VERSION 2.0 - Updated Oct 5, 2000

 

ECOLOGY                                                                                                         Fall 2000

PCB-3043

Instructor: Dr. Jim Fourqurean

Office: OE 237

Phone: 348-4084

Class time: Tuesday and Thursday, 5:00-6:15 pm

Textbook: Molles, M. C. 1999. Ecology: Concepts and Applications. WCB McGraw-Hill

Readings should be completed before the class for which they are assigned!

Syllabus:

Date Topic Reading
     
T Aug 29 Class Administration and Introduction to Ecology Ch. 1
TH Aug 31 Requirements of living things Ch. 6
T Sep 5 Light and the atmosphere pp 16-19; 456-464
TH Sep 7 Water and heat budgets of organisms Ch. 4
T Sep 12 Conservation of water in plants and animals Ch. 5
TH Sep 14 Biome concept Ch. 2 & 3
T Sep 19 Energy in ecosystems - I Ch. 15
TH Sep 21 Energy in ecosystems - II Ch. 14
T Sep 26 Energy in ecosystems - III  
TH Sep 28 Element cycles in ecosystems - I Ch. 16
T Oct 3 RAINOUT  
TH Oct 5 RAINOUT  
T Oct 10 Element cycles in ecosystems - I  
T Oct 10 Preliminary report on semester writing assignment due
TH Oct 12 Element cycles in ecosystems - II and Test #1  
T Oct 17 The Niche concept, Life Histories and Life Tables - I pp. 162-172
TH Oct 19 Life Histories and Life Tables - II Ch. 8
T Oct 24 Population structure  
TH Oct 26 Population growth rates - I Ch. 9
T Oct 31 Population growth rates - II  
TH Nov 2 Dynamics of populations - I  
T Nov 7 Dynamics of populations - II  
TH Nov 9 Test #2  
T Nov 14 Species interactions - I Ch. 10
TH Nov 16 Species interactions - II Ch. 11
T Nov 21 Species interactions - III Ch. 12
TH Nov 23 Thanksgiving - no class  
T Nov 28 Community structure - I Ch. 7 & 13
TH Nov 30 Community structure - II Ch. 7 & 13
T Dec 5 Community development Ch. 17
T Dec 5 Semester writing assignment due  
TH Dec 7 Test #3  
     
TH Dec 14 Final Exam, 3:30 - 6:15 pm  

Grading Policy:

There will be three tests. NO MAKEUP TESTS WILL BE GIVEN. The average of your 2 highest tests will count for 45% of the final grade. Everyone must take the cumulative final exam, which will count for 35% of your final grade. In class quizzes will count for 10%, and a semester-long research/writing assignment will count for 10%, of your final grade.