SYLLABUS: GENERAL ECOLOGY, FALL 2013
J. S. Scheibe
e-mail: jscheibe@semo.edu
web address: www.sabrinus.com
Office: MG 125
Ph: 651-2379
OH: MWF 10-10:50
I.
Catalog description and credit hours of course: An introduction to the
fundamental principles of ecology. Field trips outside of class time may be
required. Two one-hour lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week.
II.
Prerequisite: BO200, ZO200, or BI200.
III.
Purposes or objectives of the course:
a) To provide for students an introduction to the basic principles of ecology,
comprising evolutionary, physiological, behavioral, population, and
community ecology.
b) To provide opportunities for students to learn how the scientific method is
used to answer ecological questions.
IV.
Lecture / Discussion outline:
1)
Introduction: Read Ch. 1 and Ch 4
1.1
Levels of organization
1.2
Kinds of organisms.
1.3
Temporal and spatial scale
1.4
Generation of diversity: natural selection & evolution.
1.5
The nature of science
2).
Life and the physical environment: Read Ch. 2 and Ch. 3
2.1
The physical environment
2.2
Adaptation in aquatic and terrestrial communities
2.3
Climate, topography, and soils
2.4
Diversity of biological communities.
3)
Organisms: Read Chs. 5 through 8 and Ch. 12
3.1
Homeostasis: regulation and conformity
3.2
Microhabitat selection & consequences
3.3
Behavior and optimality
3.4
Life history theory
3.5
Mating systems and social structure
V.
4)
Populations: Read Ch. 10 and Ch. 11
4.1
Population structure
4.2
Population growth
4.3
Temporal and spatial dynamics
4.4
Population genetics and evolution
5)
Species Interactions: Read Ch. 13 and Ch. 14
5.1
Coevolution
5.2
Competition
5.3
Predation
6)
Communities: Read Ch. 16, 17, and 22
6.1
Community structure
6.2
Community development
6.3
Patterns of diversity
6.4
History and biogeography
Laboratory Exercises.
1) Cemetery & Demography Exercise
a) Cohort Survivorship
b) Fecundity
c) Population growth models
2) Big Oak Tree & Mingo NWR Surveys
a) Camera Trap Analysis
i) Estimation of species diversity and abundance
ii) Characterization of Habitat Structure
iii) Regression and PCA exercises
b) Swamp Rabbit Analysis
i) Presence / absence
ii) Detection probabilities
iii) Spatial Patch Occupancy Modeling
3) Optimal Foraging and the Marginal Value Theorem.
a) Patch quality and foraging in squirrels
b) Patch quality and foraging in birds
VI.
Grades.
Midterm Exam (March 8)
Final Exam (May 3)
Laboratory Projects
Miscellaneous Assignments
150 pts
150 pts
150 pts
150 pts
TOTAL POINTS
600 pts
Grade Breakdown:
A = 95% of top score in class
B = 82% of top score in class
C = 68% of top score in class
D = 50% of top score in class
VI.
Student Questions / Complaints
Questions, comments or requests regarding this course or program should be
taken to your instructor. Unanswered questions or unresolved issues involving
this class may be taken to Dr. James Champine.
VII.
Student Learning Objectives
a. Students will explain how abiotic factors affect species distributions in the
landscape
b. Students will explain measured components of th eopotimal foraging model
c. Students will explain the differences between the exponential growth model
and the logistic growth model.