BIOLOGY 208: PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGY
WINTER TERM 2010
SECTION B01: MWF 1:00-1:50, ETL E1-001
Instructors:
Dr. John Gamon (Tory 3-115, phone 492-0345; gamon@ualberta.ca),
Office hours: By appointment. Call or email to set up time using “Biol208” in subject line.
Course Coordinator: Dr. Saewan Koh (CW-312B; 492-9597; s.koh@ualberta.ca)
Office hours: By appointment. Email to set up time using “Biol208” in subject line.
Course Web Page: http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/courses.hp/bio208/
Required Textbook: Molles, MC, and JC Cahill 2008. Ecology: Concepts and Applications, Canadian
Edition. McGraw-Hill Ryerson, Toronto, Canada. 642p. Available at the Student's Union Bookstore. Limited
copies are available on reserve at Cameron Library and in the resource room (see below). There will be assigned
readings from this text, for which you will be responsible on the midterm and final exam.
Laboratory Manual: Biology 208 Laboratory Manual - Winter Term 2010. Available from the Bookstore.
Course Description: BIOL 208 is designed to provide you with an understanding of the major concepts of
modern ecology at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and global levels. The course provides a
comprehensive survey of general concepts that can stand alone or serve as preparation for advanced courses in
ecology. Labs emphasize collection, analysis, and interpretation of data from ecological experiments and field
studies to illustrate and complement lecture material. Examples are drawn from a broad range of organisms and
systems. Prerequisite: BIOL 108. Open to students in the BSc Forestry and BSc Forest Business Management
program once they have completed REN R 120 and ENCS 201.
Course Objectives:
•
To introduce and illustrate fundamental principles of how ecological systems are structured and how they
function at the levels of organisms, populations and communities
•
To introduce major selective forces, both living and nonliving, that challenge organisms, and illustrate how
organisms respond to these challenges on a short term and long term basis, and how these responses
contribute to the structure and function of ecological systems
•
To introduce the mechanisms of organic evolution in an ecological context
•
To provide exposure to and experience in the range of activities used by ecologists, including the collection
of data from laboratory and field studies, the use and interpretation of relevant scientific literature, and the
understanding and analysis of qualitative and quantitative information
•
To encourage the development of ecological literacy in topical local, regional, and global issues
Resource Room: G 107 BioSci; 492-9945; Email: resourceroom@biology.ualberta.ca.
The Resource Room is a drop-in centre for lab-related questions.
Bio208 slotted for 9:30 - 12:30 Wed and Thurs and 12:30-3:30 on Monday and Wednesday
Mark Distribution:
Midterm #1
Midterm #2
Final Exam*
Deferred Final
Laboratory
Friday, February 5th
Friday, March 12th
Friday, April 23, 2 pm
(cumulative, ½ on new material
since second midterm)
Date and time TBA
15%
15%
30%
Labs begin week of Jan 11
(see lab manual)
40%
*Tentative final exam date (subject to change). WARNING: Students must verify this date on BearTracks
when the Final Exam Schedule is posted on the Registrar’s website:
http://www.registrar.ualberta.ca/ro.cfm?id=1089
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Assignment of Grades: The University of Alberta uses a letter grading system with a four point scale of
numerical equivalents for calculating grade point averages. Final grades in this course will be determined from
the total marks obtained from all course requirements. Total marks will be converted to grades following
grading guidelines recommended by the University for second year courses. Please refer
to:http://www.registrar.ualberta.ca /calendar/Regulations-and-Information/Academic-Regulation/23.4.html
Exams: Your student photo I.D. is required at exams to verify your identity. Students will not be allowed to
begin an examination after it has been in progress for 30 minutes. Students must remain in the exam room for at
least 30 minutes from the time the exam commenced. Electronic equipment other than calculators is not to be
brought to exam and hats must not be worn.
Representative Evaluative Course Material: Sample questions similar to those on exams will be made
available via the class web page.
Missed Midterm Exams: A student who cannot write a term examination due to incapacitating illness, severe
domestic affliction or other compelling reasons can apply for a deferred midterm examination, or deferral of the
midterm weight to the final lecture or laboratory examination (at the instructor’s discretion). Deferral of term
work to the final exam will increase the weight of the exam for that student, but does not change the ‘syllabus
weight’ of the exam and does not qualify a student for reexamination. Note that to apply for a deferral, the
student must first contact the instructor, and may be asked to supply a statutory declaration from the
Commissioners of Oaths in the Student Services Office. Deferral must be requested within 48 hours of the
missed exam, and is a privilege and not a right; there is no guarantee that a deferral will be granted.
Missed Final Exam: A student who cannot write the final examination due to incapacitating illness, severe
domestic affliction or other compelling reasons can apply for a deferred final examination. Such an application
must be made to the student’s Faculty office within 48 hours of the missed examination and must be supported
by a Statutory Declaration (in lieu of a medical statement form) or other appropriate documentation (Calendar
section 23.5.6). Deferred examinations are a privilege and not a right; there is no guarantee that a deferred
examination will be granted.
Cell Phones: Cell phones, pagers, and other noise-generating devices are to be turned off during lectures, labs
and seminars. Cell phones must not be brought to exams.
Code of Student Behaviour: The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic
integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic dishonesty
and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize
themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm)
and to avoid any behaviour that could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation
of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can, and most often
does, result in suspension or expulsion from the University. You must take this seriously in order to avoid poor
decisions that could limit your future career options. Whatever you do, do not be fooled into thinking that the
university is such a big place that no one will pay attention to transgressions of the Code of Student Behaviour
by an individual student. Be assured that the BIOL208 staff, the Department of Biological Sciences, and the
Faculty of Science view transgressions of the code very seriously, and the university administration treats them
harshly (see www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm for outcomes of transgressions of the code). Further
information on issues related to cheating, plagiarism, “cyber-plagiarism”, and the code of student behaviour can
be found at: www.ualberta.ca/STUDENTSERVICES/tie/links.htm and
www.library.ualberta.ca/guides/plagiarism/.
Students with Disabilities: Students who require accommodation in this course due to a disability are advised
to discuss their needs with Specialized Support & Disability Services (2-800 Students’ Union Building).
Academic Support Centre: Students who require additional help in developing strategies for better time
management, study skills or examination skills should contact the Academic Support Centre, Room 2-703,
Students’ Union Building.
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Supportive Lecture Material: Any supportive lecture materials provided will be announced in class.
Misc Information: Policy about course outlines can be found in section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar.
Disclaimer: Any typographical errors in this Course Outline are subject to change and will be announced in
class. The date of the final examination is set by the Registrar and takes precedence over the final examination
date reported in this syllabus. The exact order and content of lectures will deviate from what is listed below, and
changes will be announced in class.
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