SYLLABUS: GENERAL ECOLOGY, FALL2013
J. S. Scheibe
e-mail:
web address:
Office: MG 125
Ph: 651-2379
OH: MWF 10-10:50
I.Catalog description and credit hours of course: An introduction to the fundamental principles of ecology. Field trips outside of class time may be required. Two one-hour lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week.
II.Prerequisite: BO200, ZO200, or BI200.
III.Purposes or objectives of the course:
a)To provide for students an introduction to the basic principles of ecology, comprising evolutionary, physiological, behavioral, population, and community ecology.
b)To provide opportunities for students to learn how the scientific method is used to answer ecological questions.
IV.Lecture / Discussion outline:
1)Introduction: Read Ch. 1 and Ch 4
1.1Levels of organization
1.2Kinds of organisms.
1.3Temporal and spatial scale
1.4Generation of diversity: natural selection & evolution.
1.5The nature of science
2).Life and the physical environment: Read Ch. 2 and Ch. 3
2.1The physical environment
2.2Adaptation in aquatic and terrestrial communities
2.3Climate, topography, and soils
2.4Diversity of biological communities.
3)Organisms: Read Chs. 5 through 8 and Ch. 12
3.1Homeostasis: regulation and conformity
3.2Microhabitat selection & consequences
3.3Behavior and optimality
3.4Life history theory
3.5 Mating systems and social structure
4)Populations: Read Ch. 10 and Ch. 11
4.1Population structure
4.2Population growth
4.3Temporal and spatial dynamics
4.4Population genetics and evolution
5)Species Interactions: Read Ch. 13 and Ch. 14
5.1Coevolution
5.2Competition
5.3Predation
6)Communities: Read Ch. 16, 17, and 22
6.1Community structure
6.2Community development
6.3Patterns of diversity
6.4History and biogeography
V.Laboratory Exercises.
1)Cemetery & Demography Exercise
a)Cohort Survivorship
b)Fecundity
c)Population growth models
2)Big Oak Tree & Mingo NWR Surveys
a)Camera Trap Analysis
i)Estimation of species diversity and abundance
ii)Characterization of Habitat Structure
iii)Regression and PCA exercises
b)Swamp Rabbit Analysis
i)Presence / absence
ii)Detection probabilities
iii)Spatial Patch Occupancy Modeling
3)Optimal Foraging and the Marginal Value Theorem.
a)Patch quality and foraging in squirrels
b)Patch quality and foraging in birds
VI.Grades.
Midterm Exam (March 8)150 pts
Final Exam (May 3)150 pts
Laboratory Projects150 pts
Miscellaneous Assignments150 pts
TOTAL POINTS600 pts
Grade Breakdown:A = 95% of top score in class
B = 82% of top score in class
C = 68% of top score in class
D = 50% of top score in class
VI.Student Questions / Complaints
Questions, comments or requests regarding this course or program should be taken to your instructor. Unanswered questions or unresolved issues involving this class may be taken to Dr. James Champine.
- Student Learning Objectives
- Students will explain how abiotic factors affect species distributions in the landscape
- Students will explain measured components of theopotimal foraging model
- Students will explain the differences between the exponential growth model and the logistic growth model.