BL 337 General Ecology Syllabus Fall,
2006
Meeting times: Lecture 1300 T and Thu. Lab 1400 to 1700 Tuesday or
Thursday. Be prepared to be out until 1700.
Instructor:
Gregory
Zimmerman 213 Crawford Hall. 635-2470. gzimmerman@lssu.edu
Office
Hours: 1000 to 1100 MW +
0900 to 1100 T; 1100 to
Required Text: Dodson et al. 1998. Ecology.
In addition to the text, you
will need a clipboard, engineering pad and non-smudging pen for field notes.
Course Objectives:
By the time you complete
this course, you will be able to:
·
Describe appropriate approaches for analyzing specific ecology problems
(i.e., how to recognize the appropriate organizational level for a particular
problem)
·
Hypothesize about ecological processes operating at various scales and
recognize the importance of explicitly recognizing the best scale at which to
address a particular problem,
·
Conduct field measurements of some of those processes,
·
Prepare written reports based on that information , and
·
Read ecological research reports.
You should also come out of
the class with an enhanced desire to know more about the structure and function
of ecosystems and increased comfort in accessing the ecological literature.
The idea is to provide you
with the background that will let you reason your way through ecological
problems and provide you with opportunities to practice doing so. The idea
isnt just to memorize a bunch of facts, though there are facts and terms you
will need to have at your disposal.
Key concepts:
physiological ecology the niche and
evolutionary cost/benefit tradeoffs associated with physiological adaptations,
conservation biology implications of niches, tools and techniques of
physiological ecology, including basic mathematical approaches.
behavioural ecology how organisms alter their
patterns of activity to take advantage of spatial and temporal variation in
niche factors and the evolutionary cost/benefit tradeoffs associated with
behavioural adaptations, conservation biology implications of niches, tools and
techniques of behavioural ecology, including mathematical approaches.
population ecology factors that regulate
numbers of organisms over time, namely competive, predator/prey, host/parasite,
mutualistic relationships, evolutionary cost/benefit tradeoffs associated with
various population strategies, conservation biology implications, tools and
techniques of population ecology, including mathematical approaches.
community ecology basic community
descriptions, hierarchical aspects of community ecology, neutral vs.
niche-based models of community ecology, relationship of community structure
and ecosystem function, tools and
techniques of community ecology including mathematical approaches, measuring
ecological integrity of communities.
landscape ecology the importance of spatial
context, describing landscapes, disturbance regimes across landscapes,
conservation biology implications, tools and techniques for landscape ecology,
including mathematical approaches.
systems ecology energy flow and
biogeochemistry in ecosystems, human impacts on ecosystem function, ecosystem
services, tools and techniquesw for ecosystem ecology including mathematical
approaches.
historical ecology role of humans in
ecosystem structure, connections between ecology and development of societies.
Prerequisites: BL131, BL132, MA111
Components of grade:
Exams (3) essay 40%
Final exam 10%
Article reviews (3)* 10%
Other lecture assignments 10%
Lab assignments 30%
*You are to find two
semi-technical articles and one technical article related to an aspect of
biological ecology that you are interested in and write an article review (500
words maximum thats 2 double spaced typed pages). Details
to follow. You might consider doing all three on the same topic and
using this assignment to get started on your senior thesis lit review.
Format and other details of
lab assignments will be provided as we go along.
Grading Scale:
98 -100 A+
; 92 - 97 A ; 90 - 91 A-; 88 - 89
B+ ; 82 - 87 B ; 80 - 81 B-;
78 - 79 C+ ;
72 - 77 C ; 70 - 71 C-; 60 - 69 D
; LT 60
F
Schedule
28 Aug Intro and Phys Eco Chapters 1,5 Ash Ck. recon
04 Sept Phys Eco, cont. Chapt 5 no
labs labor day recess
11 Sept Behav Eco Chapter 6 Algonquin
recon EXAM 1
18 Sept Popln
Eco Chapt 7 local wetland Lab Assgn 1
25 Sept Pop, cont. Landsc Eco Chapt 7, 3 Algon
Q&T Art 1
02 Oct Landsc. Eco, cont Chapt 3 AshCk Q&T EXAM 2
09 Oct * Lab only * Robts
Lk Cliffs ON
16 Oct Systems Eco Chapt 4
23 Oct Systems Eco, cont. Chapt 4
30Oct Comm Eco Chapter
8 data analysis in
lab Art 2
06Nov Comm Eco, cont data
analysis in lab
13Nov Historical Eco data
analysis in lab
20Nov Cases Chapt
2 no labs Tks
Brk
27Nov Cases,cont. computer exercise Lab
Assn3
04Dec Wrap Up Lab
Final Assignment Art 3
11Dec Final Exam ------ Consult official exam schedule for
time and day
*Lab data sheets due at
conclusion of each field trip
Exams will be on Thu of week
indicated.
Notes:
1. This is a field-intensive
course and the field experience is an essential component. Be prepared for extensive
hiking in all weather and over rough terrain. Be prepared with rain gear,
layered clothing, adequate footwear, etc. Do not schedule too tightly after the
field trips. I try my best to get us back by 1730 but due to unforseeable
circumstances we may not always make it exactly on time.
2. All assignments must be
turned in on the due date. Late assignments will not be accepted. All
University policies regarding academic policy apply (e.g., if you cheat, you
flunk). Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with documented
special needs for tests, tutoring, note-taking and similar services. Students
must coordinate these accommodations through the RCSD Office in South
Hall.
3. You are expected to take
all exams at the scheduled time. If you know you must miss a test, provide 2
days advance notice and an alternative test will be provided. Unexpected
absences require documentation from appropriate student office. Otherwise,
missed exams score zero, including the final exercise. Personal travel
arrangements for breaks are not considered valid reasons to miss exams.
4. Additional constraints
on grade: You must pass the lab portion to pass the class. Lab attendance
is mandatory. If outside activities will require you to miss more than one lab,
you are requested to take this course at another time when you will be able to
attend all lab sessions. Failure to complete any one of the above assignments
will result in deduction of a letter grade, regardless of the point value.