Teaching Assistants:
Week starting Monday |
Laboratory Activity |
Lab Manual |
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Aug. 26 |
NO LABORATORIES FIRST WEEK OF CLASS Field trip -meet at vans |
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Aug 30 |
Wetland communities of Jean Lafitte National Historic Park |
pp. 4-9 |
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Sept. 6 |
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pp.10-22 |
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Sept. 13 |
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Sept. 20 |
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pp. 10 - 22 |
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Sep. 27 |
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Oct. 4 |
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pp51-70 |
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Oct. 11 |
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pp. 41 - 50 |
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Oct. 16 SATURDAY |
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pp. 87 - 92 |
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Oct. 25 |
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pp. 41-50 |
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Nov. 1 |
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pp. 79 - 86 |
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Nov. 8 |
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pp. 79 - 86 |
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Nov. 15 |
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Nov. 22 |
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Nov. 29 |
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Goals and Objectives
The goal of the laboratory exercises is to teach the practice of Ecology through hands-on experience. The labs require data collection both in the laboratory and in local ecosystems, extensive computer-based data analysis and hypothesis testing, modeling, experimental design, and communication of scientific findings both orally and with several miniature scientific papers. The labs are intended to teach or enhance a variety of specific skills:
· Critical reading of scientific papers and popular articles on science
· Hypothesis development, testing, and experimental design
· Directed, thorough, and unbiased observation
· Quantitative expression and graphical representation of observations and trends
· Use of statistics to describe patterns and test hypotheses
· Written and oral communication of scientific ideas and observations
· Use of computer tools, such as word processors, spreadsheets, modeling environments, and Internet to facilitate evaluation and presentation of ecological observations and ideas
· Collaboration within student teams
Other Useful Information
Lab sections: Laboratory sections meet in Stern 2002, typically from 1:00 - 5:00 P.M. on Monday-Wednesday. Always attend lab on your scheduled section day, except for students in Monday labs during holiday weeks (Labor Day). If you know in advance that you must miss a lab section, discuss day substitution with instructor at least one week before the lab to be missed. If you miss a lab due to documented illness, discuss make-up work with instructor.
Field trips: Meet by 1:00 pm sharp, at the EEOB departmental vans, which will be parked between the Reilly Center main entrance and the adjacent tennis courts back along Macalister Drive Extension towards Willow Street. Drivers will not wait for stragglers, since class has a lot to accomplish on field trips. Wear appropriate shoes (boots or old sneakers) and clothing (i.e. long pants, a hat) for walking off trails in wet forests and marshes-class will often visit areas with briars, poison ivy, etc. Insect repellent will be provided and must be used due to the risk of West Nile Virus. Student should provide a rain poncho, jacket, or umbrella on all field trips. Bring water in a bottle. A few field trips will return late (6:00 P.M.) to campus, as noted in schedule above-please make arrangements well in advance with other professors, employers, etc. for any possible time conflicts.
Grading:
Notes on grading: Lab reports are due as indicated in the lab syllabus. Late reports will lose 5 points for each three days overdue. If student hands in spider lab re-write, actual grade will be average of initial lab report grade and re-write grade. Student must hand in all three (required) laboratories to pass course!
Preparation: Students must read relevant parts of laboratory manual prior to attending laboratory session. This will provide vital preparation for comprehension of laboratory activities. Lab manual will be available for purchase ($10, cash only) in the EE Biology office, 310 Dinwiddie Hall.
Reserve Readings: A variety of readings are available for this course via electronic reserve (ERES), through the Howard-Tilton Library Reserve System. For each laboratory write-up check reserve readings for appropriate references. To access these readings, go to http://eres.library.tulane.edu/courseindex.asp, scroll through the offerings to get to this course's readings, use the password "ecodocs" to get access to the readings, and then download them to your own computer for viewing or printing. If you use the menus go to electronic reserves (not course reserves), then put in Tom Sherry for professor, then choose EEOB404. This will not only give you the readings but also a look at tests from past classes.
Instructor
Grant Gentry