STAB 1022 ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY

COURSE SYNOPSIS
This course consists of lecture sessions, video sessions and assignments. The first part of this course will deal with some
basic concepts of environmental biology such as the physical components of the earth, matter, ecosystem, biogeochemical
cycles, human population, forest ecosystem, and aspects that cover interrelationship and interconnectedness between
organisms and their environment. Students are required to grasp the concepts of how fragile the Earth is and how as
biologists, they can contribute to safeguarding the natural resources that fuels the engine that drives the Earth.
REFERENCES
Cunningham W.P. & Cunningham M.A. 2010. Environmental Science. A Global Concern. 11th ed. Boston:
McGraw Hill.
James Hansen. 2009. Storms of my Grandchildren. The Truth about the Coming Climate Catastrophe and our
Last Chance to Save Humanity. New York: Bloomsbury.
McConnel R.L. & Abel D.C. 1999. Environmental Issues Measuring Analyzing and Evaluating. New Jersey:
Prentice-Hall.
Miller G.T. 2006. Environmental Science: Working with the Earth. 11th ed. Canada: Brooks/Cole-Thomson
Learning.
ASSESMENT
MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION
FINAL EXAMINATION

40%
60%

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Name
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norhayati Ahmad
(Coordinator)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd. Nizam bin Mohd.
Said
Pn Nurul Wahida bt. Othman

Room
2178, 2nd Fl. Biology
Building
4109, 4th Fl. Biology
Building
2117, 2nd Fl. Biology
Building

Phone
03-89214047

Email
amphibia.my@gmail.com

03-89213384

m.n.said@ukm.my

03-89215695

wahida@ukm.my

TOPICS
1. Components of the Earth & Energy
Know what is the core of the earth
Know how to define the atmosphere
Summarize structure and composition of the atmosphere
Know how important ozone is
2. Matter, Energy and Life
Describe matter, atoms, molecules, and the 4 major kinds of organic compounds in
living cells
Define energy & explain differences between kinetic & potential energy
Understand the principles of conservation of matter & energy
Appreciate how the laws of thermodynamics affect living systems
Know how photosynthesis captures energy for life and how cellular respiration releases
that energy to do useful work
3. From Species to Ecosystem
Know how photosynthesis captures energy for life
Define species, populations, communities, & ecosystems & understand ecological
significances of these levels of organizations
Discuss food chains, food webs, & trophic level s in biological communities
Compare the ways that water, carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, & phosphorous cycle within

CREDIT
HOURS
2

ecosystems
Know all the major types of forests in Malaysia
4. Biogeochemical Cycles
Movement of matter within or between ecosystems which involves biotic and abiotic
components
Some of the more important biogeochemical cycles
o Hydrological /Carbon /Nitrogen /Phosphorus/Sulfur cycle
5. Human Population
Trace the history of human population growth
Summarize Malthusian and Marxian theories of limits to growth
Understand how changes in life expectancy, infant mortality, womens literacy,
standards of living, & democracy affect population changes
6. Biological communities and species interactions
Keystone species
Predation/Predator-prey/Parasitism/Pathogen
Competition/Symbiosis/Defensive mechanism
7. Construction of communities
Definition of several terms
Community characteristics and structure
Community Change
o Succession
o Succession Models
8. Species Mapping
o
o
o

Introduction (objectives etc.)

Methods
o Vegetation (transects: profile, line etc.)
o Animals
9. Ecological Analysis
o
o

o Introduction (objectives etc.)

o Ecological parameters (abundance parameters, biomass etc.)
o Ecological Index (Diversity, Richness, Dominance, Dispersion, etc.)
10. Degradation of Environment
o Air and water Pollution
o Solid and Toxic Waste
o Sewage/Waste Water
o Forest Degradation
11. Global Issues
o Global Warming/Global Climate Change
o Greenhouse effects
o Ozone depletion
o Acid Rain
12. People and Environment
Convention and treaties (Rio Summit, Kyoto Protocols, Convention on Climate
Change, Forest Principles, etc)
o Governance
o Carbon issues (emissions, trading, etc.)
Total hour
o

3
28