Allan Modules
Block 1.
Life: Diversity, and Change
Biodiversity
A description of current life diversity, including
discussion of known vs. unknown species, estimates of current species
diversity, efforts at comprehensive inventories (InBio in Costa Rica, ‘bar
codes’). The three geographic
principles (hotspots, latitudinal gradients, endemism), with brief
discussion of factors promoting diversity; concept that biodiversity is
linked to ecosystem function. Close
with discussion of value of nature’s goods and services.
Origin and Diversification of Life
Succinct synthesis of history of life, emphasizing
mysteries of origin, fundamental advances (cell structure, multicellularity,
aerobic respiration, examples of body plan and physiological advances).
Explain and link concepts of adaptation, microevolution,
macroevolution and diversification; natural selection and speciation.
This will be shorter than it sounds.
Ecology: Life’s
Interaction with Life and with Earth
An overview of species interactions, including
two-way and multi-way interactions. Mutualisms,
competition, predation, and their assembly into webs of interacting species.
Discussion of direct and indirect pathways, trophic cascades, etc,
rich with examples that will serve as mini-cases to illustrate principles.
Close with an example of an introduced species’ influence on
species interactions (Nile perch?)
Biodiversity’s Future
Describe current, human-driven mass extinction in
context of megafaunal extinctions by early humans and mass extinctions over
earth history. Six drivers of
extinction are over-harvest, invading species, habitat destruction,
pollution, climate change and domino effects.
Estimation of species loss from species-area relationships.
Example from bushmeat harvest driven by road access and poverty in
West Africa, and its relationship with emerging infectious diseases.
Strategies to sustain life diversity will require establishment of
protected areas and management of the settled matrix.
Identification of priority areas and reserve design (the science
issues), co-management and win-win scenarios (the human dimension).
Block 2. Human
Appropriation of the World’s Resources
Population and Resources: Introduction
Brief overview of historical patterns and regional differences (integrate
with Ford and Ness). General
approach in this module is twofold: Analysis of trends, and “first
principles’ analysis of supply/productivity vs amount appropriated.
Cohen’s 3 rules: make
a bigger pie, put fewer forks at the table, teach better manners.
The World’s Productive Capacity
Historical perspective on population and food
supply, from domestication of plants and animals, to Malthus and the dooms-sayers
of the 1960s, the expanding world food supply, and the persistence of
hunger. Extent of arable land,
most is used, limited opportunities to expand.
Reliance on increases in yield, via intensification of agriculture,
green revolution and GM crops. Trend analysis in yields and per capita food
supply. NPP by ecosystem type and extent, and human appropriation of
world’s NPP. The
environmental consequences of agricultural expansion and intensification.
Case study: Are GM crops
the answer?
Loss of Forests and Wildlands
Human transformation of the land as forest and
wildlands are replaced by agricultural and urban lands, or degraded land.
Original and current extent of forests, categories of forest, rates of
deforestation. Consequences
of deforestation including soil erosion, altered water budgets, land
degradation. Soils and causes of soil degradation.
Population, poverty, roads, and other drivers of deforestation and
desertification. Case study:
restoration, recovery and stewardship.
The World’s Fresh Water
Hydrologic cycle, consumptive vs non-consumptive
uses, per capita use by region. Required
amounts for drinking, total human use, food production.
Estimation of replenishable freshwater supply and fraction
appropriated. Water security
and MENA countries. Conservation, efficiency, and re-allocation as
solutions. Case study: should
we build more dams?
The Oceans
Fish stocks, harvests, and management principles.
Trends in global harvest and in several important fisheries (cod,
anchovy, salmon). Principles
of oceanic productivity; comparison of open oceans, coastal and upwelling
zones; role of light, nutrients and food chain length; the theoretical
harvest. The paradox that
“fishing down” appears to reduce yields, and the likely future of
oceanic production. Case study:
is aquaculture the solution?
