BIOL. 309: INTRODUCTORY ECOLOGY
Some Scenes from Fall 1999

BIOL309 - ECOLOGY (f;2/3) 3 sh. A combination of evolutionary ecology and the classical study of energy flow, nutrient recycling and their influence on the distribution and abundance of organisms. Population studies with respect to growth, age structure, density and competitive interactions on both the inter- and tntra- population levels. The effects of human society on natural systems are emphasized. Laboratory exercises, field data collection and statistical techniques used in data interpretation are treated in the laboratory section. Prerequisites: Principles of Biology I and II (BIOL106 and 107).

BIOL. 309: INTRODUCTORY ECOLOGY

Tentative Lecture Schedule, Fall 1999

Dr. Thompson

Meets MW 8-8:50 am in Ulmer 201

THERE WILL BE NO TOBACCO USE (SMOKELESS INCLUDED) OR EATING OR DRINKING IN EITHER THE LECTURE OR THE LABORATORY OR ON FIELD TRIPS.

There will be a penalty for turning assignments in late. 5 pts. if after 5 p.m. on the day they are due and 2 pts. for each additional day late.

Dates to remember:

September 9/15 ............................ Lab Quiz I
September 16/22 .......................... Lab Quiz II
September 23/29 .......................... Lab Quiz III
October 4 ..................................... Lab Quiz IV
October 12 ................................... Exam I
November 8.................................. Exam II
December 14 ................................ Final Exam

BIOL. 309: INTRODUCTORY ECOLOGY

Tentative Lecture Schedule, Fall 1999

Date Topic Reading in Molles

Aug. 30

 Class objectives and introduction Chp. 1 & pp 235 - 236

Sept. 1

 Ecosystems structure and Niche concept Chp 10 (235 - 236)

Sept. 6

 LABOR DAY, NO CLASS  

Sept. 8

 Competitive exclusion/Biosphere/Photosynthesis/Chemosynthesis Chp 6

Sept. 13

 Respiration/Solar energy/Primary production Chp 15 (343 - 344)

Sept. 15

 Energy flow/Trophic relations/Fossil fuels/video Tape on fossil fuels/Library assignment Chp. 6

Sept. 20

 Primary production, fossil fuels and nuclear power No reading assignment

Sept. 22

Environmental movement/ history; Global circulation patterns Chp. 2 (16 - 19)

Sept. 27

Global circulation patterns - continued, soil formation, decomposition Chp. 2 (14 - 15)
Chp. 16 (366 - 370)

Sept. 29

Soil formation, decomposition continued, introduction to ecological succession Chp. 17

Oct. 40

Ecological succession, essential nutrients, law of the minimum, LAB QUIZ IV Chp. 17

Oct. 6

 Essential nutrients, law of the minimum, introduction to biogeochemical cycles Chp. 17

Oct. 11

 NO CLASSES, FALL BREAK!!!!  

Oct. 12

 EXAM I  

Oct. 13

 Biogeochemical cycles: introduction  

Oct. 18

 Hydrological cycle  

Oct. 20

 Carbon cycle  

Oct. 25

 Nitrogen cycle  

Oct. 27

Phosphorus and sulfur cycles  

Nov. 1

Bioconcentration, heavy metals and natural controls  

Nov. 3

Pesticides: organophosphates and chlorinated hydrocarbons  

Nov. 8

 EXAM II  

Nov. 10

 Evolution, natural selection, population genetics  

Nov. 15

Populations: dispersion, density and introduction to life tables  

Nov. 17

Populations: life tables and survivorship curves  

Nov. 22

 Populations: age composition and growth curves  

Nov. 24

 NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY STARTS  

Nov. 29

 Populations: age composition and growth curves  

Dec. 1

Populations: age composition and growth curves (cont.)  

Dec. 6

Populations: age composition and growth curves (cont.)  

Dec. 8

Communities: r and K selection, species interactions, Lotka-Voltera equations  

Dec. 14

 FINAL EXAM (Mon. 10 - 12)  

Texts: Molles, M. C., Jr. 1999. Ecology:concepts and applications. McGraw-Hill 509 pp.

Cox, G. W. 1985. Laboratory manual of general ecology. Wm. C. Brown. 248 pp.

PLUS ONE MAP, CHECK TO SEE IF YOU HAVE IT.

BIOL. 309: INTRODUCTORY ECOLOGY

Tentative Laboratory Schedule, Fall 1999

Dr. Thompson

Meets W or TH 2 - 5 in Ulmer 326

Laboratory reports are due at the start of the following lab period. There will be a penalty for turning them in late. 5 pts. if after 5 p.m. on the day they are due and 2 pts. for each additional day they are late!!!

THERE WILL BE NO TOBACCO USE (SMOKELESS INCLUDED) OR EATING OR DRINKING IN EITHER THE LECTURE OR THE LABORATORY OR ON FIELD TRIPS.

  Date Topic Exercise
  Sept. 2/8 Statistics 1: Probability and mark and recapture population estimates 10
  Sept. 9/15 Statistics 2: The scientific method and descriptive statistics. QUIZ I. 6 & 7
  Sept. 16/22 Statistics 3: F and t tests. QUIZ II. 7
  Sept. 23/29 Statistics 4: Regression and correlation. QUIZ III. 8
Van (1) Sept. 30/Oct. 6 Ecosystem identification, Soil analysis, Pesticides * hand out
  Oct. 7/13 Soil analysis, particle size, humus, pesticides hand out
Van (1) Oct. 14/20 Collection of plankton, benthos and insects for species diversity exercise * 32
  Oct. 21/27 Calculations for species diversity 32
Van (1) Oct. 28/Nov.3 Sieg or Pine Creek for fish and invertebrate collection for CPUE population estimate. *

IF YOU HAVE A PENNSYLVANIA FISHING LICENSE BRING IT ON THIS TRIP If you have waders bring them as well.

 11
Van (1) Nov. 4/10 Intrapopulation pattern analysis - Eagleton Road or Bald Eagle St. Pk. * 21
  Nov. 11/17 Calculations for CPUE estimate and intrapopulation pattern analysis 11 & 21
  Nov. 18/Dec. 1 Analysis of vegetation map: quadrat sampling 32
  Dec. 2/8 Community similarity and ordination  
       
       
       

* Field trips - We may not return to campus by 5 p.m.

Calculators may be used for lab quizzes and calculations.

STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BRING CALCULATORS AND LAB TEXTS TO LAB!

NOTE: Field Trips, we may not get back to campus by 5 p.m.

NOTE: Students are expected to bring appropriate texts to lab.

 

 

 

 

 

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