Santa Fe Institute

Global Biological Change

• Instructor(s): Hurtt
• Institution: University of New Hampshire, CRCS
• Category: Biology
• Description: Biological changes have been occurring on Earth for at least the last 3.5 billion years. During this time, it is estimated that 98% of the species that ever existed have gone extinct. Today, approximately 1.7 million species are known to exist. From biodiversity loss to genetic engineering, we are in a period of particularly rapid change. This course provides an exciting introduction to the science of global biological change focusing on contemporary phenomena. In part I, scientific background on the physical and biological history of the planet is provided for perspective. In part II, contemporary global biological changes are addressed including: land cover changes, marine ecosystem changes, freshwater ecosystem changes, biodiversity loss, introduced species, artificial selection, genetic engineering, and human population growth. Part III places these issues in the context of past global biological changes, describes some of the potential causes and consequences of these changes, and provides an outlook to the future. The ways in which technology has affected the environment and how it is used for understanding these changes are central concepts. Emphasis is placed on the scientific basis for these issues including, what is known, how and how well different phenomena are understood, and what scientific questions remain.