Biological Sciences 112 Ecology

Biological Sciences 112 Ecology

Instructor: Dr. Kelly Decker

Email:

Office phone: none

Office room: Biology Building, room 2038

Course website:

Office Hours: by appointment

Class Meetings: Lecture: T&TH 9:30-10:45 Room 811

Textbook: Calver (2009) Environmental Biology

Course Description: This is majors and non-majors course in Ecology and Environmental Science. We will explore basic principles including global biology, diversity, ecophysiology, ecosystems, communities, and populations. Humans’ role in shaping the environment will also be discussed.

Lecture Exams: There are two midterm exams and one final exam. The final is not comprehensive. The lectures, activities, and reading will be covered on the exams. Lecture attendance is critical for success in this course; most of the material that you are required to master is given in lecture. If you need to take the exam early please contact me as early as possible. In order to take an early midterm you must receive my approval in advance of the midterm. Early midterms will only be allowed in rare cases. In order to take an early final you must receive written approval from me. If you have a documented medical excuse, you may take an exam lateand you must contact me before the scheduled exam, or as soon as possible after. Make up exams will only be given during the last week of class. There will be no make up exams for the final, and you will receive zero points if you miss the final or if you miss a regular exam without contacting me prior to the exam.

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Class Exercises and Homework: These will be assigned throughout the class, and there is no credit for late work. Some exercises will depend on pre-reading the material assigned for the week. Therefore, all reading must be done prior to the day’s class.

Course Points:

Midterm Exams = 150 points each

Classwork/Homework assignments = 200 points total

Extra Credit 150 possible points

Grade breakdown

93-100 A77-80 C+

90-93 A-73-77 C

87-90 B+70-73 C-

83-87 B67-70 D+

80-83 B-60-67 D

Below 60 = F

Important Dates:

Last Day to Add: Feb 4

Last Day to Drop without a “W”: Feb 6

Last Day to Drop with a W: April 10

Last Day to Request P/NP Grading: Feb 13

Students in need of accommodations in the college learning environment:

Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a learning disability should contact Learning Servicesin the Library and Learning Resource Center (LLRC), room 1766, phone (707) 256-7442. A Learning Disability Specialist will review your needs and determine appropriate accommodations.

If you need accommodations for physical or other types of disabilities, schedule an appointment with DSPS Counselor, Sheryl Fernandez, in the CounselingDepartment located in the 1300 building, phone (707) 256-7234 for appointment.

All information and documentation is confidential.

Please feel encouraged to make an appointment with me privately to discuss your specific learning needs in my class.

Academic Honesty and Student Code of Conduct andcollege policies: Refer to the Catalog for a full explanation, the following is an excerpt from the catalog

It is expected that a student’s academic work be of his/her own making, failure to abide by this standard of conduct is considered to be academic dishonesty. Types of Academic Dishonesty include:Copying from others on a quiz, examination, or assignment (“cheating”),allowing another student to copy one’s work on a quiz, exam, or assignment, having others take any exam instead of taking the exam oneself, giving other students information that allows the student an undeserved advantage on an exam, such as telling a peer what to expect on a make-up exam or prepping a student for a test in another section of the same class

If a student cheats (for example: copies the answers from another student or has notes during the exam, has a cell phone during the exam, changes answers on a scantron after they have been graded, retaining or copying exam questions) they will receive a zero for the exam and your name will be forwarded to the Vice President of Student Services. A second act of academic dishonesty will result in a zero for the course. I consider lying to be an act of academic dishonesty.

Cell phones must be turned off and left in the front of the classroom during the exam. No notes will be brought to your desk while taking the exam. All phones, bags, packs, notes, jackets, and hats will be left at the front of the room. If you have any notes, books or cell phones with you while taking the exam you will receive a zero for the exam. You may not leave and re-enter the exam in progress.

Plagiarism is a form of cheating, if you copy information from the internet, books, friends, etc and use it as your own work in a report, you will receive zero points.

Appropriate behavior in class: For the consideration of your fellow classmates, please turn off your cell phones during class and exams. Please refrain from talking during class, if you have a question during class, please raise your hand and ask the instructor. Come to class on time.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate skills in analysis through writing, exams, and group work in the classroom and in field work.

2. Demonstrate a proficiency of knowledge in ecology and environmental biology.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Understand that evolution is the outcome of abiotic and biotic selective factors that result in various physiological, behavioral, morphological, developmental adaptations.
2. Understand how these adaptations are always aiming at a moving target, because those abiotic and biotic factors are constantly changing.
3. Know the major terrestrial and aquatic biomes on earth and what abiotic and biotic processes dominate in them.
4. Understand structural and functional aspects of ecosystems, especially our local ecosystems.
5. Learn and understand the major impacts of humans on the environment: climate change, extinction, habitat loss, pollution.
6. Understand the natural tension between the human biological imperative for growth and sustainability.
7. Understand the basic principles of population, community, and ecosystem ecology

Biological Sciences 112

DateTopic Pre-ReadingExercise/Exam/Prep

Jan 22 / Intro to the course / None
Jan 27, 29 / Scientific Method; What is ecology?Evolution: Adaptation, Speciation / Ch2, 6 / TBA
Feb 3, 5 / Evolution: History of Life / Ch6, 7 / TBA
Feb 10,12 / Finish Evolution, Inland Aquatic Biomes / Ch 20 / TBA
Feb 17,19 / Inland Aquatic Biomes / Ch 21 / TBA
Feb 24, 26 / Catch up and review
Mar 3,5 / Exam 1 (3/3) ; Marine Habitats / Ch 18 / Exam 1
Mar 10,12 / Marine Habitats / Ch 18-19 / TBA
Mar 17, 19 / Marine Lifestyles / Ch 19 / TBA
Mar 24,26 / Terrestrial Habitats / Ch 22 / TBA
Mar 30-Apr 4 / Spring Break
Apr 7, 9 / Terrestrial lifestyles / Ch 23 / TBA
Apr 14, 16 / Review, Exam 2 (Apr 16) / Exam 2
Apr 21,23 / Pop Ecology / Chapter 16 / TBA
Apr 28,30 / Community Eco / Ch 17 / TBA
May 5, 7 / Communities / Ch 17 / TBA
May 12,14 / Ecosystems / Ch 17 / TBA
May 18,21 / Human Impacts
May 25,28 / Human Impacts
Final Exam as Scheduled by University / Exam 3 (Non Comprehensive)