Spring Semester 2009, 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: 404-653-7873
Texts: Economy of Nature. R.E. Ricklefs. 5th edition. Freeman. 2000 or 2007.
(EON)
Principles
of Ecology Lecture Outline and Study Guide.
|
Lecture |
Date |
Subject |
Reading (EON) |
|
1 |
W |
14-Jan |
Introduction to Course |
pp 1-23 |
|
2 |
F |
16-Jan |
Ecological Limiting Factors |
pp 24-48 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M |
19-Jan |
MLK Holiday – No Classes |
|
|
3 |
W |
21-Jan |
Ecological Limiting Factors |
pp 49-72 |
|
4 |
F |
23-Jan |
Ecology and Evolution |
pp 180-192 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
M |
26-Jan |
Ecology and Evolution |
|
|
6 |
W |
28-Jan |
Ecology and Evolution |
pp 311-326 |
|
|
F |
30-Jan |
Ecology and Evolution |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
M |
2-Feb |
Ecology and Evolution |
pp 381-392 |
|
8 |
W |
4-Feb |
Ecology and Evolution |
pp 237-252 |
|
|
F |
6-Feb |
Examination #1 on lectures 1-8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
M |
9-Feb |
Speciation and Macro-evolution |
pp 459-476 |
|
10 |
W |
11-Feb |
Phenotypic Variation
|
pp 212-214, 319-321 |
|
11 |
F |
13-Feb |
Populations and Demography |
pp 253-268 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 |
M |
16-Feb |
Life Table Analysis |
pp 274-281 |
|
13 |
W |
18-Feb |
Population Growth |
pp 269-274 |
|
14 |
F |
20-Feb |
Population Limits |
pp 282-286 |
|
15 |
M |
23-Feb |
Population Limits |
|
|
16 |
W |
25-Feb |
Population Limits |
|
|
|
F |
27-Feb |
Examination #2 on lectures 9-16
|
|
|
Sunday |
1-Mar |
Food
Bank- Hunger Walk – Community Service – Extra Credit |
||
|
17 |
M |
2-Mar |
Competition |
pp 286-291 |
|
18 |
W |
4-Mar |
Competition |
pp 364-369 |
|
19 |
F |
6-Mar |
Competition Models |
pp 369-370 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M |
9-Mar |
Spring Break – No
Classes |
|
|
|
W |
11-Mar |
Spring Break – No
Classes |
|
|
|
F |
13-Mar |
Spring Break – No
Classes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20 |
M |
16-Mar |
Competition
Models |
pp 366-380 |
|
21 |
W |
18-Mar |
Competition
Experiments |
pp 389-390 |
|
22 |
F |
20-Mar |
Predation
and Herbivory |
pp 329-345 |
|
Lecture |
Date |
Subject |
Reading (EON) |
|
23 |
M |
23-Mar |
Predation
and Herbivory |
|
|
24 |
W |
25-Mar |
Predation
Models |
pp 348,
356-359 |
|
25 |
F |
27-Mar |
Host-Parasite
Interactions |
pp 338-340 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26 |
M |
30-Mar |
Community
Structure |
pp
100-106, 399-420 |
|
27 |
W |
1-Apr |
Community
Change |
pp 421-439 |
|
|
F |
3-Apr |
Examination
#3 on lectures 17-27 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
M |
6-Apr |
Biodiversity
and Biogeography |
pp
480-482, 440-454 |
|
29 |
W |
8-Apr |
Biodiversity
and Biogeography |
pp 451-458 |
|
|
F |
10-Apr |
Good
Friday Holiday – No Classes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30 |
M |
13-Apr |
Trophic
Structure |
pp 125-132 |
|
31 |
W |
15-Apr |
Energy
Efficiency |
pp 132-144 |
|
32 |
F |
17-Apr |
Nutrient
Cycles |
pp 144-179 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33 |
M |
20-Apr |
Carbon and
Climate Change |
pp 510-512 |
|
34 |
W |
22-Apr |
Carbon and
Climate Change |
|
|
35 |
F |
24-Apr |
Carbon and
Climate Change |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36 |
M |
27-Apr |
Global
Climate and Pollution |
|
|
37 |
W |
29-Apr |
Global
Climate and Pollution |
|
Final
Examination, Monday May 4, 1:00 – 3:00 pm,
Nabrit-Mapp-McBay
LR 1
(Part
1 on Lectures 28-37, Part 2 on Lectures 1-27)
Examination Dates
|
Friday, February 6 |
Examination #1 |
|
Friday, February 27 |
Examination #2 |
|
Friday, April 3 |
Examination #3 |
|
Monday, May 4 |
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 on-line Course Pack: Principles
of Ecology Lecture Outline and Study Guide.
Prior to each of the examinations, you should complete all the review problems
associated with that part of the course. These problems sets are past examination questions
that 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 computer 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.
Disability Accommodation
Morehouse
College is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students,
including those with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities or
those who suspect they have a disability must register with the Office of
Disability Services (ÒODSÓ) in order to receive accommodations. Students currently registered with the
ODS are required to present their Disability Services Accommodation Letter to
faculty immediately upon receiving the accommodation. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Disability
Services, 104 Sale Hall Annex, Morehouse College, 830 Westview Dr. S.W.,
Atlanta, GA 30314, (404) 215-2636, FAX: (404) 215-2749.
Disclaimer
This
syllabus is not a contract. The
instructor reserves the right to modify it at his discretion.