Biology 227 - Principles of Ecology
Spring Semester 2006
Professor: Dr. Robert Sanders
Class Meeting Times: Wednesday & Friday 2:40 - 4:30
Meeting Place: Beury Hall, Room 160.
Course Prerequisites: Biology 101 and 102.
Office Hours: Thursday 10:30 - 12:30; Friday 4:30 - 5:30. Phone: 215-204-2056
Office: 347 Biology-Life Sciences Bldg. E-mail: robert.sanders@temple.edu
Course Description and Purpose:
The
purpose of this course is
to provide an overview of ecology from the level of individual
organisms to populations,
communities and ecosystems. It
examines the physical, chemical, and biological components of
ecological
interactions, and includes a comparative treatment of terrestrial and
aquatic
ecosystems. Lectures will
emphasize: 1) the terminology and basic themes of ecology and
evolution; 2) the
understanding the scientific process; 3) the synthesis of diverse
subdisciplines in ecology and hierarchical processes; and 4) the
application of
these themes. This course is
Blackboard-based. It is each student's
responsibility to check the website and Temple e-mail account
regularly for messages, assignments & schedule changes.
Text: Molles, M.C. Jr. 2005. Ecology, Concepts
and
Applications, 3rd Ed. WCB/McGraw-Hill
Grades
and Attendance:
Attendance to class
meetings is required; repeated absences will be reflected in the
participation
portion of the grade. Grades will
be calculated based on the distribution below.
Lecture Tests.......................................................................................... 66%
Quizzes, Participation ........................................................................... 9%
Final Exam ............................................................................................. 25%
Tests: There will be three written lecture tests to assess
understanding of facts and concepts as well as students' ability to
apply this
knowledge to novel situations.
Format
of the tests will be a mixture
of multiple choice, short answer
and essay
questions.
Quizzes: Occasional quizzes will be given at the beginning of class. Extended time will NOT be given for late arrivals. Make-up quizzes and tests will be given only under
exceptional
circumstances for absences excused in
advance.
Final Exam: The final exam is comprehensive, covering the whole semester, and will be
primarily
multiple choice.
Civility
& Temple's Code of Conduct (COC): Violations
of the COC include, but are not limited to: academic dishonesty and
impropriety, including plagiarism and academic cheating; interfering or
attempting to interfere with or disrupting the conduct of classes or
any other
normal or regular activities of the University. (see http://www.temple.edu/assistance/udc/coc.htm). Please avoid entering lectures late. If
you are late, enter as unobtrusively as possible.
Disability Disclosure: Any student who has need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon
as possible. Also, the student should contact Disability Resources at 215-204-1280.
Preliminary Schedule: Presence at class meetings is required. Unexcused absences and consistent tardiness will negatively affect the participation portion of a studentÕs grade in addition to any penalty for missed presentations or tests. Lecture topics will vary slightly from this schedule Ð check Blackboard regularly for updates.
|
Date |
Topic |
Readings
in Molles |
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January 18 |
Introduction & Terrestrial Biomes |
Chap. 1, 2 |
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January 20 |
Tolerance Limits & Environmental Gradients |
Chap. 2,
3 |
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January 25 |
Gradients: Water &
Salt Balance
|
Chap. 4, 5 |
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January 27 |
No Class; Note - Mon.
Jan 30 is the last day to drop a course |
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February 1 |
Energy Flow & Nutrient Cycling |
Chap. 6 |
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February 3 |
Sociobiology |
Chap. 7 |
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February 8 |
Population Genetics, Natural Selection |
Chap. 8 |
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February 10 |
Population Distribution |
Chap. 9 |
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February 15 |
TEST # 1 |
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February 17 |
Population Dynamics Ð Survival |
Chap 10 |
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February 22 |
Population Dynamics Ð Dispersal |
Chap 10, cont. |
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February 24 |
Population Growth |
Chap. 11 |
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March 1 |
Population Growth & Life Histories |
Chap. 12 |
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March 3 |
Life Histories |
Chap. 12 |
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March 6 - 10 |
Spring Break |
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March 15 |
Interactions - Competition |
Chap. 13 |
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March 17 |
Exploitative Interactions Ð Predation/Parasites |
Chap. 14 |
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March 22 |
TEST # 2 |
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March 24 |
Interactions - Mutualism; Note - Mon. Mar. 27 is the last day to withdraw |
Chap. 15 |
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March 29 |
Abundance & Diversity |
Chap. 16 |
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March 31 |
Food Webs & Keystone Species |
Chap. 17 |
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April 5 |
Primary Production & Energy Flow |
Chap. 18 |
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April 7 |
Nutrient Cycling; Decomposition |
Chap. 19 |
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April 12 |
Succession & Stability |
Chap. 20 |
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April 14 |
TEST # 3 |
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April 19 |
Nutrient Cycling / Landscape Ecology |
Chap. 21 |
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April 21 |
Island Biogeography & other Geogrph. Ecol. |
Chapter 22 |
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April 26 |
Global Ecology |
Chap. 23 |
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April 28 |
Global Ecology |
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Mon. May 8 |
Comprehensive Final Exam, Rm. 160 Beury, 2-4pm |
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