Fall 2009 (last updated: January 26, 2009)

Erle Ellis: Courses

Hopetoun Falls, Australia GES 120

Introduction to Environmental Science & Conservation

This course introduces the fundamentals on how earth systems and ecosystems work, how they are interconnected, and how humans utilize and impact natural resource systems. Environmental problems and solutions are examined and natural resource conservation strategies and policies are reviewed. Topics include ecosystem processes, climate and climate change, biodiversity and endangered species, land degradation and deforestation, human population growth, agriculture, and water and soil resources.
Pohkara Nepal GES 305

Landscape Ecology

Landscape ecology explores the spatial patterning of ecological processes across living landscapes. This course introduces the fundamentals of ecology within a landscape ecology context and then applies these concepts as tools for sustainable management of landscape structure and function at local, regional and global scales.
The Biosphere

GES 412/612

Biogeochemical Cycles in the Global Environment

This course explores the chemistry and cycling of elements across the Earth's surface and atmosphere, with special emphasis on human-induced changes in biogeochemistry that are driving global warming, ocean acidification, acid rain, ozone depletion, water pollution; and nutrient saturation of freshwater, estuarine and coastal environments. The basic biogeochemical processes are introduced and then integrated to explain the global cycles of water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur and how these are changed by human activities.
GPS in the field

GES 405/605

Applied Landscape Ecology

This course applies the tools of landscape ecology, including GIS, remote sensing, aerial photography and landscape classification, to explore the spatial patterning of ecological processes across landscapes at different scales. Hands-on lab and field exercises help students develop understanding and skills necessary to plan and conduct their own investigations of landscape pattern, process, and change in local and regional landscapes in collaboration with the instructor.
GES 485 fieldwork (2001)

GES 485/685

Field Methods in Geography & Environmental Systems

Environmental Mapping of Local Landscapes

Students in this course gain hands-on experience with field methods for landscape ecology, including sampling, mapping and spatial analysis of soils, vegetation, soil organisms, stream hydrology and land use patterns in local landscapes using GIS, GPS, imagery and other techniques. The class meets one session each week and six full-day Saturday sessions for fieldwork; scheduling to be arranged. Students work in teams and prepare final projects that are presented as scientific posters and on the Web.
Mapping in the labField research in Sichuan, China

GES 483: Geographic Information System (GIS) Internship

Students do technical work using GIS in our lab, on projects we are currently working on

 

GES 491: Independent Study

Students develop their own research projects and conduct them in collaboration with me and others in our lab.  Topics depend on overlapping interests between me and the student.

 

GES 497: Research Internship

Students work together with me and others on current research projects in our lab

Courses I Have Taught....