Instructor:
Dr. Ken Petren
Office: 802 Rieveschl; phone: 556-9719; email: ken.petren@uc.edu
Office hrs: Fri 1-2pm or by appointment.
Laboratory TA’s:
Head TA: Cory Christopher christc@email.uc.edu
Sect. 1: Greg Klein kleingp@email.uc.edu
Sect. 2: Juliana Johns jojl@email.uc.edu
Sect. 3: Kristen Harfmann harfmaka@email.uc.edu
Sect. 4: Heather Farrington farrinhl@email.uc.edu
Sect. 5: Matt Klooster kloostmr@email.uc.edu
Sect. 6: Lisa Day daylm@email.uc.edu
Course Texts
Krebs, C. J. Ecology. 2000. Benjamin Cummings.
Ecology Lab Manual. Available from UC Copy Center
For a guide to writing lab reports, consult:
Pechenik, J. A. 2001. A short guide to writing about biology. Fourth ed. Longman.
Available on reserve in the Chemistry-Biology Library (503 Rieveschl; use call number QH304.P43)
A Personal Response System (PRS) transmitter is required to record lecture quizzes (available from the UC bookstore)
The primary objective of this course is to introduce basic concepts of ecology in the context of evolution. Lectures will emphasize the historical background in the development of major ecological concepts, provide theoretical and practical importance of each concept, and emphasize experimental and quantitative studies in the development of each concept. An additional objective is to discuss the interactions among human populations, natural populations, and natural environments and to view these interactions in the context of applied ecology and conservation biology. The objective of the laboratory is to enhance the lecture material by providing practical experience in field measurements and data analysis. The lab atmosphere also will provide an opportunity to discuss concepts and examples learned in lecture.
Lecture and Laboratory Policies
Attendance at lectures is expected. Exams will cover material provided in lecture and in text but will emphasize material from lecture. Not all material provided in lecture is available in the text so you cannot expect to do well in this course unless you attend lectures. Quizzes will be given during lecture to gauge attendance and to ensure that students understand current lecture material. Those who talk excessively, or consistently disturb others in lecture or lab will risk losing points or possible expulsion from the session. Laboratories will begin during the first week of classes at which time your TA will explain specific requirements and assignments. Laboratory attendance is mandatory. There will be no make-up exams and no extra-credit assignments. It is essential that you arrive ON TIME for the laboratory as you will be driving or walking to field locations. Field sites can be muddy and wet so WEAR APPROPRIATE CLOTHING and BE PREPARED FOR THE WEATHER EACH WEEK. The field trip is an extension of our laboratory so SMOKING IS PROHIBITED IN THE FIELD. TA instructions must be followed precisely to ensure safety of all in the field.
Course grades will be based upon the distribution of the total points (525) earned by all students in both lecture and laboratory; a class curve will be used to assign final grades.
Lecture: There will be two midterm exams, each worth 100 pts (each 19% of course grade) and a final exam worth 125 points (23% of course grade). The final exam will be cumulative (60% since the second midterm and 40% review). Quizzes given during lecture will be worth a maximum of 50 points (10% of course grade). Exams will include objective (multiple choice), short-answer, and discussion questions from both lecture and reading assignments. Questions will be designed to test your basic understanding of concepts described in the course and to evaluate your ability to use your knowledge to assess sets of data or conditions. Calculators will not be allowed during exams. There will be no make-up exams and no extra-credit assignments. If you have a verifiable excuse (e.g., medical, death in family) for missing a midterm exam, your score for the missed exam will be determined by computing an average percentage of the remaining exams. Failure to take the final exam without prior arrangement will result in a grade of zero.
Laboratory. The laboratory will count as 29% of your final grade (150 points). Points in the laboratory will be earned as: 2 lab reports (25 and 45 points, respectively), 4 exercises (15 points each), and participation and attendance (20 points). Lab exercises and reports will be graded by a uniform set of criteria used by your TAs. They will do their best to return your lab reports to you in a timely fashion. Lab exercises/reports MUST be turned in AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LAB the week they are due or you will receive a zero for that assignment. There are NO make-up labs. If you have a valid excuse to miss a lab, you must ask your TA how to obtain the missed information because you will be expected to complete the written exercise or report for all labs.
Policy on Incompletes
A grade of Incomplete (I) will be assigned only in those cases when a student has completed the bulk of the work for the course, cannot continue because of unforeseen circumstances, and arranges prior to the final exam to complete any unfinished work.
All work done in the course (lecture, laboratory) must represent original, independent work on the part of each student. You will work together on data collection for some exercises in lab, but all exercises and write-ups must represent original and independent work by each student. Plagiarism, cheating, or other types of academic dishonesty as defined in the UC Student Code of Conduct will not be tolerated (also see Pechenik pp. 32-39). Any evidence of plagiarism on lab exercises/reports (e.g., copying another student’s report, copying from websites, etc.) will result in a grade of zero for that exercise/report.
Websites of Interest
The text has an associated website (http://www.aw.com/krebs) containing sample exam questions, activities, a glossary, and websites that provide more information on many topics from the book chapters. The course syllabus, sample exams, announcements, and lecture outlines will be posted on Blackboard under the "(Meta04S) Ecology" course that links all lab sections. You can view your grades on Blackboard by selecting your lab section [(04S) Ecology (00x) where x = your lab section].
Any questions about the laboratory should first be discussed with your TA, then the Head TA, and finally with Drs. Cameron.
MWF 12:00-12:50
In Krebs
March 28 What is ecology? 1
30 Ecology and evolution 2; Appen I
April 1
4 Effects on individuals: Abiotic environment 3, 7
10 Population ecology: density, dispersion, dispersal 4, 9; Appen II
13
15 Population growth, regulation 11 (p 157-69; 280-8)
18 MIDTERM I
20 Life histories, Life tables 10; Appen III
22
27
29 Effects on populations: Predation 6, 13
May 2 Herbivory, Mutualism 14
4
6 Community structure 20, 22
9 23
11 Community function Appen IV
13 MIDTERM II
16 Productivity and bioenergetics 25 (skim 517-32)
18 26
23 Nutrient cycling 27
30 HOLIDAY
FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, June 7, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
This is a tentative schedule of topics that may change as necessary during the quarter.
LABORATORY SCHEDULE
Dates Topic Assignment
Due
3/28-4/1 Introduction to Lab
4/4 - 4/8 Assignment 1: Ex: Sampling and Statistical Analysis I
FIELD TRIP: Bird foraging/Burnet Woods
4/11 - 4/15 Assignment 2: Sampling and Statistical Analysis II
4/18 - 4/22 Assignment 3: Wildflower Density and Dispersion
FIELD TRIP: Burnet Woods Asn. 1 & 2
4/25 – 4/29 Data Analysis for Wildflower Lab
Introduction to Life Tables
5/2 - 5/6 Assignment 4: Stream Community Structure
FIELD TRIP: Sharon Woods Asn. 3*
Assignment 5: Life Tables
Times for computer lab TBA
5/9 - 5/13 Data Analysis for Stream Lab Asn. 5
5/16 - 5/20 Assignment 6: Trophic Structure of a Forest Ecosystem
FIELD TRIP: Burnet Woods Asn. 4*
5/23- 5/27 Data Analysis for Trophic Lab
5/30 – 6/3 Discussion (Monday holiday) Asn. 6
* Indicates a lab report is due. See “Course documents” in blackboard for a checklist of the components of a good lab report.