Download BIOL 252 - American University of Beirut

COURSE SYLLABUS FORM
American University of Beirut
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Department: Biology
Course Number and Title: BIOLOGY 252
ECOLOGY,
Prerequisite: Biology 202
Course description
This is an introductory course in ecology that covers most of the basic concepts in this
field namely, environmental factors, the main physiological, morphological and
behavioral adaptations of various organisms to these factors, populations, their
structures, dynamics and positive and negative interactions, dynamics of communities
in terms of energy flow and material cycling, community structure and dynamics and
ecology of landscapes. The last part gives overviews of various types of terrestrial,
freshwater and marine ecosystems.
The lab sessions include some basic techniques of quantitative studies of vegetation.
Field and lab work includes study of soils, forest ecology (e.g. cedar forest), and
freshwater ecology (ponds and marshes). The latter parts include acquainting students
with some of the flora and fauna of these ecosystems.
It is intended to equip the student with the background necessary to pursue further
more advanced ecology courses on the graduate or undergraduate level.
Learning objectives:
The course objectives are that the students are able to:
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grasp ecological concepts rather than rote learning of facts and details.
grasp concepts related to inter-relationships of organisms and environmental
factors.
Demonstrate analytical and deductive abilities that give insight into links and
relationships inherent in ecological systems, their structures and dynamics.
Understand basic principles related to quantitative study of populations
including sampling of animals and vegetation and statistical analysis of the
data collected.
Understand the major features and factors of the forest ecosystems, leaf litter,
freshwater ecosystems and rocky beaches, as well as recognizing the most
common organisms in these systems.
Resources Available to Students:
1. Textbook: Smith RL and Smith TM, 2001 - Ecology and Field Biology, 6th
Edition, Addison Wesley Longman.
2. Various learning material, and lab handouts etc. on the following website:
http://webfaculty.aub.edu.lb/~rsadek This includes lectures, lab handouts
and visual material for some lab sessions.
3. Links to some important sites dealing with ecological topics.
Evaluation Criteria
Quiz 1………………………………………18%
Quiz 2………………………………………18%
Lab. work, reports and drop quizzes .
10%
Lab. Final exam………. ……………….. 12%
Final exam……….………………………. 38%
General assessment……………………
4%
Schedule
Per week:
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
3 lectures
One lab session
Topics covered
General Introduction: Course Overview
Ecology Meaning and Scope
Ecology: Empirical and Experimental Science
Ecosystem: Concept and components.
Solar Radiation and Climate
Solar Radiation and Climate
Solar Radiation and Climate
Solar Radiation and Climate
The Physical Environment: Light
The Physical Environment: Temperature, water, nutrients
Soils
Adaptation; Plant Adaptations: Photosynthesis and Light Environment
Plant Adaptations: Photosynthesis and Light Environment
Plant Adaptations: Thermal, Moisture and Nutrient Environments
Plant Adaptations: Thermal, Moisture and Nutrient Environments
Animal Adaptations
Animal Adaptations: Cont'd
Populations: Properties, density, dispersion
Populations: Age Structure, sex ratios, mortality, natality, Life Tables
Population Growth
Intraspecific Competition
Interspecific Competition
Predation
Parasitism and Mutualism
Human Impact on Populations
Population genetics
Ecosystem productivity: Primary production
Ecosystem productivity: Secondary production,
Decomposition
Ecosystem productivity: food chains, Energy flow, ecological pyramids
Biogeochemistry: Nutrient cycling
Biogeochemistry: Nutrient cycling
Biogeochemistry: Global cycles and human impacts
Community Structure
Community dynamics: Succession
Landscape Ecology
Terrestrial Ecosystem:Vegtation zones, Biomes, Life zones, ecoregions, :
Biogeography, comparative ecosystems ecology
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Freshwater Ecosystems: Lentic and lotic ecosystems
Freshwater Ecosystems: Lentic and lotic ecosystems
Saltwater Ecosystems
LABORATORY SYLLABUS
N.B. The sequence of lab sessions is different between spring and fall semester. The
field trips are done in the early parts of the Fall semester while they are done in the
latter part of the spring semester.
o Population sampling:
o species-area curve.
o Density estimates using quadrats.
o Evaluation of species importance; species dominance.
o Comparison of populations;
o species association.
o Plotless methods
o Detection of pattern:
o nearest neighbor method
o comparison with the Poisson Distribution.
ƒ Chi-square method.
ƒ Variance/mean ratio method.
o Estimating the size of animal populations:
o Mark-release-recapture method.
o Removal method.
o Field trip to Arz Al-Shouf Nature Reserve:
o Mapping, Global Positioning System.
o Meteorological measurements.
o Estimating Cedar tree density and population structure.
o Soils: collection of quantitative soil samples and litter from various
locations.
o Soil fauna.
o Ecological effects of altitude and slope.
o Field trip to Ammiq Marshes
o Freshwater fauna and flora.
o Freshwater Physicochemical Measurements
o Population dynamics;
o Life tables and Survivorship curves
o Population growth
Course Policy (if any)
Attendance will be taken regularly. Excessive absenteeism from lectures or labs may
affect the general assessment and eventually subject the student to being dropped
from the course.
Absence from exams is only justified by a valid excuse.