XII. Course Descriptions
Environmental Biology
School of Environmental Sciences
Additional course listings may be found in the course descriptions for Microbiology, Plant Biology, Toxicology and Zoology.
| ENVB*2030 Current Issues in Forest Science F (3-0) [0.50] |
| This course focuses on the analysis of current issues in forest science from a variety of perspectives. Aspects of natural
and managed forest dynamics, ecology and diversity are discussed. Relationships between important tree species and their preferred
environments are covered, with emphasis on Canada's forests. The course also explores the role of forests in the global context.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
BIOL*1040 |
| ENVB*2040 Plant Health and the Environment W (3-0) [0.50] |
| This is an interdisciplinary course on the nature and importance of diseases, insects and abiotic stresses on plant productivity
and quality. A case history approach will be used to illustrate the biology of plant pests, the principles of pest population
management, and related topics.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
BIOL*1040 |
| ENVB*2100 Problem-Solving in Environmental Biology W (2-2) [0.50] |
| This course provides an introduction to current issues and problems in environmental biology. Methodologies of addressing
environmental issues and concerns will be critically examined. Project design, information retrieval and organization, and
the interpretation of statistical data will be covered. Oral and written presentations, both individual and group will be
emphasized.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
BIOL*1040, (CHEM*1050 or CHEM*1310), MATH*1080 |
| ENVB*2210 Introductory Apiculture F,W (3-0) [0.50] |
| This course is designed to acquaint the student with the broad field of beekeeping. It will include honey bee biology and
behaviour, management for honey production, products of the hive, pests and enemies and the value of bees as pollinators of
agricultural crops. (Also offered through Distance Education format.)
|
| ENVB*3000 Nature Interpretation F,W (2-3) [0.50] |
| An exploration of communication and experiential learning theories and their application to natural history interpretation
and environmental education program design. Students will develop and present interpretive materials and a program within
the context of the existing nature interpretation program at The Arboretum. (Also offered through Distance Education format.)
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
1 of BIOL*2060, BOT*2050, BIOL*3110 |
| ENVB*3040 Natural Chemicals in the Environment F,W (3-0) [0.50] |
| The role of naturally occurring chemical substances in the inter-relationships of organisms, population dynamics and the structure
of ecosystems, and the role of such chemicals in the biological regulation and control of pests. (Also offered through Distance
Education format.)
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
BIOL*1040 |
| ENVB*3090 Insect Diversity and Biology W (3-3) [0.50] |
| This course is an overview of insect diversity and biology emphasizing groups of importance in conservation biology, outdoor
recreation and economic entomology. Labs focus on insect identification and the development of a small insect collection.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
BIOL*1040 |
| ENVB*3160 Management of Turfgrass Diseases F (2-2) [0.50] |
| In this course ecology of turfgrass diseases and cultural methods of management will be emphasized, in addition to field recognition
and microscopic diagnosis of diseases. Advances in biological and chemical control measures and their impact on turfgrass
ecosystems and surrounding environments will also be discussed.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
HORT*2450 |
| Restriction(s): |
DTM*3200 |
| ENVB*3210 Plant Pathology F (2-3) [0.50] |
| This course examines the nature of disease in plants, including their causal agents, etiology, biology, epidemiology, and
management. Emphasis is placed on the historical and social importance of plant diseases, and on current issues in plant health.
Each student is required to make a collection of 20 plant disease specimens. Students must contact the course instructor before
starting their collection.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
BIOL*1040 |
| ENVB*3230 Agroforestry Systems F (2-2) [0.50] |
| The planned and systematic integration of trees into the agricultural landscape can potentially result in sustainable environmental,
ecological, economic and social benefits. The key aspects of deriving these benefits, associated science and management considerations,
application potentials at the landscape level and adoption challenges will be discussed. Common temperate and tropical agroforestry
systems (e.g. intercropping of trees and crops) will be discussed. Emphasis will be given to successful research and development
case studies.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
ENVB*2030 |
| ENVB*3250 Forest Health and Disease F (2-2) [0.50] |
| The impact of beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms on forest health, and the biology and management of tree diseases in
natural and urban ecosystems is covered in this course. Emphasis will be placed on ecological processes, host-pathogen interactions,
mutualistic associations, wood decay, and human impacts on tree health.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
ENVB*2030 or BOT*2100 |
| ENVB*3270 Forest Biodiversity W (4-0) [0.50] |
| This course examines biodiversity in forest ecosystems at a variety of scales from genes to landscapes. Relationships between
biodiversity and forest ecosystem structure, function, and stability are explored. Approaches to conserving biodiversity in
managed forests are discussed and evaluated. Analysis of the relevant scientific literature and practical experience with
methods of quantifying biodiversity are emphasized in the weekly seminar.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
ENVB*2030, (1 of BOT*2050, BIOL*2060, BIOL*3110)
|
| ENVB*3280 Waterborne Disease Ecology F (3-2) [0.50] |
| Emerging and re-emerging waterborne diseases (bacterial, protozoan, and viral) as a function of environmental change (including
chemical and biological pollution and climate change) are covered in this course. Waterborne diseases, in freshwater and marine
ecosystems, will be examined from historical and contemporary issues as they relate to public and environmental health from
regional, national, and international perspectives. Topics presented within the course will include current waterborne diseases
of humans and aquatic fauna, detection of waterborne pathogens, microbial evolution, microbial physiology, water regulations
and protection of drinking water.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
BIOC*2580, MBG*2000 |
| ENVB*3330 Ecosystem Processes and Applications W (3-0) [0.50] |
| An ecosystem approach that treats living organisms and physical elements of the environment as components of a single, integrated
system is introduced in this course. The important processes that characterize ecosystems, tracing water, carbon and nutrients
from their abiotic sources to their cycles through plants, animals and decomposers will be examined. Human activity is a dominant
influence on these cycles and this influence is surveyed in several highly impacted ecosystems.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
BIOL*1040, (1 of BIOL*2060, BIOL*3110, BOT*2050), (CHEM*1050 or CHEM*1310)
|
| ENVB*4020 Water Quality and Environmental Management F (3-3) [0.50] |
| This course will introduce the student to issues pertaining to water quality, how to assess impacts in aquatic systems, and
strategies for the management of water resources. Examples and case studies will draw from agricultural, industrial and municipal
sources. Topics include: historical perspectives, current issues in water pollution, methods to assess water quality, restoration
and rehabilitation of impacted aquatic habitats, and risk assessment and management of water resources.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
BIOL*2060 or (ENVM*1100, ENVM*1150)
|
| ENVB*4070 Biological and Cultural Control of Plant Diseases W (3-0) [0.50] |
| Current concepts and approaches to managing plant pathogens and diseases in crops and natural plant communities by measures
that have minimal impact on the environment. Topics include naturally-occurring biological control such as suppressive soils
and induced host resistance, use of microbial agents and their modes of action, transgenic disease resistance, use of organic
soil amendments and mulches to promote microbial diversity and suppress pathogens, and effects of sanitation, crop sequences,
tillage, flooding, soil solarization and other cultural practices on microbial communities, including pathogens and on disease
epidemics.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
1 of BIOL*3050, ENVB*3210, MICR*3220 |
| ENVB*4130 Chemical Ecology: Principles & Practice W (3-0) [0.50] |
| Chemicals mediate interactions between individuals of a species and between organisms and their host plants. These interactions
can be manipulated and exploited to mange pest populations through the use of pheromones, allelochemicals and host plant resistance.
The nature of these interactions (from behavioural to evolutionary), biological and chemical methods used in their investigation,
and the application of chemical ecology to insect pest and plant disease management will be covered. (Offered in odd-numbered
years.)
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
ENVB*3040 |
| ENVB*4260 Field Entomology F,W (1-6) [0.50] |
| This course is taught in late April or May. Students may enroll in either the preceding Winter semester or following Fall
semester. The course provides an introduction to insect sampling, observation, identification, and experimentation in field
settings. Student activities are divided equally between observing, collecting and identifying specimens from more than 20
families and an experimental component involving one or more studies to test hypotheses about the ecology or behaviour of
insects. There are occasional lectures and discussions to highlight particularly interesting observations of insects. Student
evaluation is based on the student's insect collection and associated logbook, a written paper describing their experiment,
contributions to class discussions and activities, and peer evaluation. The field site is generally in the USA or South America.
Course fees cover costs of room, board, supplies, and transportation to the field site(s). This course must be recorded as
part of the student's Fall or Winter course selection and tuition and compulsory fees will be calculated accordingly. Detailed
information is available from the Office of the Director - School of Environmental Sciences.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
ENVB*3090 or ENVB*4040 |
| ENVB*4270 Insect Biosystematics W (2-3) [0.50] |
| A study of the lesser known groups of native insects and an introduction to taxonomic procedure and the principles of insect
systematics. Students are required to assemble their own insect collections prior to registering in this course. The laboratory
portion of the course will focus on identification of student insect collections.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
ENVB*3090 |
| ENVB*4290 Applied Insect Physiology F (3-2) [0.50] |
| This course examines major physiological systems of insects at the molecular, cellular and whole animal levels of organization.
Emphasis is placed on identification of potential physiological targets for insecticides, and molecular mechanisms of insecticide
resistance. Applications of analytical chemistry, electrophysiology, mathematical modeling and molecular biology to the study
of insect physiology are discussed. The course includes tutorial exercises examining the external and internal morphology
of representative insect species. (Offered in even-numbered years.)
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
STAT*2040, (1 of ENVB*3030, ENVB*3040, ENVB*3090, TOX*2000, ZOO*3200)
|
| ENVB*4420 Problems in Environmental Biology S,F,W (0-6) [0.50] |
| Students will select a research problem in an area of special interest. Direction will be given by a faculty member concerned
with entomology-apiculture, applied microbiology, weed science and environmental physiology, plant pathology, etc., as represented
within the department. For 7th and 8th semester students considering graduate studies.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
1.50 credits at the 3000 level in the agricultural and biological sciences . |
| Restriction(s): |
Instructor consent required. |
| ENVB*4550 Toxicological Risk Characterization W (3-0) [0.50] |
| This is a biologically based, advanced course that will give students working knowledge of current processes and techniques
for toxicological risk characterization. The course material will cover the topics of problem definition, effect characterization,
exposure characterization, risk assessment, and risk management decision making. (Also listed as TOX*4550.)
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
ENVB*3030, TOX*2000 |
| Equate(s): |
TOX*4550 |
| ENVB*4780 Forest Ecology F (3-3) [0.50] |
| Principles of forest ecology with emphasis on the ecological principles needed for sound forest management. Biotic and abiotic
components of forest ecosystems will be discussed in the context of energy flow, nutrient cycling, forest succession and appropriate
silvicultural systems.
|
| Prerequisite(s): |
ENVB*2030, (1 of BOT*2050, BIOL*2060, BIOL*3110)
|
