BIOS 119L: Ecology and Evolution
Fall 2015
Lecture Times: TH 10:50-12:05
Lab Time: Monday 9:25-12:15
Instructor: Dr. Jackie Schnurr - office: 315 Stratton
- phone: 364-3274
- Email: jschnurr@wells.edu
Course website: morgan.wells.edu/faculty/jschnurr
Office Hours: M 12:30-1:30, TH 9:30-10:30, WF 10-12
Text: Campbell’s Biology – Campbell, Reece, etc
Course Philosophy: This course is designed to give a general overview of the science of
Ecology, as well as providing an understanding of the importance of evolution to the
understanding of science. Ecology is a hands-on science, and the labs will provide you
with a deeper understanding of the research ecologists perform. Because of this, you will
be spending several laboratories in the field (dress appropriately!). Also, although field
work is the part of Ecology most scientists enjoy the most, Ecologists are also charged
with communicating their results to other scientists and the public. Therefore, another
large portion of the lab will be writing up your results from the field. The lab and the
lectures are designed to give you a general feel for the science of Ecology.
Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, student will be able to:
1. Understand the basic components of the physical environment and describe how
they interact to affect the living component of the environment, at multiple scales.
2. Understand basic evolutionary concepts, and why they are central to ecology.
3. Outline basic world climate patterns, and their importance.
4. Outline the pathways energy and nutrients take as they flow through an ecosystem.
5. Describe environmental interactions and behavior at the level of the organism,
including homeostasis, acclimation, and developmental response.
6. Describe how species interact, showing how competition, predation, and coevolution operate to influence the interdependence of species.
7. Describe the concept of the population, including growth and regulators.
8. Describe the concept of the community, giving special attention to biodiversity
and its role in community well being.
9. Use the scientific method to formulate and test hypotheses, as well as
communicate the results with the greater scientific community.
10. Have a basic understanding of statistics, and be able to construct, read, and
interpret graphs!
11. prepare a research report in the standard style of such reports in the literature of
ecology and evolution.
12. understand that the solutions to environmental problems demand both scientific
and social understanding.
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Grading:
Lecture Exams: 30 %
Exam 1: 10 %
Exam 2: 10 %
Exam 3: 10 %
Laboratory: 45 %
Field Write-Ups: 25 %
Class Assignments: 20%
Final Exam: 15%
In-class questions 10%
Exams will consist of multiple choice, short answer, essay and graphical questions.
Labs make up a large portion of your final grade. All lab write-ups (both papers based on
the field research and in class assignments) need to be TYPED.
Special needs or requests:
I encourage you to see me right away to discuss any circumstances that may affect your
academic work If you have a documented physical, sensory, health, cognitive, or mental
health difficulty that could limit your ability to fully participate in your classes, you are
encouraged to contact the Coordinator of Student Achievement, Megan Reidl, to
discuss accommodations that will help you succeed. Her offices are on the middle/main
floor of the library, near the Writing Center and the 822s of the stacks. Telephone x
3432, email mreidl@wells.edu.
The Honor Code is an important part of a Wells College education. You signed it at
the beginning of the semester – please don’t forget that “Wells College students are
under community obligation and pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, deceive or conceal in
the conduct of their collegiate life as defined or encompassed by the Collegiate
Rules.”
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Lecture Schedule
Dates
Topic
August 27
Sept 1, 3
8, 10
15
Introduction to Ecology
Climate and Biomes
Terrestrial Biomes
Aquatic Biomes
Sept.
Oct
17
22, 24
29
1, 6
Reading
Organismal Ecology
Physiology: Temperature
Physiology: Water Relations
FIRST EXAM
Behavior: Energy
Ch.52
Ch.52
Ch. 52
Ch.52
Ch 40, p. 862-868
Ch 36
Ch 41, Ch 10
Evolution
Oct.
Nov
Dec.
8
13
15
20
History
FALL BREAK
Population Genetics
Speciation
Population Ecology
22
Distribution and dispersion
27
SECOND EXAM
29
Demographics
3, 5
Population Growth Models
10, 12
Competition and Coexistence
17, 19
Exploitation
24
THIRD EXAM
1
3
8
Community Ecology
Ecosystem Ecology
Geographic Ecology
FINAL EXAM: DECEMBER 15, 9am-12 pm
3
Ch.22
Ch 23
Ch 24
Ch 53
Ch.53
Ch 53
Ch 54
Ch 54
Ch 54
Ch 54
Ch 55
BIOL 119L LAB SCHEDULE
Week of:
Lab Title
August 31
Forest Fungi Project
September 7
Population dispersion - field
Sept. 14
Population dispersion - lab
Sept. 21
Forest Sampling Methods
Sept. 28
Mark-recapture I
Oct. 5
Mark-recapture II
Oct. 12
Hand-In
Knapweed Assign.
NO LAB – FALL BREAK
Oct. 19
Seedling recruitment I
Mark-recap assign.
Oct. 26
Seedling recruitment II
Proposal due
Nov. 2
Tales from the Crypt
1693 Life Table due
Nov. 9
Seedlings III/Tales help
Nov 16
Modeling activity
Nov. 23
On-line assignment
Nov. 30
Floristic Relay game
Dec. 7
GROUP PRESENTATIONS
4
Tales assignment
Seedling paper