Fall
Semester 2006, 11:00 - 11:50AM MWF
LR 1 Nabrit-Mapp-McBay
Instructor: Lawrence Blumer, 302 Hope Hall, e-mail:
lblumer@morehouse.edu
Office
Hours: MWF 1-2 pm and by appointment phone: 404-681-2800 x2325
Texts: Economy of Nature. R.E.
Ricklefs. 5th edition. Freeman. 2000 or 2007. (EON)
Principles
of Ecology Lecture Outline and Study Guide. 2006.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Lecture Date Subject Reading
(EON)
_______________________________________________________________________________
|
1 |
W |
8/23 |
Introduction to Course |
pp 1-23 |
|
2 |
F |
8/25 |
Ecological Limiting Factors |
pp 24-48 |
|
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3 |
M |
8/28 |
Ecological Limiting Factors |
pp 49-72 |
|
4 |
W |
8/30 |
Ecology and Evolution |
pp 180-192 |
|
5 |
F |
9/1 |
Ecology and Evolution |
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M |
9/4 |
Labor Day Holiday – No Classes
|
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6 |
W |
9/6 |
Ecology and Evolution |
pp 311-326 |
|
7 |
F |
9/8 |
Ecology and Evolution |
pp 381-392 |
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8 |
M |
9/11 |
Ecology and Evolution |
pp 237-252 |
|
9 |
W |
9/13 |
Speciation and Macro-evolution |
pp 459-476 |
|
|
F |
9/15 |
Examination #1 on lectures 1-9
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10 |
M |
9/18 |
Phenotypic Variation |
pp 212-214, 319-321 |
|
11 |
W |
9/20 |
Populations and Demography |
pp 253-268 |
|
12 |
F |
9/22 |
Life Table Analysis |
pp 274-281 |
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13 |
M |
9/25 |
Life Table Analysis |
|
|
14 |
W |
9/27 |
Population Growth |
pp 269-274 |
|
15 |
F |
9/29 |
Population Limits |
pp 282-286 |
|
16 |
M |
10/2 |
Population Limits |
|
|
17 |
W |
10/4 |
Population Limits |
|
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|
F |
10/6 |
Examination #2 on lectures 10-17
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18 |
M |
10/9 |
Competition |
pp 286-291 |
|
19 |
W |
10/11 |
Competition |
pp 364-369 |
|
20 |
F |
10/13 |
Competition Models |
pp 369-370 |
|
21 |
M |
10/16 |
Competition Models |
pp 366-380 |
|
22 |
W |
10/18 |
Competition Experiments |
|
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23 |
F |
10/20 |
Competition Experiments |
pp 389-390 |
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24 |
M |
10/23 |
Predation and Herbivory |
pp 329-345 |
|
25 |
W |
10/25 |
Predation and Herbivory |
|
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26 |
F |
10/27 |
Predation and Herbivory |
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27 |
M |
10/30 |
Predation Models |
pp 348, 356-359 |
|
28 |
W |
11/1 |
Host-Parasite Interactions |
pp 338-340 |
|
|
F |
11/3 |
Examination #3
on lectures 18-28
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29 |
M |
11/6 |
Community Structure |
pp 100-106, 399-420 |
|
30 |
W |
11/8 |
Community Change |
pp 421-439 |
|
31 |
F |
11/10 |
Biodiversity and Biogeography |
pp 480-482, 440-454 |
|
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|
32 |
M |
11/13 |
Biodiversity and Biogeography |
pp 451-458 |
|
33 |
W |
11/15 |
Trophic Structure |
pp 125-132 |
|
34 |
F |
11/17 |
Energy Efficiency |
pp 132-144 |
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35 |
M |
11/20 |
Nutrient Cycles |
pp 144-160 |
|
|
W |
11/22 |
Thanksgiving
Holiday – No Class
|
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F |
11/24 |
Thanksgiving Holiday – No Class |
|
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|
36 |
M |
11/27 |
Nutrient Cycles |
pp 161-179 |
|
37 |
W |
11/29 |
Carbon and Climate Change |
pp 510-512 |
|
38
|
F |
12/1
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39
|
M
|
12/4
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40
|
W |
12/6
|
|
Final Examination, Monday December 11 , 1:00
– 3:00 pm
Nabrit-Mapp-McBay LR 1
(Part 1 on Lectures 29-40, Part 2 on Lectures
1-28)
Examination Dates
|
Friday, September 15 |
Examination #1 |
|
Friday, October 6 |
Examination #2 |
|
Friday, November 3 |
Examination #3 |
|
Monday, December 11
|
Final Examination |
This
course will give you comprehensive introduction to the science of ecology, the
study of interactions between organisms and their environment. All major areas of ecology will be
considered including: Environmental
limiting factors on plants and animals, life history patterns, demography and
population growth, evolutionary ecology, interactions between organisms such as
competition, predation, and mutualism, community and ecosystem ecology, and
global systems ecology. This
course addresses ecological and evolutionary theories as well as the empirical
evidence bearing on those theories.
The human implications of ecological phenomena and the consequences of
human modification of our environment will also be addressed.
Your
grade in this course will be based on three in-class lecture examinations, and
a comprehensive final examination.
Examination questions will be drawn from the subjects we actually
address in lectures, but it is essential that you keep-up with the reading
assignments. The examinations will
consist of multiple choice, short answer, and short essay type questions. There will be an emphasis on problem
solving.
|
Three in-class examinations, 100
pts. each |
300 points |
|
Final Examination (comprehensive) |
200 points |
|
|
|
|
Total = |
500 points |
Letter
grades will be assigned as described below:
|
A |
= |
90 |
to |
100% |
|
A- |
= |
88 |
to |
89% |
|
B+ |
= |
86 |
to |
87% |
|
B |
= |
80 |
to |
85% |
|
B- |
= |
78 |
to |
79% |
|
C+ |
= |
76 |
to |
77% |
|
C |
= |
70 |
to |
75% |
|
C- |
= |
68 |
to |
69% |
|
D+ |
= |
66 |
to |
67% |
|
D |
= |
60 |
to |
65% |
|
D- |
= |
58 |
to |
59% |
|
F |
= |
57% and less |
|
|
Attendance Policy
Absences
will not be excused unless permitted in writing by the Academic Dean or the
Dean of Students. No
exceptions. More than three
unexcused absences will result in a failing grade. Class will begin promptly on the hour.
Review
Problems and
answer keys are included in the Course Pack: Principles of Ecology Lecture
Outline and Study Guide. 2006.
Prior to each of the examinations, you
should complete all the review problems associated with that part of the
course. These problems
sets are actual past examination questions and will help you prepare for
examinations.
Academic Honesty (Plagiarism)
All
the work that you submit in this course must be your own. Copying the work of others and
submitting it as your own is dishonest and will not be tolerated (this includes
problem set answer keys). Copying
on an examination is an obvious example of academic dishonesty. Submitting work copied from a group
effort is unacceptable when individual grades are to be given. Working with your fellow students on laboratory
studies, problem sets or STELLA models is fine, but the work you actually
submit must be the result of your own efforts and must be written in your own
words. Paraphrasing the work of
others is not acceptable. At the
very least, dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the assignment or examination,
and a report to the Dean of Students.
á
Provide students with a fundamental knowledge of Biology.
á
Prepare students for and assist them in entering graduate and
professional school, and the workforce.
á
Strengthen students' reading, writing and quantitative skills.
á
Develop students' analytical reasoning and creative thinking
skills.
á
Expose students to contemporary research techniques in Biology and
enhance their understanding of the Scientific Method.
á
Conduct meritorious research in the field of Biology.
á
Acquaint students with the history of Biology, including the
contributions of Black scientists.
á
Engender an appreciation among students of the social and economic
implications of discoveries in Biology.
á
Build
students' awareness of ethical and moral issues related to basic tenets in
Biology.