental topics such as pesticides, heavy metals, salinity, acid rain, human pathogens, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, ultraviolet (UV) exposure and elevated ozone impacts and eutrophication. These topics will enable you to develop a broader understanding of state-of-the-art environmental sustainability at both national and global scales.

This second-year module develops the information provided in the first-year introductory module of Ecosystem Function and Services (DCC-1004) and provides the groundwork for later modules dealing with more specific environmental issues. Importantly, the module covers measures to ameliorate soil, air and water quality through restoration principles and practices, as well as sustainability measures in developing urban green infrastructure.

Introduction to soil quality; Soil water; Nutrient cycling in ecosystems; Soil biology and biodiversity; Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from soils; Nutrient function and plant uptake; The rhizosphere; Mycorrhizas and N2 fixation; Soil salinity and acidity; Human and animal pathogens; Heavy metals; Urban air pollution; Water use and conservation; Soil erosion and degradation; Food security; Introduction to water quality; Introduction to urban green infrastructure; Forest degradation issues and concepts; Forest restoration in practice with case studies; Community engagement with restoration; Restoration assessment.

Assessment Strategy

Good: Grade C- to B+:

Strong knowledge – Understands most but not all course material – Evidence of background study – Focused answer with good structure – Arguments presented coherently – Mostly free of factual/computational errors – Some limited original interpretation – Well-known links between topics are described – Problems addressed by existing methods/approaches – Good presentation with accurate communication – Good use of background reading material within work.

Excellent: Grade A- to A**:

Comprehensive knowledge – Detailed and critical understanding – Extensive background study – Highly-focused and well-structured answer – Logically presented and defended arguments – No factual/computational errors – Original interpretation – New links between topics are developed – New approach to a problem presented – Excellent presentation with very accurate communication – Excellent use of background reading material within work and especially journal articles.

Threshold: Grade D- to D+:

Knowledge of key areas/principles only – Some weaknesses in understanding main areas – limited evidence of background study – Poorly-focussed answers to questions with some irrelevant material and poor structure – Arguments presented but lack coherence – Several factual/computational errors – No original interpretation – Only major links between topics are described – Limited problem solving – Many weaknesses in presentation and accuracy – Limited use of background reading

Learning Outcomes

• Compare and critique the concepts and practices used in restoration to improve the regulating functions of ecosystems.

• Demonstrate practical knowledge of chemical analysis methods to quantitatively determine pollution levels.

• Determine what properties control pollutant dynamics in the environment and how they may be controlled

• Examine different contaminated soils and the factors which caused this pollution.

• Interpret and assess what regulates air, soil, and water quality from a scientific and legislative perspective.