Download BIOL 4131

BIOL 4131.41
Ecology
Summer 2008 1st 5-week term
Class meetings:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 3:00 – 5:50pm; Bayou Building 1228
Instructor:
Office:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Office hours:
Webpage:
Dr. Cindy Howard
Bayou Building, Faculty Suite 3525
(281) 283-3745 (please leave a message if you don’t get an answer)
[email protected] (best way to contact me)
Wednesdays 1:00-6:00 pm; other times by appointment
http://sce.uhcl.edu/howard/
Text:
Krebs, C.J. 2001. Ecology: the experimental analysis of distribution and
abundance, 5th ed. Addison Wesley Longman, Inc., San Francisco, CA. 695 pp.
PowerPoint slides for each lecture will be available at the beginning of each class
period. Practice problems and other course information will be available at
http://sce.uhcl.edu/howard under Courses: BIOL 4131.
Prerequisites:
General Biology
Course objectives: To provide students with an introduction to theoretical ecology that includes (1)
analysis of physical, chemical and biological factors that affect the distribution and
abundance of organisms in their natural environments, (2) population growth,
competition and predation, and (3) community concepts and species diversity.
Methodology:
Class lectures by the instructor and class discussion of current topics in ecology.
Exams cover lecture material, which originates from the textbook.
Grading:
Three exams will be given during the term. Each exam will cover the material
presented in lectures, handouts and readings from the textbook, and will count onethird toward the final grade in the course. An optional comprehensive final may be
taken to replace the lowest exam score. There will be no other extra credit
opportunities.
Grading scale:
A
92-100%
A88-92%
B+
86-87%
B
BC+
80-85%
78-79%
76-77%
C
CD+
70-75%
68-69%
66-67%
D
DF
60-65%
58-59%
<58%
All students are expected to take exams on the dates scheduled on the syllabus.
There will be no make-up exams. If an exam is missed, the optional final will replace
the missing test grade. All exams in this course will require a full-size (8½ x 11”)
scantron.
Incompletes
and withdrawals:
The last date to drop this course without a grade penalty is June 27, 2008. In
accordance with UHCL policy, an incomplete (I) grade can be assigned only if the
student is making satisfactory progress, but cannot complete the course for an
acceptable, documentable reason. Other course incompletions will result in a grade
of F.
Academic honesty: Please review the UHCL Academic Honesty Policy in the current UHCL catalog. All
students enrolled in this class are expected to abide by the UHCL Honesty Code,
which states, “I will be honest in all my academic activities and will not tolerate
dishonesty.” Your participation in this class constitutes your acceptance of the UHCL
Academic Honesty Policy. . It can result in a grade of “F” on an assignment or test,
a grade of “F” in the course or suspension from the university (see catalog). Your
written work may be checked for plagiarism at any time.
Disabilities:
Students with disabilities requiring consideration with regard to exams, etc. should
consult the Disabilities Services Office for assistance and certification.
Electronics:
Use of cell phones, pagers, PDAs, laptop / notebook computers or similar electronic
devices is not permitted during class periods. Exceptions may be made on a per
class period basis and must be cleared with the course instructor prior to the start of
class.
Mon, Tue and Thur, 3:00pm – 5:50pm
Bayou Building 1228
BIOL 4131.41
Ecology
Summer 2008 1st 5-week term
Course schedule (subject to revision):
Date
Topic
Reading
(Krebs 2001)
Mon
06/09
Course introduction; Introduction to ecology
Chp. 1
Tue
06/10
Evolution and ecology; Methods of analyzing distributions; Factors
limiting distributions: Dispersal
Thu
06/12
Factors limiting distributions: Habitat selection, Interrelations with other
organisms
Chps. 5, 6
Mon
06/16
Factors limiting distributions: Temperature, moisture and other factors
Chp. 7
Tue
06/17
Exam 1 (Chapters 1-7 and lecture notes)
Thu
06/19
Population parameters; Demographic techniques
Mon
06/23
Population growth
Chp. 11
Tue
06/24
Species interactions: Competition
Chp. 12
Thu
06/26
Species interactions: Predation
Chp. 13
Mon
06/30
Exam 2 (Chapters 9-13 and lecture notes)
Tue
07/01
Nature of the community; Community change
Thu
07/03
Community organization: Biodiversity, Predation and competition in
equibrial communities, Disturbance and nonequibrial communities
Chps. 22, 23, 24
Mon
07/07
Ecosystem metabolism: Primary production, Secondary production
Chps. 25, 26
Tue
07/08
Exam 3 (Chapters 20-27 and lecture notes)
Thu
07/10
Optional Comprehensive Final Exam (replaces lowest exam score)
Chps. 2, 3, 4
Chps. 9, 10
Chps. 20, 21