Biology 406 - Ecology

Lecturer:

Danny J. Gustafson, Ph.D. (Office phone: 953-7876, email: danny.gustafson@citadel.edu)

Office:

Duckett 301

 

Office Hours:

M 10-12 and by appointment.

 

 

 

 

Lecture:

MWF 9:00 - 10:00 in Duckett 114

Lab:

W 1 - 4:50 in Duckett 201

 

 

 

 

Textbook:

Ecology. 4th edition by Ricklefs & Miller. Freeman / Worth Publishers,

 

New York, NY. ISBN: 0-7167-2829-X. Laboratory material will be provided by DJG.

 

 

 

 

Course Goals:

Ecology is the study of the natural environment and of the relations of organisms to each other and to their environment. Students will be exposed to ecological theories and case studies at multiple levels of organization. The course is divided up into three sections that roughly correspond to organismal, population, and community ecology.

 

 

 

 

Exams:

Each exam will cover the material presented in lecture and the assigned book chapters.*

 

There will be three hourly exams, each following approximately 12 lectures. Each of these

 

exams and the comprehensive final exam will be worth 100 points each. The lowest exam

 

score will be dropped, hence there WILL BE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS OFFERED.

 

Total points from the exams = 300.

 

 

 

 

Grading:

The course grade will consist of the total of your four exams (300 pts) plus laboratory

 

(150 pts) for a total of 450 pts possible.

 

A = 90-100%

 

B = 80-89%

 

C = 70-79%

 

D = 60-69%

 

F = <60%

 

 

 

 

Attendance:

According to Citadel policy, class attendance takes priority over all other normal activities.

 

If absences exceed 20% of the total meetings, the student can receive a grade of F.

 

Excused absences may be permitted if and only if I have been give prior notice.

 

The Citadel's honor system applies to all functions related this course.

 

 

 

 

Dates

 

Topic

 

 

 

Jan 11

Introduction to the course & Pre-Test

Jan 13 – Feb 10

Organismal Ecology (Chapters 1,2,4,6,7,8)

 

The study of ecology often starts with observing patterns in nature and then trying to determine the processes responsible for these patterns. Adaptations to biotic and abiotic factors can influence individual survival, population growth, and community dynamics. In this first part of the course we will discuss the scientific process, the importance of water and solute balance, biotic and abiotic environmental heterogeneity, and biomes.  

Feb 13

Exam 1 (100 pts)

 

 

Feb 15 – Mar 13

Population Ecology (Chapters 14-18,20,21)

 

In this section we will be discussing population structure, growth, and regulation. Populations occur in discrete patches spatially and temporally, so we will discuss metapopulation and population cycles too. We will finish this section by introducing resources, consumers, and basic competition theory.

Mar 15

Exam 2 (100 pts)

 

 

Spring Break

March 27 – April 2 (no classes)

 

 

Mar 17 – Apr 19

Community Ecology (Chapters 22, 23, 26-29)

 

In this section we will start out by looking at competition and predation in nature, followed by a more formal look at the concept of an ecological community, community structure, and genesis. We will finish the semester by briefly discussing Biodiversity, which is a property of an ecological community, driven by population interactions, and ultimately a measure of individual adaptations.

 

 

Apr 21

Post-Test

 

 

Apr 24

Exam 3 (100 pts)

 

 

Final

April 27 at 1 pm in Duckett 114

*The textbook is an outstanding resource with in depth information on many topics within ecology. As such, you will find that I do not typically lecture on all topics within each assigned chapter. During lectures I will direct the students to which sections we are covering that day and I will try to incorporate figures and tables from your text. This should help the students focus on the topics and concepts that will be on the exams. It is strongly recommended that you read the associated sections of your text prior to the next class meeting. That way you will be able to get any questions about the previous information clarified before we continue.

 

Ecology (BIOL 406) Laboratory

 

The Ecology Laboratory will meet in Duckett 201 unless otherwise instructed. Laboratory attendance and participation are mandatory and any person missing 2 lab meeting will be removed from the class and receive a grade of ‘F’ for the course. Your laboratory grade will consist of two 60 point scientific papers (total 120 pts) and lab participation (30 pts) for a total of 150 points.

 

There are only five laboratories which can be written up as your two scientific papers. Your scientific papers must be typed, and follow the format of Ecology Letters. The tables and figures should not simply represent your raw data, instead they should contain summaries of your data and convey information not presented in the text of the results. Failure to follow these instructions will result in a lower grade or the return of your paper not graded. Late papers will receive a score of zero (0). Field laboratories may require the class to travel some distance to conduct the experiment, so it is imperative that you are on time. We can not wait for you if your late and two missed laboratory periods will result in an ‘F‘ for the course. FYI: Bad weather seldom leads to cancellation of labs.

 

Tentative Lab Schedule

Jan 11               No Laboratory

Jan 18               Forest Ecology (Leave at 12:30 for Apron Island)

Jan 25               Analyze the Forest Ecology Data

Feb 1                Carolina Bay (Lecture 9-10, laboratory 12:30-5 with Dr. Richard Porcher)

Feb 8                Muhlenbergia DNA extraction [10 pts – successful DNA product] Forest Ecology                            Paper Due

Feb 15              Molecular Ecology Analysis Laboratory exercise and Population Simulation Models [10 pts – computer modeling lab]. Genetics Class is running the Muhlenbergia ISSR PCR and gels (Tuesday and Wednesday). Friday (Feb. 17) we will go over the Molecular Ecology Analysis information so the Ecology Students will be comfortable teaching it Tue (Feb 21) and Wed (Feb 22) the following week.

Feb 22              Teach Genetic Labs how to do the molecular analyses and analyze these data generated by the two classes. (Tue 21 & Wed 22) [10 pts – teaching demonstration] and Allelopathy Experiment (establish)

Mar 1                Allelopathy Experiment Data Collection / Analysis

Mar 8                Francis Beidler Forest - Trillium demography & Swamp Ecology (Leave at 12:30) (Friday March 10 Trillium data analysis in class) Molecular Ecology Paper Due

Mar 15              ACE Basin – Marine / Estuary Ecology (Leave at 12:30 for Bennett’s Point Trip) Mar 22                   Carolina Bay and Longleaf Pine Savanna restoration (Leave at 12:30-Dr. Richard                         Porcher) - Allelopathy Experiment Paper Due

Mar 29              No Lab (Spring Break)

Apr 5                Marsh Ecology (Friday April 7 data analysis in class) – Trillium Paper Due

Apr 12               Endangered Species (Lindera melissifolia) Survey in Francis Marion National Forest

Apr 19               Eastern Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium isophthalma) field survey Marsh Ecology Paper Due

 

Insect Diversity, Animal Survey (Crab and Minnow Traps), Predator-Prey Computer Modeling, and Dune Ecology are all possible substitute laboratories.