ESCI 325 FUNDAMENTALS OF ECOLOGY (3 cr.)
Huxley College of the Environment
Western Washington University
Winter 2016
Instructor:
Office:
Tel:
Email:
Office hrs:
James M. Helfield
ES 338
650-7285
james.helfield@wwu.edu
W 2:30 – 3:30 pm or by appt.
Lectures:
MWF 10:00 – 10:50 am, FI 238
Cale Miller (TA)
ES 303
650-4416
mille454@students.wwu.edu
by appt.
Course Objectives:
Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with their physical environment and with each other. The primary
objective of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental concepts of ecology and the
ways in which physical, chemical and biological factors interact to shape the structure and dynamics of terrestrial
and aquatic ecosystems. Another goal is to help students become informed, critical thinkers able to interpret the
results of scientific studies and use theoretical knowledge to address environmental issues affecting society.
Prerequisites:
BIOL 204, BIOL 205 and BIOL 206; CHEM 121, CHEM 122 and CHEM 123.
Readings and Course Materials:
The recommended textbook for this course is Ecology (2nd Edition), by M.L. Cain, W.D. Bowman, and S.D. Hacker,
published by Sinauer Associates. Supplemental readings and other course materials can be downloaded from the
ESCI 325 Canvas site.
Assignments and Grading:
Final grades will be based on the following:
Assignment 1
Assignment 2
Assignment 3
Midterm Exam 1
Midterm Exam 2
Final Exam
Total:
5%
10%
10%
25%
25%
25%
100%
Late assignments will be penalized 5% per day if turned in without a valid excuse. Students who miss a test without
a valid excuse will be given a grade of 0% for that test. If you have a valid excuse for missing a deadline or a test,
you should contact the instructor beforehand so that alternate arrangements can be made.
Letter grades will be assigned as follows:
Grade
%
Grade
%
B+
87 – 89.9
A
93 – 100
B
83 – 86.9
A90 – 92.9
B80 – 82.9
Grade
C+
C
C-
%
77 – 79.9
73 – 76.9
70 – 72.9
Grade
D+
D
D-
%
67 – 69.9
63 – 66.9
60 – 62.9
Grade
F
%
0 – 59.9
Schedule:
Week Date
1
2
3
4
5
8
9
Dead
Readings*
F 1/8
SECTION I: INTRODUCTION
Introduction to the Course: What is Ecology?; Citing peerreviewed sources; Assgn. 1
Climate and Biomes
M 1/11
W 1/13
F 1/15
SECTION II: ORGANISMAL ECOLOGY
Evolution and Natural Selection
Evolution and Natural Selection (cont’d)
Temperature Regulation; ASSGN. 1 DUE
M 1/18
W 1/20
F 1/22
No class (Martin Luther King, Jr., Day)
Water Regulation
Energy and Nutrient Resources
M 1/25
W 1/27
Energy and Nutrient Resources (cont’d)
MIDTERM EXAM 1
F 1/29
SECTION III: POPULATION ECOLOGY
Distribution and Abundance
Ch. 8
M 2/1
W 2/3
F 2/5
Population Dynamics
Population Dynamics (cont’d); Population Growth; Assgn. 2
Life History Strategies
Ch. 10
Ch. 9
Ch. 7
M 2/8
W 2/10
F 2/12
SECTION IV: COMMUNITY ECOLOGY
Competition and Niches
Exploitation: Herbivory, Predation, Parasitism and Disease
Exploitation (cont’d); ASSGN. 2 DUE
Ch. 11
Chs. 12&13
M 2/15
W 2/17
F 2/19
No class (Presidents Day)
Symbiosis
MIDTERM EXAM 2
Ch. 14
M 2/22
W 2/24
Biodiversity; Assgn. 3
Food Webs
Chs. 15&18
Ch. 20
F 2/26
SECTION V: ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY
Primary Production and Energy Flux
Ch. 19
M 2/29
W 3/2
F 3/4
Nutrient Cycling; ASSGN. 3 DUE
Salmon, Bear and Riparian Forests: A Keystone Mutualism?;
Disturbance and Succession
Ch. 21
Helfield and Naiman 2006
Ch. 16
M 3/7
W 3/9
F 3/11
Island Biogeography
Climate Change, Humans and Extinction
Loose Ends, Summary and Review
Ch. 17
Ch. 24
W 1/6
6
7
Topic
Finals M 3/14
FINAL EXAM 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
*Unless otherwise indicated, assigned chapters are from the Cain et al. textbook.
Ch. 1
Chs. 2&3
Ch. 6
Ch. 4
Ch. 4
Ch. 5