Principles of Ecology
BIO 4451Angelo State University
Instructor: Dr. J. Kelly McCoy
Office: S100A, phone: 942-2189 x246
E-mail: kelly.mccoy@angelo.edu
Course Description: Examination of basic ecological concepts and principles of the ecosystem and biogeochemical cycles, with particular emphasis on the organization and energetics of populations at the species, interspecies, and community levels in aquatic and terrestrial environments.
Prerequisites: Although not an official prerequisite, at least a basic understanding of college algebra will be necessary.
Text: Smith, R.L., Ecology and Field Biology, 5th Ed., Harper Collins.
Note: Lectures are prepared assuming that you have already done the readings. Please read the assigned materials before you come to class.
Course Format: This course will consist of a lecture portion and a laboratory portion. Although information presented in both portions of the course will overlap at times, grading will be separate (until final grades are assigned). That is, information presented in lab will not appear on lecture exams. Nor will information from lecture appear on lab quizzes.
Attendance: Attendance is expected in this course. You are responsible for all material presented in lecture and in lab. Although attendance will not be directly graded, failure to attend class will substantially reduce the probability of attaining a good grade. See lab policies for information regarding lab attendance.
Academic Dishonesty: Any form of cheating or plagiarism in this course will result in a zero on the assignment or exam for all involved. Allowing others access to your work potentially involves you in cheating. If you have any question about what constitutes plagiarism or cheating please contact the instructor. Working with other to produce identical (or very similar) work is plagiarism regardless of intent. Using the printed or unprinted work of others in writing without citation is plagiarism. Further information regarding academic dishonesty and university policy may be found on pages 31-32 of the Student handbook.
Special Accommodations: If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations please contact the Office of the Associate Deans of Student Life, Room 100 Hardeman Administration-Communications/Journalism Building, 942-2191 (voice) or 942-2126 (TDD).
Exams and Grading: Performance in this course will be based on exam scores and other assignments as noted below. Exams will normally include multiple choice, short answer, and essay sections. The final exam will be comprehensive over all the material (including readings) in the course. Point values for each assignment are listed below:
- 3 exams at 150 points each = 450 points
- Final Exam 225 points
- Lab Quizzes and Assignments: 6 at 25 points each = 150 points
- Lab Write-ups: 50, 75, and 125 points = 250 points
- Total:1075 points
Make-up Exams: Although I expect every effort to be made to take exams as scheduled, I recognize that occasionally circumstances beyond one's control result in the inability to attend class when an exam is given. For these circumstances, make-up exams may be scheduled. To schedule a make-up exam you must see me at the next class attended. Except in extreme circumstances make-up exams must be taken within two weeks of the scheduled exam time. All make-up exams will be essay format.
Final Grades: The final grades for this course will be based on the percentage of the total points possible accumulated for all assignments through the semester. Final grades will be assigned on the following basis: A = 90-100%; B = 80-89%; C = 70-79%; D = 60-69%; F = 59% or less. This grading scale will not be raised, but may be lowered at the instructor's discretion.
Corrections on Exam Scores: If errors are made in scoring exams, notify the instructor within one week of the day the exam was returned.
Laboratory Policies: This course will include about 12 lab activities. The lab is highly important as it provides the opportunity for direct observation of many of the concepts introduced in lecture. Another extremely important aspect of the lab is the introduction to methods that are used in ecological research. The importance of the lab is evident in the grade information above. For each lab activity there will be a grade assigned. These assignments will either be a quiz over the lab (in the following class period), a short written assignment over the lab (to be turned in at the next class), or a more formal lab write-up (you will have about 2 weeks for each write-up). Attendance in lab is critical. It is usually impossible to make-up a lab activity. Because absences are occasionally unavoidable there will be eight lab quizzes or assignments during the semester and you will be allowed to drop your lowest two scores. You will be responsible for all material covered in lab. Bring a calculator to every lab. Several of the labs will involve collecting data outdoors. Dress accordingly.
Lecture Schedule: This schedule is tentative and is subject to change.
Week 1: Introduction, Ecology as a Science, Adaptation Chapters 1, (2), 3
Week 2: Climate, Water Balance Chapters 4, 5
Week 3: Thermal Balance, Light Chapters 6, 7
Week 4: Nutrients, Soils Chapters 8, 9
Week 5: Exam 1
Week 6: Properties of Populations Chapter 17
Week 7: Population Growth Chapter 18
Week 8: Intraspecific Competition, Life Histories Chapters 19, 20
Week 9: Population Genetics Chapter 21
Week 10: Exam 2
Week 11: Interspecific Competition Chapter 22
Week 12: Predation Chapter 23
Week 13: Plant-Herbivore Systems, Herbivore-Carnivore Systems Chapters 24, 25
Week 14: Parasitism, Mutualism Chapter 26, 27
Exam 3
Week 15: Energy Flow, Biogeochemical Cycling Chapters 10-12
Week 16: Community Structure, Succession Chapters 28-30
Final Exam
Tentative Lab Schedule
Introduction, Plant Natural History
Introduction to Statistics, Presentation of Data
Species Diversity (data collection) *
Species Diversity (analysis)
Population Estimation
Spatial Relations of Plants (data collection) *
Spatial Relations of Plants (analysis)
Aquatic Microcosms
Allelopathy
Lotka-Volterra Interspecific Competition Optimal Foraging * (data collection)
Optimal Foraging (analysis)
Animal Behavior (Focal Animal Approach)*
Wind Dispersed Diaspores I
Wind Dispersed Diaspores II
* indicates an outdoor lab activity. Dress appropriately.
Bring a calculator to all labs.