Ecology
Biology 122
Fall 2013
Ecology: Biology 122
Fall 2013
Co-instructors: Dr. Michelle Paddack & Dr. Kris Burnell
Michelle Paddack
Office:
EBS 319
Phone:
(805) 965-0581 x2328
Email:
mjpaddack@sbcc.edu
Office Hours: T 11:00-12:30, W 1:00-2:30,
R 11:30-12:30 or by appointment
Kris Burnell
EBS 212
(805) 965-0581 X2311
burnell@sbcc.edu
M, W 1:00-2:00, M 4:30-5:30, or by
appointment
Course website: www.biosbcc.net/burnell
Course Focus. This course will introduce students to the basic concepts of ecology. By the end of the
semester, students should have a general understanding of organisms and populations as integrated
elements of communities and ecosystems; population structure and growth; the relationships between
species; community structure and development; and biodiversity.
This is a three-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.
Required Text: Ecology, 2nd ed (2011), ML Cain, WD Bowman, SD Hacker
You MUST read the chapters before each class!
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Reading Comprehension Quizzes
You will be expected to come to class having read the text material and be prepared with questions and
an ability to summarize what you learned. We will be reviewing these concepts in class, but expect you
to come prepared. Most class periods will begin with a 10 point quiz based on information from the
assigned reading.
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.
Lecture 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.
Ecology
Biology 122
Fall 2013
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!
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.
Come to office hours or set up an appointment with one of your instructors if you do not understand
something. Be proactive – visit us early and often, that is what we are here for! Do not wait until
the day before a test to try to understand.
Ecology
Biology 122
Fall 2013
Final Course Grade is based on the following distribution of points:
3 tests @ 50 points each
8 quizzes (12 pts each)
13 in-class activities/discussion (10 pts each)
Final Exam
Project Outline
Project Progress Report 1
Project Progress Report 2
Project
Total
Points
150
96
130
100
15
30
30
100
650
%
23%
15%
20%
15%
2%
5%
5%
15%
100%
Policy on Cheating
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 myself and 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 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.
Students with Disabilies
SBCC students with disabilities who are requesting accommodations for classes, college activities or tests
should use the following SBCC procedure. This also includes students who are requesting to bring
service animals into classes. The animals will be registered in DSPS. The procedure also includes
requests to bring into classes personal service attendants who are not SBCC employees.
[1] Contact Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS).
[2] Submit documentation of your disability to the DSPS office.
[3] Communicate with a DSPS counselor regarding options for services and accommodations.
[4] Reach written accommodation agreement with the DSPS counselor and your instructor.
SBCC requests you complete this process at least ten working days before your accommodation is
needed, in order to allow DSPS staff time to provide your accommodation.
Contact: DSPS office (805) 965-0581 x 2364, SS Building, room 160, dspshelp@sbcc.edu
Ecology
Biology 122
Fall 2013
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.
Things that Annoy Us
We think it is only fair to conclude with a list of some of the things that annoy us so that you can avoid
doing them. If you really want to irritate us, you should…
1. let you cell phone ring, vibrate or make any other sound during class. If your phone rings we reserve
the right to answer it.
2. carry on a conversation while professors or students are presenting material. Even whispering &
texting can cause others to be disturbed/distracted .
3. repeatedly show up late for class or leave early.
4. gather up your books, papers, laptop, etc. and shuffle around before we are done talking.
5. ask, “Do we have to know this for the exam?”
6. whine about having too much information on a test.
Ecology
Biology 122
Fall 2013
Schedule of Lecture Topics
Week
Date
Topic
Reading
1
Aug. 29
Lecture 1: Intro to Ecology & each other; Biosphere MP & KB
(on-campus walk to gardens)
Ch. 1-3
2
Sept. 5
Lecture 2: Temperature & Water – MP & KB
(walk to beach)
Ch. 3, 4
3
Sept. 12
Lecture 3: Energy; Evolution & Ecology - KB
Ch. 5,6
4
Sept. 19
Test 1
Lecture 4: Life History - KB
5
Sept. 26
Lecture 5: Populations Distribution, Growth & Regulation – MP
(Field excursion to Docks)
Project Topic Due
6
Oct. 3
Lecture 6: Population Dynamics; Competition - KB
7
Oct. 10
Lecture 7: Predation, Herbivory - KB
Project Outline Due
8
Oct. 17
Test 2
Lecture 8: Parasitism, Mutualism & Commensalism – Special guest
Ch. 13, 14
9
Oct. 24
Lecture 9: Communities & Community Change - MP
Project Progress Report 1 Due
Ch. 15,16
10
Oct. 31
FIELD CLASS AT BOTANIC GARDENS
Lecture 10: Biogeography; Species Diversity- KB
Ch. 17,18
11
Nov. 7
Lecture 11: Energy Flow; Nutrient Cycles - MP
Project Progress Report 2 Due
Ch. 20,21
12
Nov. 14
Test 3
Lecture 12: Conservation Biology - MP
13
Nov. 21
Lecture 13: Landscape Ecology; Global Ecology - MP
14
Nov. 28
No class - Thanksgiving
15
Dec. 5
Final presentations
16
Dec. 12
Final Exam
Ch. 7
Ch. 8,9
Ch. 10,11
Ch. 12
Ch. 22
Ch. 23,24