Objectives: The objective of this course is to present basic ecological concepts with examples from field and laboratory research. The lecture component is used to examine ecological principles at the individual, population, community and ecosystem levels by using examples from classic studies and experiments in ecology. Laboratory exercises are primarily field and greenhouse experiments in which students collect data to examine ecological processes. Computer simulation models are used to examine the outcome of competition and predation under a variety of conditions. The course usually includes a class field project related to the research projects of faculty members in the department. One section of this course is typically offered in the fall semester .

Prerequisites: Basic biology course and basic chemistry.

Credit Value: 3

Contact Time: Two 50 minute lectures and one 3 hour laboratory per week.

Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the course a student should:

• be familiar with the historical development of ecology and be able to describe how the science of ecology differs from environmentalism
• understand the hierarchical structure of ecological properties and interactions
• be able to explain how ecological interactions affect evolution
• understand how physiological adaptations determine the ecological niche of an organism
• apply the concept of the niche to autecological, population, and community level interactions
• understand population growth models, their predictions, and limitations
• describe the effect of mutualism, competition, and predation interactions on population growth
• be able to judge competing theories and models for explaining community structure, and be able to apply them to a variety of community types
• know the general characteristics of biomes
• understand temporal and spatial changes in communities and the role of scale
• understand the relationship between the flow of energy and the cycling of matter in an ecosystem
• apply concepts of theoretical ecology to current environmental issues

Assessment:

• Lecture tests
• Final examination
• Laboratory reports

Lecture Schedule:

• Definitions and history of ecology
• Autecology, energy, light, nutrients, and temperature
• Autecology continued, niche concept
• Population properties, life tables
• Population growth models, mutualism, and competition
• Term test 1, competition continued
• Life history strategies, predartion/herbivory
• Predation/herbivory continued, population management
• Predator-prey coevolution, parasitism
• Properties of communities, spatial patterns of communities
• Term test 2, biogeography
• Succession, regulation of biodiversity
• Biodiversity and food webs
• Energy flow, primary and secondary production
• Biogeochemistry, conservation biology

Laboratory Schedule: Laboratories are either descriptive studies or experiments demonstrating some of the concepts learned in lecture. Most laboratory exercises involve collecting data and students are expected to perform appropriate math and statistical analysis of data, and present it in a proper format. In addition, students should be able to correctly interpret the results and evaluate the validity of the experiment and the conclusions in a correct scientific style. In the computer simulation laboratory, students should understand the usefulness and limitations of computer simulation.

• Introduction and microclimate
• Plant water relations and mark field organisms
• Mark and recapture, finish population growth studies
• Life tables
• Resource allocation in Solidago
• Gradient analysis
• Resource allocation continued, competition
• Acid mine drainage and aquatic ecology
• Aquatic ecology
• Production of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
• Succession, production of terrestrial ecosystems
• Plant competition, mimicry
• Plant competition, mimicry
• Computer models of populations and ecosystems