General Introduction to the Biol 404: Ecological Methods
Instructor: Dr. Sampath Seneviratne
Room 140 Biodiversity Research Centre
sampath@zoology.ubc.ca
Office hours: Weds 1.30 - 3.30 pm
TA: Michael Sheriff
Office hours: Weds 10am - 12pm rm 3349
sheriff@zoology.ubc.ca
Textbook
Biol 404: Ecological Methods – Custom Course Materials (compiled by Dr. Diane
Srivastava) Available in the UBC Bookstore.
Also Recommended
Krebs, Charles J. 1999. Ecological Methodology (Second Edition). Benjamin Cummings.
Lecture and Lab locations (see course Schedule for details):
 Monday and Wednesday lecture 9-10 am: Wesbrook rm 201
 Monday Labs (indoor): Wet Lab BS 2219 Biological Sciences Bldg. (close to the
central auditorium)
 Monday Labs (outdoor): meet in the Zoology courtyard for transport to Spanish
Banks/Pacific Spirit Park.
 Monday Labs (computer): Stats Lab BS 2434
What is this course about?
This course will teach you both specific techniques and general theory of collecting,
analyzing and interpreting ecological data. About half of the lectures and all the labs
concern practical methods for estimating population and community measures. The other
half of the lectures will discuss experimental design and analysis. You will do practical
exercises in the field, in the lab, and on the computer.
Who should take this course?
Students who want to become professional ecologists, environmental consultants or
experimental biologists.
Am I qualified to take this course?
If you have taken Biol 300 and at least one of 302, 303, 304. We will briefly review some
statistical concepts in the first or second week. After that, it is assumed that you
remember the content of Biol 300!
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed in ways that ecologists are assessed in the real world, that is by
your ability to think deeply about science and communicate these thoughts effectively.
You will prepare professional-standard lab reports, peer-review manuscripts, and present
research proposals. There is no exam in the course, rather you will be continuously
assessed throughout the term. There are 7 substantial pieces of written work for this
course (lab reports, research proposal, stats assignments).
Marking scheme:
 Formal lab reports (4 at 15% each): 60%
 Statistics assignments (two at 10% each): 20%
 Research proposal: 15%
 In-class exercises and participation: 5%
A note on collaborating with other students.
Collaboration is an important part of science, and is to be encouraged. You should feel
free to collaborate on the design, execution, and statistical analysis of your lab reports.
However, the writing (text, tables, figures) must be done individually for me to assess you.
Although you should feel free to discuss your statistics assignments with other
classmates, I expect you to carry out the analyses and write the text individually. Be sure
to cite all sources that you use extensively for information or ideas, otherwise it
consistitutes plagarism, taken extremely seriously by both UBC and professional scientific
community.
(Adopted with modifications from the general course outline written by Dr. Diane
Srivastava for the Biol 404 winter 2009)