BIOL 473- Applied Ecology
COURSE SYLLABUS
Summer 2006
LECTURE LOCATION: 209 GOUAUX HALL
LABORATORY LOCATION: 209 & 401 GOUAUX HALL
LECTURER:
Lecture time:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Office Hours:
Dr. Quenton Fontenot
1:00 – 4:30 Tues & Thur
116 Gouaux Hall
449-7062
quenton.fontenot@nicholls.edu
MWF 8:30-11:30 or appointment
COURSE CATALOG DESCRIPTION
Biology 473 – Applied Ecology. A study of the collection, interpretation, and presentation of
ecological data. Emphasis is on quantitative techniques for analyzing the structure and function of
populations and communities. Includes computer and field trip experiences.
COURSE PREREQUISITES
Biology 155 and Biology 156
REQUIRED TEXTS
None
COURSE GOALS
The course will present methods used to understand the mechanisms and relationships of ecological
processes. Students will be challenged to use ecological concepts to draw conclusions from data, to
develop alternative hypotheses to explain observations, to make predictions and design experiments
to test competing hypotheses. Students will learn and use the fundamental concepts and statistical
methods of ecology to draw conclusions from data, to develop alternative hypotheses to explain
observations, to make predictions, and to design experiments to test hypotheses.
COURSE STUDENT OUTCOME OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, the student will:
 Describe the nature of an individual data set based on variance and distribution
 Compute descriptive statistics for ecological data sets
 Interpret and evaluate ecological data sets
 Comprehend the basics of designing a sound ecological study
 Recognize correct methods of ecological analysis
 Compute statistical parameters necessary to compare two or more populations
 Compute statistical parameters necessary to describe the relationship between two variables
 Demonstrate the ability to assess ecological data
 Apply basic analytical techniques with statistical software (SAS)
 Understand experimental unit
 Understand the central limit theorem
 Create an appropriate poster to present ecological data
 Perform an appropriate presentation to present ecological data



Write a description of an ecological data set
Expand software skills
Analyze ecological data
COURSE CONTENT
The contents of the lecture and laboratory components of the course, including exam and due dates,
are described in the attached Lecture Schedule pages.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Each student is required to:
1) attend all course lectures. Two unexcused absences from lecture will result in the
student receiving an FEA (failed due to excessive absences)
2) read and become familiar with material in all assigned readings.
3) activate his/her personal Academic Computing Account and memorize the account’s
password. For information or problems with accounts, contact Academic Computing at 4484224.
4) participate in two lecture examinations.
5) independently complete five assignments.
6) conduct himself/herself in a manner respectful, harmless, and nondisruptive to the instructor
and fellow students in both the lecture room and the laboratory.
7) accept and abide by all other parts and provisions of this syllabus.
Participation in examinations and completion assignments (numbers 4 and 5 above) are absolute
requirements for earning graduation credit for the course. A student will automatically earn a
failing grade in the course for either (i) failure to take any exam or (ii) failure to submit any
assignment.
METHODS OF EVALUATION
Participation in each of the following method of evaluation is an absolute requirement of the course:
No student can earn graduation credit for this course without participation in each evaluation method:
A student will automatically earn a failing grade in the course for failure to participate in any
examination.
1)
2)
3)
Examinations. A midterm and a final exam (100 points each) will be given.
Class Assignments. Five exercises (20 points each) will be assigned throughout the
semester. Each assignment must be completed.
Oral Presentation. Each student will be required to give an oral presentation (50 points) on
an assigned data set project.
MAKE-UP PROCEDURE
The instructor makes extraordinary efforts to ensure that students facing unforeseen and urgent
problems have an opportunity to succeed in the course. As you can imagine, however, this privilege
is too often abused, and abuse causes the establishment of stipulations for all students.
Understanding that personal problems can arise on dates and occasions important in this course, the
instructor has developed the following policy for remediation (make-up work):
1) Discretion. Make-up work is allowable only at the discretion of the lecturer.
2) Request for Remediation. The student must request any and all make-up work. Within 24hours of missing an exam, a due date, or a laboratory session, the student must contact the
lecturer either by phone, email, or in person during office hours to request remediation. In all
cases, acceptable reasons for requesting remediation are (i) personal illness, (ii) illness of
dependent, (iii) death of immediate family member. In all cases, requests for remediation
must be accompanied by documentation substantiating the reason for missed work.
3) Exam Remediation. Participation in each lecture exam is an absolute requirement of the
course (see Course Requirements above). If you miss an exam you talk with the instructor
within 24 hours of the examination to request a make-up exam otherwise you will be assigned
a grade of “0” for that exam. The instructor will allow a make-up if your reasons for missing
the exam are deemed acceptable.
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY
Dishonesty cannot and will not be tolerated. Cheating during examination and submission of nonoriginal work are each grounds for dismissal and application of sanctions in accordance with the Code
of Student Conduct of Nicholls State University. Plagiarism or any other form of dishonesty
detected in reports or exams will result in a course grade of F.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Students are expected to:
 attend all lectures: Two or more unexcused lecture absences will result in the student
receiving an FEA
 arrive to lecture on time and neither leave nor prepare to leave before dismissal by the lecturer.
Students late for the beginning of a lecture are encouraged to attend, but they must enter quietly,
without creating disruption, and through the rear door of the classroom.
 perform work during lectures exclusively on material directly relating to the current course topic.
 conduct themselves during lectures with consideration and respect toward the lecturer, and the
fellow students enrolled in the course. Deviation from this conduct constitutes grounds for dismissal
from the course and possibly the University in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct of
Nicholls State University.
DATE OF “DROP WITH ‘W’” GRADE
Thursday, July 13, 2006, is the final date to receive an automatic “W” when dropping a course or
resigning from the university.
UNIVERSITY DISABILITY POLICY:
If you have a documented disability that requires assistance, you will need to register with the
Office of Disability Services for coordination of your academic accommodations. The Office of
Disability Services is located in Peltier Hall, Room 100-A. The phone number is (985) 448-4430
(TDD449-7002)."
IMPORTANT DATES (Summer 2006)
June 29: Midterm Exam
June 29 – July 2: Fourchon Field Trip (Depart after Midterm)
July 4:
No Class
Jul 13:
Last day to drop with a W
Jul 24 or 25: Final Exam
BIOLOGY 473: Summer 2006 Semester Lecture Calendar
Note: This schedule is tentative. All changes to lecture schedule will be announced in class.
Topic
Course Introduction / Describing a Data Set
Collecting and Managing Ecological Data Sets
Ensuring Your Data Set is Representative of the
Population
Comparing Populations
Ecological Cause and Effect / Growth
Midterm
Case Studies
Case Studies
Oral Presentation of Ecological Data
Poster Presentation of Ecological Data
Manuscript Preparation of Ecological Data
Final Exam
Date
6/13/06
6/15/06
6/20/06
6/22/06
6/27/06
6/29/06
7/6/06
7/11/06
7/13/06
7/18/06
7/20/06
Either 7/24 or 7/25