|
Date |
|
Readings |
|
August |
||
|
Th 26 |
Class organization; What is ecology? |
Stiling ch. 1 |
|
T 31 |
Genetic diversity and the diversity of life |
S ch. 2 |
|
September |
||
|
Th 2 |
Generation and extinction of species, Evolution of social behavior |
S ch. 3, S ch. 4 |
|
T 7 |
Physiological ecology: the physical environment |
S ch. 7; Ricklefs ch. 2 |
|
Th 9 |
Plant physiological adaptations, Animal physiological adaptations |
R ch. 3, pp. 49-59, R ch. 3, pp. 59-72 |
|
T 14 |
Hurricane Evac |
Kareiva pp. 1-10 |
|
Th 16 |
Hurricane Evac |
|
|
T 21 |
Patterns of life-history traits, hibernation , Life history tradeoffs in clonal plants |
S ch. 5 , K pp. 44-53 |
|
Th 23 |
The structure of populations & life tables, Models of population growth |
S ch. 6 pp. 66-74, S ch. 6 pp. 74-80 |
|
T 28 |
EXAM I , start Models of population limitation |
S ch. 6 pp. 80-88 |
|
Th 30 |
Models of population limitation , Population regulation in theory & practice, Human population growth & limitation |
S ch. 13 pp. 206-216, Human population growth (Pulliam & Haddad) |
|
October |
||
|
T 5 |
Inter-specific competition in nature, |
S ch. 8 pp. 108-122; K pp. 65-70 |
|
Th 7 |
Modeling inter-specific competition, |
S ch. 8 pp. 122-134, |
|
T 12 |
Theory of predator-prey interactions |
S ch.10 pp. 150-160 |
|
Th 14 |
Predation in nature, Herbivory |
S ch.10 pp. 160-169, S ch. 11 |
|
T 19 |
Parasitism, Mutualism |
S ch. 12; K pp. 110-121, S ch. 9 |
|
Th 21 |
Complex interactions & control of populations |
S ch. 13 pp. 216-226 |
|
T 26 |
Describing communities, Trophic structure in communities |
S ch. 16 & 14 pp. 228-230, S ch. 20 |
|
Th 28 |
EXAM II |
|
|
November |
||
|
T 2 |
Community stability, and disturbance, |
S ch. 17; K pp. 156-167 |
|
Th 4 |
Community succession, Global patterns of species richness |
S ch. 18; K pp. 178-189, S ch. 15 |
|
T 9 |
sland biogeography in theory and practice I, Global climate patterns and life zone diversity ,PROBLEM SETS DUE IN CLASS |
S ch. 19, S chs. 7 & 14 pp. 228-230 |
|
Th 11 |
Biomes of extreme environments |
S ch. 14, pp. 240-244 |
|
T 16 |
Moist forest biomes |
S ch. 14, pp. 237-240 |
|
Th 18 |
Energy flow in ecosystems, Element cycles and resource flows in ecosystems |
S ch. 21, S ch. 22 |
|
T 23 |
Element cycles, continued |
|
|
Th 25 |
Thanksgiving Holiday |
|
|
T 30 |
Global carbon cycle |
K pp. 248-264 |
|
December |
||
|
Th 2 |
Biological invasions as global change, Managing a human-dominated planet |
K pp. 218-228, K pp. 265-274, & 229-237 |
|
F 10 |
FINAL EXAM: 8-Noon , in lecture classroom |
Course Goals and Objectives:
General Ecology is an introduction to the science of modern Ecology, and is a core, required course in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major. The goals of the course are several-fold: introduce and engage the major theories and methods of Ecology, encourage exploration of patterns in nature using diverse tools, and apply these ideas and tools to understanding human impacts on the environment. These goals are accomplished through lectures, thought-provoking exam questions, and in-class discussions of current scientific literature. Thus, students gain in-depth understanding of both the content and methods of contemporary Ecology, and acquire skills along the way. For those taking the optional lab, see the General Ecology laboratory syllabus.
Student Evaluation and Other Useful Information:
Readings: Stiling, Peter. 2002. Ecology: theories and applications, 4th edition. Prentice Hall, NJ.
Kareiva, Peter. 1998. Exploring Ecology and its Applications: Readings from American Scientist. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA.
Ricklefs, R.E. 2001. The Economy of Nature, 5th edition. W.H. Freeman and Company, NY. (in electronic reserve under titles, "Physical environment", and "Adaptation to aquatic and terrestirial environments" )
Pulliam, H.R. and N.M. Haddad. 1994. Human population growth and the carrying capacity concept. Bull. Ecol. Soc. Amer. Pp. 141-157. (on webpage under title, "Human population growth")
Grading:
Exam I 25%
Exam II 25%
Problem Set 20%
Final Exam 30%
Extra-credit points: Up to 10 extra-credit points may be earned (and added to midterm exam grade) for attendance at two approved departmental or other lectures, if accompanied by 1-pg. (maximum) synopsis of each lecture; i.e., 5 pts. per lecture. Synopsis must be handed in or E-mailed to instructor (microsoft word or pdf formats, only) by next class period following lecture.
Make-up exams will not be available: In case of a missed exam due to illness, documented with acceptable excuse from Dean's office, the score from final exam will count for balance of grade.
Honor code: This course operates in strict accordance with the Honor Code of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Any suspected violation of the Honor Code will be brought before the Tulane College or Newcomb College Honor Board. In particular, students must do all work individually, except where explicitly allowed by instructor (or by special permission). Consultation with other students (e.g., in studying for exam or preparing problem sets) is allowed, but student must turn in his/her own work. If any student is unfamiliar with his/her obligations under the code, then please pick up a copy in the associate dean's office of his/her college, or consult with instructor.
Class attendance: The expectation is that students will attend all classes unless prevented by sickness; students will be held responsible for all material covered in class (e.g., on exams), whether or not it is in class notes posted on the web. Information that student will miss by not attending class includes (but is not limited to) all class discussions, additional examples and explanation (that may not be in class notes), announcements such as extra-credit-eligible seminars, and discussion of practice exam questions. In the event a student MUST miss a class, it is her or his responsibility to obtain that day's lecture material from classmates.
Teaching Assistants: (Office hours TBA): Also see the Lab Syllabus,
Dissemination of class materials: