Human Role in Environmental Change

GEOGRAPHY/ BIOLOGY 410: THE HUMAN ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

Syllabus for Spring 2011, TuTh, 10:30-11:45 P.M., Kuykendall 309

Instructor: Mark Merlin, Professor, Botany Department, Graduate Faculty, Geography Department, and Evolution, Ecology and Conservation Biology Program (EECB); Office Hours: by appointment; ph. 956-6038, merlin@hawaii.edu. GTA: Laura Shiels, Botany Department; Laura W <weissl@hawaii.edu>

Texts: l. Roberts, N. l998. The Holocene: an environmental history. London: Blackwell. Paperback

2. Ponting C. 2007. A New Green History of the World. New York: Penguin Books. Paperback

3. Hughes, Donald. 2009. An Environmental History of the World. London: Routledge, 2nd Rev. Ed.

Paperback, Note: page numbers in readings listed below refer to pages in 2002, 1st Rev. Edition.

Optional: Diamond, J. 1999. Guns, germs, and Steel: the fates of human societies. New York: Norton.

Optional: Diamond, J. 2005. Collapse. Penguin Press Science. Paperback

Course Evaluation: Mid‑Term Examination = 20%

Class Participation: Attendance, Questions & Answers = l0%

Student Research Paper: Written and Oral Presentation = 35%

Final Examination (cumulative) = 35%

This course presents an historical perspective of the role of Homo sapiens in changing the face of the earth. How have we altered the hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere over time? Lessons learned from past and present ecological modification by humans should help us better adapt to our future on earth. NOTE: All written assignments are to be submitted as hard copy in class AND electronically via Laulima.

Topics and Readings [Note: Syllabus subject to change]

1/11 - Course objectives & requirements. Environmental impact theme in geography & the rise of ecological perspectives.

1/13 – Rapa Nui: The “microcosm” example of human impact on Easter Island – degradation or sustainability?

Readings Ponting, (numbers indicate pages to read for class) 1-7, posted on Laulima

1/18 - The significance of the Holocene and reconstruction of Holocene environments. Dating and modeling the past.

Readings Roberts 1-5, Ponting 1-17, Hughes 1-11,

1/20 ‑ The Pleistocene Prelude (>l1, 500 Cal. years before the present): Ice Age Environments. The rise of Hominids.

Readings Roberts 55-67, Optional: Diamond (G,G & S) 13-52, Hughes 12-29. Note: TERM-PAPER ABSTRACT (one paragraph overview), with 3 BASIC REFERENCES and at least one good MAP is DUE on 1/25. ubmit as hard copy in class AND electronically via Laulima.

1/25 ‑ The end of the Pleistocene (16,000-11,500 B.P.). Human ecology at the beginning of the Holocene. Megafaunal extinctions.

Readings Roberts 68-86, Ponting 18-36, Optional: Diamond (G,G & S) 13 -52

1/27 ‑ Early Holocene adaptations, the changing physical environment. Forest return and ecology of Mesolithic Eurasia.

Readings Roberts 87-111, Ponting 18-36

2/1‑ Early Holocene adaptations in the tropics. Climatic changes in the early Holocene.

Readings Roberts 112-126, Ponting 18-36

2/3 ‑ The origins of farming. Archaeological and speculative theory regarding the development of agriculture.

Readings Roberts 127-141, Ponting 37-67, Optional: Diamond (G,G & S) 85-175

2/8 ‑ Role of environmental change in early agricultural development and the ecological impact of early agriculture I.

Readings Roberts, 142-158, Ponting 37-87, Optional: Diamond (G,G & S) 176-192

2/10 ‑ Role of environmental change in early agricultural development and the ecological impact of early agriculture II.

Readings Roberts 142-158, Ponting 37-87, Optional: Diamond (G,G & S) 176-192 and 322-333.

2/15 – Cultural evolution and changes in the natural environment between 5,000 and 500 years before the present.

Readings Roberts 159-178, Ponting 37- 116, Hughes 30-51 and 83-108, Optional: Diamond (G,G & S) 322-333 and 354-402.

2/17 ‑ Early human impact in the Mediterranean ecosystems & Expansion at the Periphery.

Readings Roberts 179-191, Hughes 52-83.

2/22 - Case study of the Prehistoric human impact in the British Isles: ancient English, Welsh, Scottish, & Irish Landscapes.

Readings Roberts 192-206.

2/24– Early human impact in the British Isles: ancient English, Welsh, Scottish & Irish landscapes, part II.

Readings Roberts 192-206.

3/1 ‑ Case study of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean: Pre-contact and Post-contact histories.

Readings Ponting 141-239, posted on Laulima

3/3 – MID‑TERM EXAMINATION

3/8 ‑ Expansion of the range of human settlement into Near and Remote Oceania. Prehistoric human adaptation and environmental alterations in tropical Pacific island ecosystems.

Readings Roberts 179-186, Hughes 83-109, Optional: Diamond (G,G & S) 53-66, 295-321, and 334-353.

3/10 – Impact of Pleistocene gatherers and hunters on the ecosystems of Near and Remote Oceania: Extinctions of birds and other vertebrates in pre-contact Polynesia.

Readings Posted on Laulima

3/15 – Pre-contact impact of farming in selected areas of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia – Part I.

Readings Posted on Laulima

3/17 – Pre-contact impact of farming in selected areas of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia – Part II.

Readings class handout [NOTE: 3/22 & 3/24 Spring Break Holidays]

3/29‑ Pre-contact impact of humans in the New World: examples from Latin America – Part I.

Readings Optional: Diamond (G, G & S) 67-82, posted on Laulima

3/31 ‑ Pre-contact impact of humans in the New World: examples from Latin America – Part II.

Note: TERM-PAPER AND PRESENTATION (POWER POINT) DUE on March 31. Submit paper as hard copy in class AND submit paper and powerpoint presentation electronically via Laulima.

Readings Posted on Laulima

4/5 ‑ Human environmental impact in modern times (500 ‑ 0 years before the present), Climate Change – The Inconvenient Truth...or is it the “Truth”? Readings Roberts 207-252, Ponting 117-407, Hughes 109-241, Optional: Diamond (G, G & S) 193-293 and 403-440…and, perhaps, Al Gore’s thesis in book, DVD or other form?

4/7, 4/12, 4/14, 4/19, 4/21, 4/26, 4/28, 5/3 ‑ Presentations of student research papers: Historical reconstruction of human environmental impact on your home or chosen environment over time.

FINAL EXAMINATION, Thursday, May 13, 9:45-11:45