Ecology (Bio 47)
Tuesday & Thursday 11:00-1:50
Spring 2015
DateLecture TopicReadingLab Topic
Jan20/22What is Ecology?Evolution for EcologyScientific Method
EvolutionParts 1 & 2Metric System
Jan 27/29Natural SelectionEvolution for EcologyNatural Selection Lab
Darwinian SnailsParts 3 & 4
Feb 3/5Species DistributionPhysiological EcologyExperimenting with Snails
Adaptation & AcclimationParts 1 & 2
Feb 10/12Homeostasis & MetabolismPhysiol. EcologyObservational
Parts 3 & 4Techniques
Feb 17/19Population DynamicsPopulation GrowthIsle Royle Understanding Population Growth Models
Feb 24/26Social RelationsLife HistoryEstimation of Population Size
Case Study: My Brother’s Keeperusing Snails (1) Life Histories
March 3/5EXAM 1 (TUES 3-3)Estimation of Population Size
using Snails (2)
March 10/12CompetitionCompetitionInvestigation of Owl Pellets Exploitative Interactions
Niche Wars
March 17/19Case Study: Search forPredation, HerbivoryCommunity Structure
the Missing Sea Otters and Parasitismin Birds (1) (Field Trip)
March 24/26Community StructureCommunity DynamicsCommunity Structure
in Birds (2) (Field Trip)
March 31/April 2SPRING BREAK!
April 7/9Species Abundance & DiversityBiogeographyIsland Biogeography
Case Study: Threats to Biodiversity
April 14/16EXAM 2 (TUES 4-14)Biodiversity Lab
DateLecture TopicReadingLab Topic
Apr21/23Primary Production & Energy FlowEcosystem EcologyRedwood ForestField Trip
Apr 28/30Nutrient CyclingNutrient CyclingSuccession in Sand Dunes Succession and Stability (Field Trip)
May 5/7Case Study: Global Climate ChangeClimate ChangeClimate change lab
May 12/14Case Study: Does theDecompositionIntertidalField Trip
Matrix Matter?
May 19Review
May 26FINAL EXAM TUES 11:30-2:30
Ecology (Bio 47)
Tuesday & Thursday 11:00-1:50
Spring 2015
Instructor: Ms. Nancy Wheat
Office: N5
Office Hours: MW 8:30-9:30, TTH 10:00-11:00 or by Appt
Phone: 755-6881
Email:
Resources:
Text: SimUText Ecology by SimBio. This is an interactive computer-based text. Assignments will be submitted directly from the program.
Lab text: There is no lab book to purchase. The lab handouts will be available on our class website. Please be sure to print a copy and read it before coming to lab. Occasionally, you will receive handouts during lab. Please keep all of this material together in a 3-ring binder. Stay organized from the start so that you can find the information you need will studying for exams and quizzes.
Course website: I have set up a website for our course: This website will have the PowerPoint lectures, copies of the syllabus and handouts, as well as many valuable links to websites that we will use in class or that may help you with your studies.
Visionlearning: Our class has an excellent resource for your use: You will need to register at the Visionlearning website and go to the MyClassroom link for Ecology at Hartnell College. Once you have registered, you will have access to our Visionlearning syllabus and links to all modules listed. These are excellent lessons covering some of the topics that will be covered in lecture. They can be viewed in Spanish if you prefer. This provides an excellent review for those of you having trouble with a topic as well as those of you who would like to explore a topic in more detail.
TopHat: is a student response system that allows you to answer questions using your laptop, tablet, or phone. I will be asking TopHat questions periodically throughout the course. These questions provide a great review for you to use while studying for the tests. Be sure to arrive in class on time so you don’t miss the first question of the day! There will be points associated with answering these questions!
Instructor: As the instructor for this course, I am available to facilitate your learning of the course material. I can be reached using email at any time or you may come to my office hours. Make sure you keep my contact information accessible so that you can contact me if you need to, or if you need to notify me of an absence.
Course Objectives: Ecology is the broad discipline that examines the relationships between organisms and their environments. It is subdivided in various ways: by habitat (freshwater, marine, & terrestrial), by the type of organism (plants, animals), and by whether the focus is on individuals or communities. This course provides an overview of the basic principles of ecology and the various types of ecology. Knowledge of ecology is important when considering conservation measures. It is my hope that acquiring this knowledge will enable you to make informed decisions concerning conservation issues in the “real world”.
Teaching Methodology: You will be responsible for going through the interactive chapter on your own each week. In lecture, we will run through case studies, do online labs that go with that week’s chapter, and do short activities. There will be some short lectures as well. It is very important that you read the case studies, attend and participate in the discussions. Labs are a hands-on time for students to work together to learn about the topics covered in lecture.
Requirements: It is required that you attend both lecture and lab every week. Lecture is made up mostly of group activitieswith material that will be turned in – your group members will depend on you to be present and contribute to the group. If you are unable to attend lecture or lab, you are responsible for getting the notes from another student and for finding out if there was any work that you could make up. You are still responsible for any missed material! You may get the results of a missed lab from your lab partners, but you must answer any questions and write your lab summary ON YOUR OWN!
Grading Criteria: Your grade will be determined by your performance on exams, quizzes, chapter assignments, in-class activities, lab summaries & reports, attendance, participation, and attitude. You will have two (2) midterm exams worth 100 points each. The final will be cumulative (including material from the whole semester) and is worth 200 points. Your SimUText assignments will be worth up to15% of your grade.You will be given short 10-point quizzes in lab most weeks (a great way to boost your grade, if you are prepared). A 10-50 point lab exercise must be turned in at the beginning of the next lab period. Attendance, participation, and attitude are very important. If your grade is borderline, this is how I determine who gets bumped up or down. Grades will be assigned as follows: 90% - A; 80-89% - B; 70-79% - C; 60-69% - D; <60% - F.
Classroom Management Policies: Please do all you can to avoid being late to class and lab. Coming in late disrupts the class. Habitual tardiness will affect your grade. Please do not disrupt class in any way by talking, passing notes, texting friends etc. Please turn off cell phones and pagers – unless needed for emergency only contact. I will ask you to leave the class if you are making it difficult for others to listen. There will be no make-up quizzes or exams except for excused, documented absences. Repeated absence from lecture or lab, in addition to hurting your ability to learn the material, may result in your being dropped from the class. Needless to say, cheating will not be tolerated and will result in a zero on the assignment and/or your being dropped from the class.
How to Study for this Course: You are responsible for your own learning of this material. Think about how you learn best, how much time you will need to spend on reading, studying and other assignments and learn to budget your time. Remember that the more often you are exposed to the material (read it, hear it in lecture, read it again, review it at the Visionlearning website, do a lab related to the material) the more likely you are to retain that information. Try forming a study group and discuss what we are doing in lecture or lab. Relate information to your own experiences. Read all assigned material BEFORE coming to class! Make a list of vocabulary words to learn for the exams. Flashcards may help if you feel overwhelmed by the vocabulary, but it is essential that you understand the concepts instead of just memorizing vocabulary. If you don’t understand something you can always ask me as well. It really helps to go through the material again after lecture. You must read lab material before going to lab in order to work efficiently and get the most out of the lab. Make your schoolwork a priority and do the best job you possibly can on all your assignments!
Field Trips: Field trips are an opportunity to see some marine and terrestrial habitats and look for many of the organisms that we will talk about, and they will be fun! If you choose not to, or cannot, attend a field trip, you must do a supplemental report. See me to set up details. Transportation is up to the individual students.
Some important tips for field trips:
- NEVER turn your back on the ocean. Even when it seems calm, a large set of waves may be coming!
- Dress warmly – in layers! It is always cooler and windier at the coast.
- Wear shoes or boots that you don't mind getting wet or muddy.
- Be careful when handling organisms.
Learning Tools:
As a student, you are the center of the learning process. I can’t force you to learn the material, I can only expose you to it in what I hope will be an interesting way. You must do the actual learning yourself. It is your responsibility to set goals for yourself, plan how you will use the materials provided to you, and schedule your time. Developing good study skills will save you time and energy by helping you work more efficiently. This will help you not only in this course, but every other course you take. The following list is a set of learning tools that may help you. This list was adapted from The Course Syllabus by Judith Grunert.
Self Management Techniques
Set learning goals for yourself
Plan and organize a study schedule
Break down work into manageable units
Study in a place free from distractions
Review often
Reading to Learn
Preview the chapter (titles, pictures, summaries, etc)
Read for main ideas
Summarize in your own words
Reread, visualize, relate, think aloud
Review
Making Useful Notes
Identify the main ideas
Summarize ideas or text
Create outlines, flowcharts or concept maps
Underline selectively (not the whole book)
Rewrite notes (but only spend time doing this if you are focused on the material!)
Study with Others
Discuss the material with a friend
Quiz each other on terms and concepts
Exams
Review notes and texts; pay special attention to points emphasized in lecture
Think up possible questions and answer them.
Review key terms
Get a good night sleep before the exam
Read directions
Read questions carefully
If you don’t understand something on the test – ASK!!
Student Learning Outcomes for Ecology
Given an ecosystem, the student will discuss biotic and abiotic factors that affect the distribution and abundance of organisms.Given a description of a disturbed habitat, the student will describe the process of recovery.
Given an example of declining biological diversity, the student will propose a sound conservation or restoration plan.
Given representative producers and consumers, the student will construct a food web as well as predict potential human impacts on the community.
Campus Safety
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION: In the event of a life threatening emergency call 911.
- To report a non-life threatening incident, safety hazard, or a suspicious activity please contact campus security at 755-6888
- To obtain campus status information, call the campus safety and facilities emergency status bulletin telephone number: 831-796-6222. From a campus line, simply dial 6222
- AlertU subscribers can be alerted in real-time about important security information.
Alert U is an SMS based emergency notification system that works on mobile phones. To sign up for AlertU, simply use the subscription tool that says "Emergency Alerts" at
EVACUATION: Please note the exit(s) in the room. In the event of an alarm or safety threat, uniformed Hartnell personnel equipped with two-way radios—including security, and maintenance staff—have up-to-date information; they also have the authority to order either shelter-in-place or immediate building evacuation. For evacuation, immediately heed their directions by proceeding calmly and quickly to an exterior assembly area as indicated by trained staff. Please stay back at least 200 feet from any building until the “all clear” command is issued.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: The first 72 hours of a disaster are often the most difficult, but this period can be less stressful if everyone has extra supplies on hand. The college has a limited amount of emergency supplies, so students and staff should have on campus their own portable emergency kit including snacks, water, and prescription medication; this is especially important for those who may need to shelter on campus. For more information go to and
All material subject to change
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