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UNIVERSIDAD DE ESPECIALIDADES ESPÍRITU SANTO
FACULTAD DE ESTUDIOS INTERNACIONALES
SYLLABUS
ENGLISH VERSION
FOR DAC 11 VER 19 05 08
SUBJECT Ecology
FACULTY Meredith Warren
CONTACT HOURS 48
YEAR 2009
DAYS Mon- Thursday
ROOM G-208
CODE UCEC 171
CREDITS 3 UEES (S.N.C.C.
4.8)
NON-CONTACT HOURS 96
PERIOD FALL I
SCHEDULE 06:00-7:25PM
SYLLABUS DATE August,
2009
1. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will provide a general review of the relationships between organisms and their
environment; the flow of energy through ecosystems and the regulation of the distribution
and abundance of organisms. The course covers productivity, trophic dynamics, evolution
and natural selection, competition and predation, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the
role of humans in the natural environment, natural resource management, impacts of
global climate change and issues affecting Ecuador’s ecological health.
2. JUSTIFICATION
Through lectures, group discussions and student presentations, the course aims to
increase students’ ecological understanding and environmental awareness, providing
students with the tools to critically evaluate ecological information and environmental
issues.
3. OBJECTIVES
a. GENERAL
The objective of this course is to give students a general understanding of ecology
while discussing environmental topics that can be applied to students’ personal and
professional lives.
b. SPECIFIC
To help students understand and use the following concepts:
 Ecosystem relationships
 Evolution and natural selection
 Natural resource management
 Impacts of regional ecosystem changes
4. COMPETENCIES



To understand basic ecological concepts and how ecosystems function
To critically evaluate scientific literature
To be familiar with current environmental issues in Ecuador

To apply ecological understanding to solving real-world environmental problems
5. COURSE CONTENT OUTLINE
DATES &
SPECIFIC
SESSIONS COMPETENCIES
Week of
Describes the
August 31 importance of
ecology, articulate
basic ecological
concepts,
understands
evolution and
natural selection
Week of
September
7
Understands the
physical
environment,
understands plant
adaptations
Week of
Understands
September Adaptations and
14
populations
CONTENTS
Lectures:
8/31: Introduction,
ecological knowledge,
course assessment
9/1: Why study ecology
9/2: Evolution/natural
selection
9/3: Evolution/natural
selection
NON-CONTACT
HOURS
Readings:
8/31: None
9/1: Chapter 1
9/2: Chapter 2
9/3: Articles
ASSESSMENT
Explains evolution and
natural selection
Class discussion
9/3: Quiz 1
Lectures:
9/7: Climate
9/8: Aquatic environment
9/9: Terrestrial
environment
9/10: Plant Adaptations
Readings:
9/7: Chapter 3
9/8: Chapter 4
9/9: Chapter 5
9/10: Chapter 6
Lectures:
9/15: Animal Adaptations
9/16: Populations
9/17: Populations
9/18: Populations
Readings:
9/14: Chapter 7
9/15: Chapter 9
9/16: Chapter 10
9/17: Articles
Explains the physical
environment
Class discussion
9/10: Quiz 2
Explains population
characteristics and
adaptations to
surrounding
environment
Class discussion
9/17: Quiz 3
Week of
Understand
September competition,
21
predation, and
community structure
Week of
Understand the
September world’s
28
ecosystems/biomes;
understands
biodiversity
Lectures:
9/21: Competition
9/22: Predation
9/23: Community
Structure
9/24: Mid-term Exam
Lectures:
9/28: Terrestrial
ecosystems
9/29: Aquatic ecosystems
9/30: Land-water margins
10/1: Biodiversity
Readings:
9/21: Chapter 13
9/22: Chapter 14
9/23: Chapter 16
Explains competition,
predation, community
structure
Class discussion
Prepare for Midterm exam
Readings:
9/28: Chapter 23
9/29: Chapter 24
9/30: Chapter 25
10/1: Articles
9/24: Mid-term Exam
Explains ecosystems
and foundations of
biodiveristy
Class discussion
10/1: Quiz 4
Week of
October 5
Analyzes
approaches to
natural resource
management
Lectures:
10/5: Natural resource
management/conservation
10/6: Water resource
management
10/7: Forest management
10/8: Land use planning
Readings:
10/5: Articles
10/6: Articles
10/7: Articles
10/8: Articles
Explains current
approaches to
resource management
Class discussion
10/8: Quiz 5
Week of
Understand impacts
October 12 of global climate,
Presentations of
ecological issues in
Ecuador
Week of
October 19
Lectures:
10/12: Global Climate
Change
10/13: Student
presentations
10/14: Student
presentations
10/15: Student
presentations
Lectures:
10/19: Final Exam
10/20: Grade distribution,
individual conferences
Readings:
10/12: Articles
Article discussion of
global climate change/
student presentations
Prepare for final
exam
10/19: Final Exam
6. METHODOLOGY
Classes will include a lecture series, student presentations, and discussion and analysis of
scientific articles and case studies. Students will be expected to read textbook chapters
and scientific articles to prepare for class discussions.
7. ASSESSMENT
7.1 Assessment Criteria




Class discussion
Analysis of ecological concepts
Analysis of current environmental problems
Presenting regional ecological changes/problems and solutions
7.2 Performance Markers



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

Describes the elements of evolution and natural selection
Describes trophic interactions
Distinguishes between and describes different ecosystems
Discusses climate change and its relationship with the water and carbon cycles
Describes conservation and natural resource management practices and challenges
Assesses regional natural resource management challenges and presents possible
solutions
7.3 Weighting





Weekly QUIZ (total 5): 30%
Class discussion and class participation: 10%
Mid Term on the 4th week of classes: Thursday, October 1: 20%
Student presentations on a selected topic: 10%
Final on the last week of class: Tuesday October 20, April 23: 30%
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY
8.1 REQUIRED
Textbook and book chapters, scientific articles and PowerPoint lecture
presentations will be posted on Blackboard. Assigned chapters and articles should
be read in advance of each class.
Complete textbook: Smith, Thomas M. and Robert Leo Smith. Elements of
Ecology. San Francisco: Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, 2006.
8.2 COMPLEMENTARY
No complementary material.
8.3 WEBLIOGRAPHY:
EBSCODATABASE
9. FACULTY INFORMATION
NAME: Meredith Warren, MURP
.
ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS--UNDERGRAD: Bachelors of Science Agriculture, West
Virginia University. Morgantown, West Virginia, US
GRADUATE: Master of Urban and Regional Planning, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg,
Virginia, US
E – MAIL: [email protected]
10.
Prepared by: Meredith Warren
Date: August, 2009
Reviewed by: Dean Monica Reynoso
Date: August, 2009