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Fall 2015
CSS 560 Placed-based Ecology I
- Course Syllabus I. General class information
Course credits
3
Class description
The main objective of this course is to give you a fundamental, systematic understanding of the
interactions between biotic and abiotic factors that constitute the natural world surrounding McCall.
The greater McCall area is uniquely suited for learning the processes driving ecological relationships –
steep environmental gradients encompass life zones ranging from steppe grasslands, to pristine
mountain streams and lakes, to high alpine ecosystems. We will use the outdoors as a classroom to gain
hands-on knowledge and experience a wide variety of different ecosystems. Your outside experience
will be complemented by lectures, group discussions, readings, field experiments and homework
assignments. As the class-capstone, you will propose and conduct an independent research project that
explores an ecological research question within the greater McCall area that is of particular interest to
you.
Specific learning objectives
-
Understand basic ecological processes and principles
Collect, analyze, and interpret ecological data
Use and operate scientific equipment and software available at the McCall Outdoor Science
School (MOSS) for ecological research
Plan and conduct an ecological research project via the scientific process
Read, analyze, and discuss scientific literature
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Aligning to UI learning outcomes
-
Learn and integrate – Through independent learning and collaborative study, attain, use, and
develop knowledge in Ecology.
Think and create – Use multiple thinking strategies to examine real-world ecological issues,
solve problems, and make consequential decisions.
Communicate – Acquire, articulate, create and convey intended meaning using verbal and nonverbal methods of communication that demonstrate respect and understanding in a complex
society through discussing ecological research papers and writing a scientific research paper.
Contact information
Instructor:
Jan Eitel
Phone: (208) 596-9277
e-mail: jeitel@uidaho.edu
Note: For all assignments, please use mcallogy@gmail.com
Office hours: By appointment
Location: Lake yurt and outside. Important: Some part of the class will be outside so please bring
appropriate clothing.
Grading
Format: Proposal, Research project, lab reports, in-class participation, final exam
Research project:
Proposal: 15 points
Research paper: 25 points
Lab report 1: 15 points
Lab report 2: 15 points
In-class participation: 10 points (includes journal entries)
Final exam: 20 points
Grading basis: A/F
A = 90 points, B = 80 points, C = 70 points, D = 60 points
For more details on grading criteria for the proposal, proposal presentation, lesson plan, and research
paper, please see http://ecosensing.org/teaching/css-560/grading-criteria/
Main text
Knight, D. H. 1994. Mountains and Plains - The Ecology of Wyoming Landscapes. Yale University Press.
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Class website
http://ecosensing.org/teaching/css-560
Reference
A good general reference to review some of the principles we cover in class is “Principles of Terrestrial
Ecosystem Ecology” by Chapin et al. See class-website: http://ecosensing.org/teaching/css-560/readings
Slides
If slides are used during lecture, they are available after the lecture to download from our class website
http://ecosensing.org/teaching/css-560/slides.
II. Class schedule
Day
Topic
1


2
Readings *
None

Class introduction
Ecosystems: The flux of energy and
matter
Geology and Life
None
3

Soils
None
4

Ecohydrology
None
5

Forest Ecology
None
6


Experimental design
Statistics and modeling
“Statistics: Concepts and
Applications for
Sciences” by David C.
LeBlanc
“A painless guide to
statistics” by Robert
Gerwien
Inside/
Outside
Inside
and
outside
Inside
(AM)
Outside
(PM)
Inside
(AM)
Outside
(PM)
Inside
(AM)
Outside
(PM)
Outside
all day
Inside
and
outside
Assignments due
Install R
and R
Commande
r on your
personal
computer
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7
8


Hands-on Ecology I: Studying
interactions amongst organisms
and their environment
Hands-on Ecology II: How many
species are there? Using literature
to form hypothesis and interpret
results
“How to write a scientific
paper – and win the
game scientist play!” by
Moreira and Haahtela
“Writing a scientific
paper: from clutter to
clarity” by Patience et al.
“On bird species
diversity” by MacArthur
and MacArthur
Inside
and
outside
Proposal
(please email to
mccallogy
@gmail.co
m)
Lab report
#1
“Avian community
structure along a
mountain big sagebrush
successional gradient” by
Reinkensmeyer et al.
Note: Lab report #2 is due 1 week after day 8 of class.
III. Assignments
Research project
The research project gives you the opportunity to focus on a subject that is of special interest to
you. For example, you might be particularly interested in lichen and want to learn more about them.
After conducting a literature search on the subject, you will devise a research question and develop
methods for answering it. For example, you might find that there is a lot of information on the effect of
air pollution on lichen growth in the literature but very little seems to be known about the effect of light
availability on the cover-abundance of lichen on tree stems. This makes you decide to study the effects
of light availability on the cover-abundance of lichen on tree stems. You will develop a proposal that
outlines the main objective(s) of your proposed research project and the methods you are planning to
use to reach your objective(s). After conducting your field work and analyzing your data, you will be
writing a research paper that summarizes the findings of your research.
Deliverables
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

Proposal
Research paper
Scope of research project
I know that besides the Ecology class, you do have a lot of other responsibilities and hence I do not
expect you to conduct a full blown research project. To understand the scope of research project I
expect, I recommend you take a look at some examples of papers that have been written by graduate
students in the past. The examples are available on our class website:
http://ecosensing.org/teaching/css-560/digital-library/term-papers
Requirements for research project
Your research has to explore an ecological research question. Some examples of research papers that
graduate students wrote in the past can be downloaded from our class-website
(http://ecosensing.org/teaching/css-560/digital-library/term-papers).
Requirements for proposal
Provide a short introduction to your topic, state your research question and hypothesis, and shortly
describe the methods you are planning to use to answer your research question.
Requirements for research paper
The research paper should follow the general structure of a research paper with an abstract,
introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusions section. Papers should be written in Word or
another word processing software package that can be opened with Word. Make sure you cite at least 5
peer-reviewed research articles in your final paper. Please use the citation style used by the Journal of
Ecology: http://www.journalofecology.org/view/0/authorGuideline.html)
*Readings
Assigned readings should be done before class. You will be tested on the content covered in the
readings during the final exam. All readings are available from our class website
(http://ecosensing.org/teaching/css-560/readings/). Important: The reading tab on our class website is
password protected. Ask the instructor for the password.
Lab reports
You will be conducting small research projects during Day 7 and 8 of the ecology class. For each of these
days, a lab report will be due. For details on lab report requirements, please refer to our class website:
(http://ecosensing.org/teaching/css-560/homework-assignments-2/).
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Due dates
For details on due dates, please refer to the last column in the class schedule above. Please email all
your assignments to mccallogy@gmail.com. A written research proposal is due on Day 7 of class. Lab
report #1 will be due on Day 8 of class and lab report #2 will be due one week after Day 8 of class. If you
wish for the instructor to review your research paper before you receive a final grade, a draft of your
paper is due Friday, Nov 30th. A final draft of your research paper is due Friday, December 11th. Please
feel free to hand in your research paper earlier than the indicated due dates.
Late assignments won’t be accepted. No exceptions and excuses (e.g., my internet or computer did not
work).
Grading criteria
Please refer to the class website for grading criteria:
https://sites.google.com/site/mccallecology/home/grading-criteria
IV. Final Exam
The final exam for the Ecology class will be Monday, Dec 7th, from 9:00 to 10:00 AM. You will be tested
on topics we covered in class and that are covered in the assigned readings. For some more information
about the final exam (e.g., format of final exam, practice exam questions), please refer to
http://ecosensing.org/teaching/css-560/exam.
V. General Notes
Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have documented temporary or permanent
disabilities. All accommodations must be approved through Disability Support Services located in the
Idaho Commons Building, Room 306 in order to notify your instructor(s) as soon as possible regarding
accommodation(s) needed for the course.
●
885-6307
●
email at <dss@uidaho.edu>
●
website at www.uidaho.edu/dss
University of Idaho Classroom Learning Civility Clause
In any environment in which people gather to learn, it is essential that all members feel as free and safe
as possible in their participation. To this end, it is expected that everyone in this course will be treated
with mutual respect and civility, with an understanding that all of us (students, instructors, professors,
guests, and teaching assistants) will be respectful and civil to one another in discussion, in action, in
teaching, and in learning.
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Should you feel our classroom interactions do not reflect an environment of civility and
respect, you are encouraged to meet with your instructor during office hours to discuss your
concern. Additional resources for expression of concern or requesting support include the
Dean of Students office and staff (5-6757), the UI Counseling & Testing Center’s confidential
services (5-6716), or the UI Office of Human Rights, Access, & Inclusion (5-4285).
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