Bio122: Ecology
Fall 2015
BIO 122: ECOLOGY, Fall 2015
Instructor: Dr. Michelle Paddack Phone: (805) 965-0581 x2328 Email: mjpaddack@sbcc.edu
Instructor's Office Hours (EBS 319): Tu 10:30-12:30, W 1-2:30, or by appointment
Lecture Schedule
Note: This schedule may adapt to our class – check class website frequently: www.biosbcc.net
Required Text: Ecology, 3rd ed (2014), ML Cain, WD Bowman, SD Hacker
Text website (really useful!): sites.sinauer.com/ecology3e
Wk
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Date
Lecture Topics
Lecture 1: Intro to Ecology,
Aug. 28 Climate,
Biomes - Activity 1 (campus gardens)
Lecture 2: Physical Environment,
Sept. 4 Temperature & Water
Activity 2 – Ectotherm Physiology
Sept.
Lecture 3: Photosynthetic Pathways
11
Activity 3 – C3 vs C4 simulations
Sept. Test 1
18
Lecture 4: Evolution; Life History
Lecture 5: Population Abundance &
Sept. Distribution; Life History
25
Activity 4- Populations (docks)
Project Topic Due
Lecture 6: Population Regulation
Oct. 1
Activity 5 – Life Tables
Lecture 7: Competition; Predation
Oct. 8 Activity 6- life table discussion
Project Outline Due
Test 2
Oct. 15 Lecture 8: Predation Impacts; Parasitism;
Commensalism
Lecture 9: Mutualism; Communities
Oct. 22 Activity 7- Species Diversity
Project Progress Report 1 Due
Oct. 29
11
Nov. 5
12
Nov. 12
13
Nov. 19
14
15
16
Nov. 26
Dec. 4
Dec. 10
Lecture 10: Succession; Biodiversity
Activity 8- Intermediate Disturbance
Lecture 11: Production
Activity 9-Botanic Gardens
Project Progress Report 2 Due
Test 3
Lecture 12: Energy Flow; Nutrient Cycles
Lecture 13: Conservation Biology
Landscape Ecology; Global Ecology
Activity 10No class - Thanksgiving
Final presentations
Final Exam (8am-10am)
Reading
Ch. 1
Ch2: 22-27
Ch 3: 50-69
Assignments
HW1: Lecture 1
Study Questions due
9/4
Ch2: 44-48
Ch4
Ch. 5: to p125
HW2: Lecture 3
Study Questions
Ch.6, 7
Ch. 9,10
Ch.10,11
Ch. 12, 13 (to p
306)
Ch. 14,15
Ch. 16
Ch. 17, Ch. 19:
434-437
Ch. 20
Ch. 21, 22
HW 3: Web Problem
7.1
Review your exam
HW 4: Life Table
HW 5: Study
Questions
HW: Work on
Projects (progress
report)
HW 6: Study
Questions
Finish Activity 7
HW: Work on
Projects (progress
report)
HW: Study for test
HW 7:
HW 8:
Ch. 23-25
Bio122: Ecology
Fall 2015
Student Learning Outcomes (SLO’s)
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Describe the physical laws of thermodynamics, the driving force attributed to electromagnetic
radiation, and the flow and cycling of matter through ecosystems.
2. Explain biomass transfer via food chains and food webs and the direction, rates, and efficiencies of
transfer for different types of ecosystems such as aquatic versus terrestrial and homeothermic
versus poikilothermic models.
3. Research and create essays that critically evaluate fluctuations of populations in time and space,
outlining the principles and outcomes of key-factor analysis using specific examples of real
populations.
4. Evaluate the differing hypotheses used to define populations and communities based on biological
parameters and geographic range.
This is a 3-unit non-major’s biology course which satisfies the SBCC General Education requirement in
Natural Sciences. This course is transferable to both the UC and CSU as a general education science
course. Biology majors are welcome to take this course, however they will not receive credit toward
their major for this course.
Final Course Grade is based on the following distribution of points:
Activity
3 tests @ 50 points each
8 homeworks (10 pts each)
10 in-class activities/discussion (10 pts each)
Final Exam
Project Outline
Project Progress Report 1
Project Progress Report 2
Project
Total
Points
150
80
100
100
5
15
15
100
565
%
29%
16%
25%
19%
1%
5%
5%
19%
100%
Participation
The study of ecology is the study of interactions among organisms and their environment, and the
ecological classroom is no exception. This course is not a traditional lecture format where you sit silently
taking notes – you will be expected to take part in the class fully. We encourage questions and
discussion that are relevant to each lecture and will be providing you the opportunity to truly interact
with the material you are learning through in-class activities. Here are some pointers on how to be an
excellent student in this class and get the most from this amazing opportunity to learn:
 Read the assigned text chapters prior to each class. Write out questions that you have about
sections you do not understand.
 Read through the study questions at the end of each chapter and jot down some responses to each.
 During lectures, stay attentive. Merely being present in the room does not necessarily count as
participation. Students who are not paying attention or causing a distraction for the class will lose
participation points and may be asked to leave.
 Stay engaged in class activities.
 Study with your class mates and come to office hours to increase your understand. Be proactive.
Do not wait until the day before a test to try to understand.
Bio122: Ecology
Fall 2015
Activities & Discussions
This is a very dynamic & interactive class. In each class period, you will have a graded activity, which you
may be doing alone or in a group, that will be based upon the reading material for that week. Each
activity is worth 10 points and may include worksheets, on-line activities or small group discussions in
which students work together in reading and critically analyzing a Case Study from the text. For
discussions, students will be graded on their participation within their group and on their contribution to
maintaining an interactive discussion by raising questions/insights/and criticisms to the study.
Tests
Lecture tests will be a combination of multiple choice, short answer and short essay questions. Test
material is based on text readings, lecture material, and in-class activities. Make-up tests will only be
considered for a documented emergency.
Final Project
 Students will work with 1 partner on a project that will be presented orally to the class during the
last two weeks of the semester.
 Students will sign up for project topics by the 5th week of the semester (but only 1 presentation per
topic, so sign up early if you want to ensure your 1st choice).
 Your project will require library research, as a term paper would, but will also require some time in
the field, conducting your own observations and collecting data.
 Each team will select an ecosystem to study. Our focus this semester will be local ecosystems (e.g.,
rocky intertidal, chaparral forest, mountain stream, coastal grassland, sandy beach, etc.).
 Projects will consist of the following sections:
1. An overview of your ecosystem, including the key species within each trophic level (i.e., who are
the major photosynthesizers, grazers, predators) and overall structure of the system.
2. A more in-depth look at the ecosystem from one of the following ecological levels: individual,
population, or community. For example, the individual level would mean focusing on the
adaptations (physical and/or behavioral) of a particular species and making observations of that
species in the field. On a population level, you may survey the size of the population and how it
changes (or may change) over time. On a community level, you may look at the overall
biodiversity of the ecosystem and examine some of the competitive or predatory interactions
among species.
3. A broad look at how this ecosystem fits into the larger ecosystem of this area – for example, how
does it affect the ecology of the region?
4. An investigation of human impacts/threats to this system and ways that these are or could be
addressed.
 You will be required to submit an outline and 2 progress reports during the semester as you prepare
your project.
 All projects will be presented orally, but the method of presentation is up to you. We will provide
pointers & training on using PowerPoint, but you are welcome to use another method of your choice
– the key is to be clear & engaging. Artistic touches are always welcome!
Santa Barbara City College has a strict policy on academic honesty and I maintain a zero tolerance for
any act of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty, as defined by SBCC, includes, but is not limited
to: cheating on a test (e.g. looking at or copying from someone else’s test, talking to someone during
a test, using cell phones or texting, bringing prepared “cheat sheets”, studying from old versions of
Bio122: Ecology
Fall 2015
the test or getting answers to a test from another student who has previously taken the test, using
any type of translator or dictionary), copying someone else’s work or answers on worksheets or
assignments, plagiarism, or submitting a paper or essay in which any part is written by someone else.
ALL instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the academic dean for institutional action. In
addition, the dishonest student will receive a zero score for the test/paper/assignment on which the
cheating occurred.
Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSPS) www.sbcc.edu/dsps
SBCC students with verified disabilities who are requesting academic accommodations should
use the following procedure:
Step 1: Obtain documentation of your disability from a licensed professional. You may contact DSPS
to request a Disability Verification Form.
Step 2: Make an appointment to meet with a DSPS Specialist to review your documentation and
discuss reasonable accommodations. To schedule a meeting, please call DSPS at (805) 730-4164.
Step 3: Bring your disability documentation to your DSPS appointment. The DSPS office is located in
room 160 of the Student Services building.
Step 4: Each semester, reach written accommodation agreement with the DSPS Specialist and your
instructor.
Please complete this process in a timely manner to allow adequate time to provide accommodation.