Download BIO 1103 - Makerere University Courses

BIO 1103
COURSE NAME: BASIC ECOLOGY
COURSE CODE: BIO 1103
CREDIT UNUTS: 3 CU (45 CH)
SEMESTER WHEN OFFERED: Semester One of Year One
VENUE: DOSATE Biology Laboratory
COURSE DESCRIPTION :
This course provides a foundation for understanding the interaction of living organisms and their
environments. It examines the complex interrelationships between autecology and synecological
species in their environments. The course helps the students to justify the existence of
biodiversity in the various ecosystems and the associated abiotic environments (edaphic and
climatic). The linkage of human populations with the natural resources is discussed with
relevance to sustainable development and use of renewable resources. The students are
introduced to the Millennium Development Goals and poverty reduction tools and methods of
strategic environment assessment.
COURSE OBJECTIVES :
By the end of this course, learners should be able to;
1.
Understand the abiotic environments: edaphic and climatic factors.
2.
Examine ways in which organisms interact directly and indirectly with their physical
environment, and with each other.
3.
Discuss the key principles and concepts in ecological energetics and nutrient cycles
4.
Food web and population dynamics of organisms in various ecosystems
5.
Apply knowledge and skills acquired in ecology to the conservation of our environment
and its resources.
COURSE CONTENT
1 Introduction to ecology; various definitions and scope i.e classification of ecology
2 Fundamental principles of ecology; biosphere, ecosystems dynamics and stability.
3 The Biological and physical environments of organisms; The ecosystems and
biomes, structure and function, species structure, richness, diversity and
abundance relationships.
4 Quantitative vegetation studies; sampling methods (quadrat, transect, plot less eg
T-square).
5 Energy flow; food chains, food webs including ecological pyramids.
6 Nutrient flow and biogeochemical cycles; the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous
water cycles, ecological succession, productivity and r and K selected species.
7 Population ecology; dynamics, interactions, growth and regulation, survivorship
curves.
8 Species interactions; predation, herbivory and competition
9 Natural resource ecology; soil ecology, The ecology of East African soils, Factors
determining soil type in E. Africa, climate, parent material, topography, time/age,
vegetation and land use and East African flora (forests, grasses and grassland,
wetlands).
10 The energy crisis, and environmental standards
11 Traditional management systems for ecosystems
12 Managing ecosystems and environments in schools
MODE OF DELIVERY, EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT
(a)Mode of delivery:
Lectures, laboratory practicals, discussions, seminars, workshops and individual research and
field work to various ecosystems.
(b) Assessment:
i) A continuous assessment will be constituted by written assignments, practicals
and course unit test(s).
ii) The assessment will constitute 30% of the overall grade attained while the
final University written examination will constitute 70%.
READING LIST
1.
Robert L. Smith & Thomas M. Smith (2001): Ecology and Field Biology. 6th Edition,
Benjamin Cummings, Inc.
2.
Chapman J.L. & M.J Reiss (1995): ECOLOGY; Principles & Applications Cambridge
University Press.
3.
Mackenzie et al (2001): Ecology. 2nd Edition. BIOS Scientific Publishers Ltd, U.K
4.
Patrick L. Osborne (2005): Tropical Ecosystems and Ecological Concepts. Cambridge
University Press; U.K
5.
Michael Begon et al (1990): ECOLOGY: Individuals, Populations and Communities. 2nd
Edition. Blackwell Scientific Publications. Boston Oxford London U.K
6.
Alan Beeby (1993): Applying Ecology. Chapman and Hall Publishers, London, U.K