BIOL 208 – PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION – SPRING 2012
(A COURSE FORMALLY KNOWN AS POPULATION AND COMMUNITY BIOLOGY)
Instructors:
Dr. Elizabeth C. Evans, 304A Biology/102 Animal Behavior Lab, 570-577-3822, elizabeth.capaldi at Bucknell.edu
Dr. Mizuki Takahashi, 307 Biology, 570-577-1142, mizuki.takahashi at Bucknell.edu
Dr. Matt Travis, 305 Biology, 570-577-2963, matt.travis at Bucknell.edu
Lectures: MWF 10:00 AM (Dr. Evans), 11:00 AM (Dr. Takahashi)
Laboratories: M & W 2:00-4:52 PM, BIOL 108 (Dr. Travis) & BIOL 110 (Dr. Takahashi)
Course Objectives:
• To examine the central theories and principles of evolution, systematics, and ecology, and to survey the evidence that
supports them.
• To examine evolutionary and ecological theories and principles and their importance to diverse subdisciplines of
biology – plant and animal, theoretical and applied, physiological and behavioral, population and ecosystem.
• To present perspectives on the natural and human-fabricated worlds.
• To survey the effects that humans have on the composition, structure, and functioning of ecosystems.
Expectations: Class attendance for every lecture and laboratory is expected as is stated in the Bucknell University
Student Handbook. Each student should be prepared for lecture and laboratory by reading the assigned materials before
class. Preparation includes being focused and alert during lectures. Failure to prepare adequately for class will
adversely affect students’ performance in the course. Cell phones must be turned off on entering class and kept off for
the duration of class and laboratory. The instructors reserve the right to deduct from the final grades for cell phone use
(including texting) during any class activities. PLEASE put “BIOL208” in the subject line of any email correspondence
with the instructors. We all believe in regular and efficient communication with our students, but please assume the
following: a) if it is dark, we are not checking email b) if it is dark and late, we are not checking email and c) if you
email us immediately before a class, a lab, or an appointment, we are not checking email. Students must attend the
lecture and lab section in which they are registered at all times, unless approved ahead of time by the instructors. Each
student is required to obtain a clicker from the equipment desk at the library and bring it to every lecture. Attendance
may be recorded via clicker activities.
Academic-honesty Policy: We expect that every student has read and understood Bucknell’s academic-honesty policy,
and also the technological-use policy. We expect strict adherence to both of these policies. Each student will need to
prepare assignments, laboratory reports, and debate materials with these issues in mind. If there are any questions
throughout the semester, please ask one of the instructors BEFORE any assignment is submitted. We also reserve the
right to ask you to move your seat before or during any exam or quiz. If you think this possibility would be problematic
for you, please let us know ahead of time. Cheating in any form will not be tolerated.
Textbooks, both from Pearson/Benjamin Cummings Publishing:
• Scott Freeman. 2011. Biological Science, 4th edition, Benjamin Cummings
• Sean B. Carroll. 2009. Into the Jungle: Great Adventures in the Search for Evolution. Benjamin Cummings
Lecture Teaching Assistants:
There are students available to help you with course material, study strategies and assignment preparation for the
lectures. Please contact them directly if you have questions or need advice.
Matt Lamore (for Evans’ section): matt.lamore (or mpl009) at bucknell.edu
Matthew Wilson (for Takahashi’s section): mwilson (or mjw029) at bucknell.edu
Digital Resources:
• Assignments from Evolution Lab and from Simbio Virtual Labs
(information will be distributed in a separate document)
• Use of Moodle at Bucknell University’s L&IT website
Grading:
Assignments 10%
Participation 5%
First-hour Examination 20%
Second-hour Examination 20%
Final Examination 20%
Laboratory Reports 25%
COURSE POLICIES
TurnItIn & Academic Integrity: All lab reports must be turned in electronically (no paper copies) and are due by the
beginning of the lab period one week after lab manipulations are finished. Reports must be submitted to TurnItIn via
Moodle. Further, students agree that by taking this course all required papers will be subject to submission for a
Textual Similarity Review to TurnItIn for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be added as source
documents in the reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers.
Exams: The two, mid-semester, hour exams are scheduled for February 24 (Friday) and March 30 (Friday). If you have
a university-approved extra-curricular activity (athletics, performances, etc.) that conflicts with an exam, you must
inform your instructor well BEFORE the exam in order for the exam to be administered to you during your absence. If
you miss an exam due to an "excused" absence but could not notify your instructor prior to the exam (Dean's approved
medical excuse or emergency), you will need to make arrangements with your instructor as soon as possible; do not
assume that make up exams will be administered. One possibility will have the points from the missed exam distributed
between the other hour exam and the final exam. If you miss an exam due to an unexcused absence, you will receive a
zero for that exam. Make-up exams will be administered after consideration of the instructors. Likewise, if you have an
accommodation from the Dean’s Office, it is your responsibility to communicate your needs to the instructors PRIOR
to an examination.
Late submission of work: Lab reports must be submitted by the start of each lab period when reports are due.
Likewise, homework assignments are due by the time of your class session. Lab reports and other assignments turned
in after the due date and time will be penalized 5% for each day late (including weekends). The late clock begins as
soon as class or lab ends on days when assignments or reports are due, so you will lose a point even if assignments or
reports are turned in the day they are due but after the class period, unless permission is given ahead of time. Please
plan your assignment preparation carefully to avoid being late for class or lab.
Assignments: There will be a quiz, an in-class writing assignment, a homework assignment, or an activity on each
Friday during the semester (except for the dates of the exams). You will be able to earn 10 points on each assignment.
Only your highest 10 scores will be used to calculate your quiz grade for the course. If you miss an assignment or quiz,
it will count as a zero. Since not all assignments will be counted in the end, you will not be allowed to make-up this
work, even for excused absences from class. If you have an excused absence obligation requiring you to miss many
Friday sessions (>3), please discuss options with your instructor ASAP. At the instructors’ discretion, other writing
assignments or activities may be substituted for assignment points.
Participation: Individual instructors will outline section policy regarding this component of your grade. As part of
your participation grade, you will be required to attend two campus activities related to the course. Activities include
Biology departmental seminars, Environmental Studies or Center events, and other appropriate activities announced by
your instructor. To receive credit, you will submit a 1-page summary to your instructor within 1 week of the event.
Submit your written work on Moodle as indicated.
Any questions? Just talk to your instructor!