Principles of Ecology, BIOL 341, Great Basin College
Spring, 2015
Sections 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005
SYLLABUS
Instructor: Nick Haertle
Office: Lundberg Hall 128C
Phone: 753-2284
E-mail: nicholas.haertle@gbcnv.edu
Office Hours: M, W, 11:00am-12:00pm; TH 1:00pm-3:00pm; & by appointment.
Method of Instruction: Live lecture, with assigned readings and online enhancements.
Lecture Reading Assignments and Exam Dates
Chapter
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Topic
Introduction
Life on Land
Life in Water
Population Genetics and Natural Selection
Temperature Relations
Water Relations
Energy and Nutrient Relations
Social Relations
Population Distribution and Abundance
Population Dynamics
Population Growth
Life Histories
Competition
Exploitive Interactions: Predation, Herbivory, Parasitism, and Disease
Mutualism
Species Abundance and Diversity
Species Interactions and Community Structure
Primary Production and Energy Flow
Nutrient Cycling and Retention
Succession and Stability
Landscape Ecology
Geographic Ecology
Global Ecology
EXAM I: Monday, February 23
EXAM II: Wednesday, April 1
EXAM III: Wednesday, May 13
Tentative paper deadlines:
Topic approval
Outline
Rough draft
Final draft
Monday, March 2
Wednesday, March 18
Wednesday, April 15
Monday, May 6
Reading assignments and exam dates are tentative, and may be changed at the discretion of the
instructor. Typically, exams will cover between 6-8 chapters. Any changes will be announced in
class.
Required Texts:
Ecology: Concepts and Applications. 6th Edition by Manuel C. Molles Jr. ISBN: 9780073532493
Grading System and Policies:
Grades will be based on three non-comprehensive, short answer exams (20% each), one research paper
(20%), class presentations (10%), and class participation (10%). Details of the writing assignment and
presentation will be discussed in class. Quizzes and other assignments may be administered at MY
DISCRETION.
90 - 100% = A
80 - 89% = B
70 - 79% = C
60 - 69% = D
< 60% = F
Note: By GBC policy, I can no longer issue a grade of “W” or withdrawal. Be advised that the last
date for a student to withdraw from a course is 23 March (up to you to double check and keep up to
date).
All exams will be held on the dates listed in the syllabus. Any changes to that schedule will be
announced in class well in advance. Missing an exam due to personal reasons or illness must be
approved in advance if possible, or by contacting me within 24 hours of the exam in the case of
emergency. Make up exams will be allowed and scheduled at my discretion.
Attendance will not be taken, but be advised: Regular attendance is the single most
important thing you can do to get and maintain a good grade.
Web Sites Used in This Course:
Two web sites will be used in this course, GBC’s own MyGBC, and WebCampus. The online access
with your textbook may be useful also.
MyGBC:
I will be using the email lists at MyGBC for announcements. Please make sure that your email
address at MyGBC is both current and one that you check regularly.
WebCampus:
I will be using WebCampus in lecture sparingly. However, I may start using it more as the semester
progresses. For the time being, do not contact me through WebCampus. If you need to contact me
use my regular email or phone listed on the first page. To log into WebCampus, go to:
https://gbcnv.instructure.com/login Your WebCampus ID is your Great Basin College email address
ID. If you don't have a GBC email address or don't remember your address go to
swami.scsr.nevada.edu or the Technology Help Desk helpdesk@gwmail.gbcnv.edu, or 753-2167.
Passwords will be sent by mail to students who register for their course(s) 5 days before the semester
begins. If you register after this time or did not receive a letter by mail, contact the Help Desk as soon
as possible.
Miscellaneous Policies:
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement: GBC supports providing equal access for
students with disabilities. An advisor is available to discuss appropriate accommodations with students.
Please contact the ADA Officer (Julie Byrnes) at 775-753-2271 at your earliest convenience to request
timely and appropriate accommodations.
Academic Honesty Statement: Great Basin College considers academic honesty one of its highest
values. A student who obtains academic credit for work that is not the product of his or her own effort
is being dishonest and undermining the academic integrity of the college. Students are expected to be
the sole authors of their work. Use of another’s ideas must be accompanied by specific citation and
reference. In addition, a learner may not submit the same work for credit in more than one course.
The disciplinary consequences of plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty include nonacceptance of work submitted, a failing grade in the course, and/or or other disciplinary action as
outlined in Great Basin College’s Student Conduct Policy.
Cell Phone Policy: Cell phones must be turned off or to vibrate before class and left off during class.
Neither phoning nor text messaging is permitted.
Campus Security: GBC is committed to the safety of our students and has a duty to promote
awareness and prevention programs for violence on campus under the Jeanne Clery Act as well as the
Campus SaVE (Sexual Violence Elimination Act) and VAWA (Violence Against Women Act), which
are amendments to Clery. Acts of violence include, but are not limited to, sexual assault, domestic
violence, dating violence, and stalking. Acts of violence can occur on the physical campus or centers
of GBC in addition to field placement sites, clinical practice settings, and other places where college or
class activities occur. As well, the online environment at GBC is considered a GBC site. If you
experience any incidence where your safety has been threatened or violated, or if you feel threatened or
harassed, immediately report this to me, any center director, faculty, or staff member, or directly to the
Director of Environmental Health, Safety & Security(775.753.2115) or the Vice President for Student
Services(775.753.2282).
This syllabus does not in any way represent a contract. It is a reflection of the intent of the instructor,
but do recognize that it is an organic construct that may change as the semester progresses. Any
changes will be announced in class.
Catalog Description:
BIOL 341 Principles of Ecology (3)
The fundamentals of ecology studied at the levels of population, community, and ecosystems.
Prerequisite: Must have completed BIOL 190 and STAT 152
STUDENT OUTCOMES
Outcome
Measurement of this outcome (assessment
devices listed)
STUDENTS WILL HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF
PRINCIPAL ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPALS.
EXAMS
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND AND
EXAMS, CLASS PARTICIPATION
DESCRIBE CURRENT ECOLOGICAL ISSUES AND
PROBLEMS AT THE ORGANISMAL, POPULATION,
COMMUNITY, AND ECOSYSTEM LEVEL
STUDENTS WILL UNDERSTAND QUALITATIVE AND
QUANTITATIVE METHODOLOGIES CLASSICALLY
EXAMS
USED TO ANSWER FUNDAMENTAL ECOLOGICAL
QUESTIONS
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE
EXAMS
OF GENERAL ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPALS AND
METHODS
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO PERFORM LITERARY
RESEARCH PAPER
RESEARCH AND WRITE ON AN CHOSEN
ECOLOGICAL TOPIC
RESEARCH PRESENTATION, RESEARCH PAPER
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO DESIGN AND DELIVER
AN ORAL PRESENTATION IN A PUBLIC SETTING
BASED ON A CHOSEN ECOLOGICAL TOPIC
STUDENTS WILL SHOW PROFICIENCY IN THE USE
OF ECOLOGICAL TERMINOLOGY.
EXAMS