SiMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
?
:' 7
.
ToMrFIM.vas
Secretary of Senate
Subject ?
New Biological Sciences Course
003-3 - Ecology of the Population
-
-
From
.............
.
B
.
L......Eunt...........................................................................
?
P.en....Qf..$C.i.enc............................................................
?
Date............. April .... 16.,....l9.69...............................................................
The Biological Sciences course 003-3 was considered by the
Undergraduate Curriculum Committee of the Faculty of Science at its meeting
of March 17th. It was recommended that this go forward to Faculty for
approval. Faculty approval was obtained at the meeting of April 14th, and this
course is now recommended to Senate for consideration. The rather extended
outline of the course is included as Paper #1. A further detailed outline
is attached as Paper 22-A, but in my opinion need not be reproduced and
circulated to all members of Senate.
BLF/cj
Enclosures (2)
*11
ioloqical
?
003-3.
?
Ecolçjy of the population Explosion.
The demographic and ecological bases of the population
explosion; its biological, economic, and sociological implications;
possible solutions and their limitations; and its consequenes for
the future of mankind.
Purpose of the Course.
The impact of increasing human populations, accompanied
by ever increasing demands on the ecosystem and intensified
intra-specific interaction is the common root of many of the
social, economic, and psychological problems that are of grave
concern to many of our students. A student lacking an apprecia-
tion of the basic biological and ecological qualities of his own
species is ill equipped to deal with problems that arise from
human obduracy. An objective is to demonstrate the relevancy
of science in general, and biology in particular, to the impera-
tives of the human condition.
Presentation.
There will be 3 lectures per week. Two will be by members
of the Biology Department; the third by guest lecturers drawn
from other departments of this university, from other universities,
and the non-academic community.
We will deal with concepts rather than detail. Quantita-
tive material will. be
minimal. Concepts will be developed from
first principles eliminating the need for any biological background.
Lectures will be heavily illustrated. Where quantitative
material is unavoidable it will be presented as simple graphs
using-animated film loops. We hope to include two to three
episodes of multi-media to maximize emotional as well as
intellectual involvement.
Grading.
Grading will be by a final examination, probably of the multi-
choice answer type.
. . .. . . . . . . . . /2
.
Bioloqical Sciences 003-3.
Credits.
No similar
0 se
..
is given at this university, thus material
presented and its orientation will differ sharply from any courses
now available to Simon Fraser students, .jncluding biology ajOs;
The subject matter is topical and urgent.
As
many students as
possible should be given every inducement to include the course
in their curriculum, and to stick with it.
We therefore pro
p
ose to award three credit hours for the
course. These credits would be available to all students,
including biology majors, as a science option.
a-i
F'
. ?
.7
22-J
Suggested Outline I3io. Sci. 003
?
14.%fr
"MAN THE REPRODUCER"
The Relevancy of Ecology to the Human Situation
Demographic Facts
Judo-Christian ethic-Biblical exhortations
Historical growth of Human Populations
Post World War II - death control
Contemporary populations
predected populations - estimated maximums
the probability of "leveling off"
the meaning of "leveling off"
Population concentrations
Starvation in 1970's?
Standing room only
Time!
Population Parameters
Rate on increase rB-D
Birth Rates - crude; age specific
Death Rates - crude; age specific
Age structure of populations
Changes in birth rates with age structure
Changes in death rates with age structure
Intrinsic rate of increase
Natural checks on rates of increase
in animals - food
predators and parasites
social interaction
competition
strife
psychological disease
in man - disease
starvation
war
Consequences of population expansion
Food Resources
Malthus essay
Per capita food production
Turning point 1966
Energy Resources
Principle of energy release
Fossil fuels
Nuclear fuels
Hydro energy
Radiation energy
.
.
S
.
.
:M4.4 ?
2.
Dispersal of energy vs accumulation of energy
Mineral Resources
Metals
• ?
Non metals
Shelters - space
materials
Human Resources
Income per head
Labour force - agricultural economy
industrial economy
Dependency burden
Capital accumulation
Education
Care of aged
A productive life-unemployment
underemployment
alternative activities
Crowding - psychological stress
social stress
civil strife
nationalism
Escapism - wilderness and conservation
psychadelic devices
responsibility
culture
Environment - ecological balance
other organisms
diversity
natural heritage ?
Social Structure - politics
decision making
freedom
individuality
Possible Remedies
I. Provide for existing and future populations
Increase food production
Natural foods
Conventional agriculture
Land utilization
Arable lands
Tropical lands
Marginal lands
• ? Fertilizers
• Pest control
Improved crops
.
I S
I
• /
3
conventiont1 food crops
• ?
New crops
Forest crops
cellulose
leaf protein
Fresh water croos
Ocean crops
}ydroponics - etc.
Energy flow through trophic levels
I1at eating vs plant eating
•
?
Pollution
fertilizers
pesticides
insecticides
fungicides
herbicides
Synthetic foods
Inäustrial processes
Ferer:tation of cellulose
Petrochemical products
Synthetic molecules
Other?
.
?
Increase Inthstrial Production
More and better shelters
space
materials
energy
design
layout
skills
More and better capital goods
capital accumulation
space
materials
encrgy
de'ign
labour
skills
More ard better consumer goods
• ?
Increase of Services
Medical
Education
Social
? •
•
Protection - police, fire, sanita:ion
•
?
•
?
• Disposal, of wastes
Communications
. ?
Recreation and entertainment
Maintenance and repairs
1
/4
4.
• ?
S ?
&
?
Obstacles to prGvLding for exist Lriq and futjrë populations
Finite uiy of resources
ue1s
afli
enerry
Current producti.n )f fuels
photosynthesis
Fossil fuels
Nuclear energy
Ra..iiation-solar celLs
• ?
Hydro-electricity
•
?
Others
Mineral,.;
Metals
1'!on wotals
Soil
Atmo s ph crc
Water
Recycling of Resources
Dispersal of use
Recovery
Pollution and Waste Disposal
Sources - Agriculture - pesticides, fertilizers, erosion
. ?
Industry-gases, dissolved molecules,
solids, heat
Consumer-containers, excrement, rubbish
Kinds - Atmospheric - CO
2
, inert gases, toxic gases, solid
Land -. mine tailings, glass, metal, industrial
wastes, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.
Water - chemical nutrients, toxic chemicals, silt,
decaying organic material, rubbish, etc.
Effects - direct toxicity
carcinogens
CO 2
output - greenhouse effect
turbidity of atmosphere and water filter out
radiation
oxygen deficiency in water-high bacteria pops-
algae, etc.
dead organisms in water
putrifaction
unsightly, etc.
Loss of Vegetation
Killing plants through pollution
Sprawling cities
?
S
Paving roads
Forest exploitation
•
?
-
?
Open pit mining
Other
/
Results - erosion - water and wind
02 - CO 2
imbalance - greenhouse effect
•
Sewage Disposal - raw sewage
degraded sewage
Land Use Problems
Food production - agriculture
Industrial plant sites
Housing
Forestry - commercial
•
Recreation
Conservation
Water use problems
Rivers and streams
Sewers
Transportation
Clean water
Recreation
•
Conservation
Hydro electricity
Irrigation
Food production
Lake ?
.
Sewage settling ponds
•
Transportation
Clean water
Recreation
Conservation
Impounding
water
Irrigation
Food production
Eutrophication of lakes
Ocean
Sewage disposal
Transportation
Desalinated water
Recreation
•
Conservation
Food production
Mining
The Changing Environment and Productivity
Cities - Housing
•
.
?
. ?
Transportation
Aesthetics
.
Services
Planning
•
?
. ?
•
Sites
..
.
/6
r.
•;'
Social changes
Status quo
Attitudes ?
S
Conditional responses
Freedom and democracy?
Change to what?
p
ossible Remedies
II. Birth Control
Restrict population growth
Stable population
Advantages
• ?
Economic
Social
The means
"Family Planning"?
Effectiveness - time element
•
?
short-mid-long term
Obstacles - social mores
Religion
Economics
Custom
•
?
Prejudice, sloth ignorance
Possible Remedies
iii.: Abortion
• ?
Possible Remedies
IV.
Infanticide
Possible Remedies
V.
Geronticide
Possible Remedies
• VI. The Bomb
Possible Remedies
VII. Starvation, pestilence, strife
Ethical considerations
Crisis is
close at hand
•
Mass starvation before 1980?
Panic action and reaction
What sort of society will emerge?
What human values?
January 16, 1969.
0
