Junior/Senior Colloquia 
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Ecosystems Ecology and Global Change (704:451)

Brief Description of this Colloquium

The natural environment is undergoing pervasive, profound changes to its biology, chemistry and physics, in response to an exploding human population. These changes are all linked to each other. We can begin to understand how human actions are causing these changes through the study of ecosystems ecology, which is the branch of ecology which examines the movement of materials and energy in whole systems. In this colloquium, we will use the concepts of ecosystems ecology to study the element cycles, the human impacts on these cycles, and the implications of these impacts for the biota of the planet. Lectures on the basic science will alternate with student-led discussions of research on a series of case studies of prominent global-scale changes in these cycles and the human management of these changes. Student projects will be focussed on applying the information learned in the lectures and case study discussions to these issues in New Jersey.

Registration Information

  • Semester: Spring 2006
  • Index Number: 73428
  • Class Meeting: T,Th 2:15 - 3:35 p.m.
View past Syllabus

Junior/Senior Colloquia involve various types of student projects. Below is a list of some of the projects that have been undertaken in recent semesters in this colloquium. In some cases there may be a link to an abstract of the project.

  • Agriculture in NJ – effects on soil carbon storage
  • Conservation tillage, reversion of cropland, forestry, fertilizer use & abuse
  • Alterations in water budget – dams; effects on FW flows to estuaries, effects on rivers, greenhouse gas production, groundwater withdrawals, stormwater/treatment plant augmentation of flows
  • Eutrophication – lakes and estuaries – P and/or N
  • Mercury pollution in NJ; other metal pollutants
  • Biodiversity - Exotics/extinctions/effects of climate change
  • Forest management – afforestation/ forest management/ forest growth/ forest fire
  • Groundwater resources – pollution and utilization Coastal eutrophication and pollution

    • Note: The above are possible projects that might be undertaken in this colloquium

    Instructor Information

    • Name: Joan Ehrenfeld
    • Office: Dept of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Natural Resources Building, Cook
    • Telephone: 732-932-1081
    • Email: ehrenfel@rci.rutgers.edu

    NOTE: The above information is being provided to give potential students a general idea about the course. Specific details may change from semester to semester, and will be provided by the instructor in the course syllabus.

    Last Updated on October 27, 2005