1. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOL 3999: Issues in Biological Science
Dr. Tyler Evans
Phone:
Office Hours: M,W 10:30-12:00 or by appointment
Website:

2. WHAT IS GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY?
scientific study aimed at understanding of the interface between current environmental change that affects a substantial part of the globe and Earth’s biological systems.
In simpler terms, how human activities influence the biosphere
EARTH SYSTEMS
HUMAN SYSTEMS
socio-economic development
production and consumption
resource use
ecosystems
climate
geochemical cycles

3. COURSE DESCRIPTION Global Change Molecular Biochemical Physiological
the course will focus on understanding how anthropogenic (i.e. human) changes to the global environment impact organisms. We will evaluate responses to global change in a wide diversity of organisms and ecosystems
lectures will draw heavily on primary research and case studies.
Global Change
Molecular
An important theme of the course will be to describe how environmental phenomena affect biological systems across levels of organization
Biochemical
Physiological
Organismal
Population
Ecosystem

4. LEARNING OUTCOMES (What I hope you will gain from this course)
acquire a broad understanding of the connection between human activities and the structure and function of biological systems
enhance your ability to engage primary research and synthesize data presented within journal articles
achieve a higher level of critical thinking that enables proper evaluation and educated decision-making regarding issues in global change

5. WHAT THIS COURSE IS NOT
Global change is an important and pressing political issue…
However, this course will not be focused on policy, ethics or economics

6. WHAT THIS COURSE IS NOT
Global change is an important and pressing social issue…
However, this is not a course in environmental activism

7. This is GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
I am a biologist that studies the impacts of climate change and that is what this course is focused on

8. GRADING
Your final grade will be determined by three exams and one written assignment:
Midterm Exam #1………..25% (FEB 1)
Midterm Exam #2………..25% (FEB 22)
Final Exam…………………..30% (Mar 18)
Writing Assignment.…….20% (Mar 15)
exams will focus on lecture materials
exams will be a combination of multiple choice, matching, short and long answer
scores will be posted on Blackboard (INSERT LINK)

9. TEXTBOOK AND READINGS No textbook Rely heavily on research articles
too expensive
a suitable text hasn’t been published yet
Rely heavily on research articles
more interesting
gain experience in synthesizing data from these sources
all materials are available on website and Blackboard

10. (in accordance with CSUEB guidelines)
COURSE POLICIES
(in accordance with CSUEB guidelines)
Academic Dishonesty
please review CSUEB’s policies and understand what is considered academic dishonesty:
Missed Exams
make every effort to avoid missing scheduled exams. In case of an emergency or legitimate conflict, you may be eligible to take a specially scheduled make-up exam. However, you must provide verifiable, written documentation for your absence. Any unexcused absence from an exam will result in a score of 0 for that exam.
Special Academic Accommodations:
if you have a documented disability, accommodations can be arranged for exams and other activities. For more information please visit:
Courtesy:
Please turn off all audible sounds to any electronic devices (phones, PDAs, etc.) while in lecture and refrain from using your laptops for activities not related to lecture during class time
Use of these items is strictly prohibited during all exams, unless special accommodations have been arranged.

11. KEYS TO SUCCESS Attend lectures Take thorough notes Study those notes
Ask questions

12. QUESTIONS?

13. PERSPECTIVES ON GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY:
WHAT IS AT STAKE?
ASSIGNING VALUE TO EARTH’S ECOSYSTEMS
humans typically see themselves as separate from natural Earth systems
In reality, humans are dependent on natural environment for much of their well-being
misconception causes a vast under-estimation of the value of Earth’s ecosystems

14. humans sell tuna for money
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
flows of value to human societies as a result of the state and quantity of natural capital.
e.g. Tuna Fishery
humans sell tuna for money
ocean provides tuna
humans catch tuna

15. ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
quantifying ecosystems services will assist humans in recognizing their dependency on biological systems and the important services they provide
attaching dollar values may be valuable in illustrating the potential consequences of global change, should valuable ecosystem services be diminished or lost all together

16. SO WHAT IS THE VALUE OF EARTH’S ECOSYSTEM SERVICES?
CASE STUDY
Costanza et al The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature. 387:

17. Identified 17 ecosystem services
(excluding non-renewable, one time use resources such as gas and minerals)
1.) Gas regulation
regulate chemical composition of atmosphere
2.) Climate regulation
regulate global temp, precipitation, etc.
3.) Disturbance regulation
Reduce damage caused storms, etc.
4.) Water regulation
For agriculture, industry or transportation

18. Identified 17 ecosystem services…continued
(excluding non-renewable, one time use resources such as gas and minerals)
5.) Water supply
storage and retention of water
6.) Erosion
Prevention of soil loss
7.) Soil formation
weathering of rock provides soil for crops
8.) Nutrient cycling
processing and recycling of nutrients

19. Identified 17 ecosystem services…continued
(excluding non-renewable, one time use resources such as gas and minerals)
9.) Waste treatment
detoxification
10.) Pollination
healthy plant populations
11.) Biological control
balancing ecosystems by predation
12.) Refugia
spaces for migration

20. Identified 17 ecosystem services…continued
(excluding non-renewable, one time use resources such as gas and minerals)
13.) Food production
fish, game, crops, nuts, fruit
14.) Raw materials
wood
15.) Genetic resources
medicine, pets, gardens
16.) Recreation
Eco-tourism, sport fishing

21. Identified 17 ecosystem services…continued
(excluding non-renewable, one time use resources such as gas and minerals)
17.) Cultural
art, religion, education, science

22. art, religion, education, science
Valuation methods
(i.e. how did authors calculate value?)
based mostly on attempts to estimate the “willingness to pay” of individuals for ecosystem services
17.) Cultural
art, religion, education, science
12.) Refugia
spaces for migration
pay an entrance fee for National Parks
$736,000 paid for a tuna in 2012

23. (i.e. how did authors calculate value?)
Valuation methods
(i.e. how did authors calculate value?)
calculated the value per unit area for services for 17 ecosystems
multiplied that value by the total global area of that ecosystem

24. Economic value of Earth’s ecosystems:
TOTAL: $33 trillion USD per year
Some important trends
$20.9 trillion USD (63%) was accounted for by marine ecosystems:
continental shelf was most valuable ecosystem: $4.3 trillion USD
primarily from nutrient cycling
$12.3 trillion USD (37%) was accounted for by terrestrial ecosystems
wetlands were most valuable ecosystem : $4.9 trillion USD
primarily from disturbance regulation, water supply, waste management
Nutrient cycling was most valuable ecosystem service
Data was not available for tundra, deserts, ice caps

25. Hawaii’s coral reefs are worth $360 million USD annually
More examples:
Hawaii’s coral reefs are worth $360 million USD annually

26. Bee keeping generates $213 million USD annually in Switzerland
More examples:
Bee keeping generates $213 million USD annually in Switzerland
Single bee colony provides $215 in direct products (honey, wax, pollen) but $1,050 through pollination of agricultural fruits and berries

27. Climate regulation by forests in Cameroon worth $842-2265 USD per year
More examples:
Climate regulation by forests in Cameroon worth $ USD per year

28. LIMITATIONS OF ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
MAJOR CRITICISM : “The economies of the Earth would grind to a halt without the services of ecological life-support systems, so in one sense their total value to the economy is infinite.”
RESPONSE : “It is meaningful to ask how changes in the quantity or quality of various types of natural capital and ecosystem services may have an impact on human welfare.”
Improve decision making
Establish directions of change
minimum price for logging
$$$$
value of forests to regulate climate
TIME

29. THOUGHTS?
Is this an effective strategy to reverse misconceptions regarding the value of biodiversity?

30. CLOSING REMARKS FROM COSTANZA ET AL.
“If we actually lived in a world that was ecologically sustainable, socially fair and where everyone had perfect knowledge of their connection to ecosystem services, both market prices and surveys of willingness-to-pay would yield very different results than they currently do, and the value of ecosystem services would probably increase.”

31. LECTURE SUMMARY
quantifying ecosystems services will assist humans in recognizing their dependency on biological systems and the important services they provide
total values of Earth’s ecosystem services estimated at $33 trillion USD per year
$20.9 trillion USD (63%) was accounted for by marine ecosystems
continental shelf was most valuable ecosystem: $4.3 trillion USD
nutrient cycling was most valuable service
wetlands were most valuable terrestrial ecosystem : $4.9 trillion USD
primarily from disturbance regulation, water supply, waste management
While value may be infinite, still meaningful to a establish baseline in order to monitor trajectories of change in the future

32. MORE INFORMATION
TEEB (2010) The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Mainstreaming the Economics of Nature: A synthesis of the approach, conclusions and recommendations of TEEB.
Costanza et al The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature. 387:

33. DRIVERS OF GLOBAL CHANGE
NEXT LECTURE:
DRIVERS OF GLOBAL CHANGE