BIOL203-2:PrinciplesofEcology
Instructor: Dr. Suann Yang
Office: ISC 256
Email: [email protected] (preferred)
Phone: 245-5311
Office Hours: Tues 1:30-2:30 pm, Wed 10:30
am-12 pm, Fri 10:30 am-12 pm, or by appt.
Uponcompletionofthiscourse,successfulstudentswill:
1. Be competent in fundamental ecological concepts, specifically the:
a. dynamic interactions of organisms within and among populations of the same species,
b. dynamic interactions between organisms of different species,
c. dynamic aspects of energy and biogeochemical cycles,
d. distribution patterns of living organisms,
e. need to conserve resources of the Earth, and
f. genetic and evolutionary processes that occur within populations.
2. Understand how these concepts relate to each other, particularly the implications of viewing
ecological systems on different spatial scales (e.g. local versus global) and temporal scales (e.g.
seconds versus generations).
3. Be familiar with the important role of quantitative skills in ecology, especially:
a. Understanding the roles of data visualizations, statistics, and models within the scientific
method.
b. Developing confidence in using quantitative skills.
c. Using quantitative skills to solve ecological problems.
4. Have practiced fundamental science skills, such as solving problems, designing experiments,
working in teams, and communicating about science.
Requiredcoursematerials
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Elements of Ecology by Thomas M. Smith and Robert Leo Smith, 9th edition
A Primer in Biological Data Analysis and Visualization Using R by Gregg Hartvigsen
Laptop or other internet-enabled device to use TopHat (Join Code: 190054)
R software (free download https://cran.r-project.org/) and Microsoft Excel
Paper (lined or unlined) for activities in class
Courseformat
We meet in ISC 131 from 8:30-9:20 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
I am very excited to be working with you this semester, helping you further develop your abilities to
think critically like scientists, while you learn about ecology. This course is not about memorizing a
bunch of facts. I aim to help you develop the skills to evaluate scientific information as you further your
knowledge of ecology.
Science is a process of discovery, and we will engage in this process during every class. Be prepared to
learn together actively during our class meetings. I will post materials, such as homework and reading
assignments, on our Canvas course site that will help you prepare. Please bring paper and an internetenabled device to each class, and check Canvas for announcements and documents to print out and bring
to class. The course is designed with a workload that is typical for 3 credit classes: about 9 hours a week
outside of class.
Spring 2017
1
Grades
Grades are based on regular assignments, quizzes, and a comprehensive final exam. Assignments are
opportunities for you to learn new concepts, and apply and integrate your understanding. I design these to
be low-stakes (i.e., low point value) practice for the quizzes and final exam. In other words, I expect
mistakes to be a natural part of the learning process; thus, the penalty is reduced in comparison to the
quizzes and final exam. Quizzes and the final exam ARE CUMULATIVE and may contain a variety of
question types, including multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short essay format, and ask you to recall,
apply, and synthesize your knowledge. All of our assignments and activities in class are designed to
prepare you for these cumulative quizzes and final exam.
Your grades are primarily determined by your work as an individual. In addition, a portion of your quiz
grade will be determined by your work in a team. For each quiz, you will first answer questions on your
own. Then, you will immediately retake the quiz with your teammates. Working with your team will
benefit you, because a portion of your team effort will be added to your individual score, as follows:
Yourquizscore=yourinitialquizpoints+½(teamretakequizpoints–yourteam’saverageinitialquizpoints)
I reserve the right to deny any student this team quiz benefit if I determine that a student is not contributing
fairly to the team effort. Any challenges to any grades recorded must be made within one week of that
assignment’s or quiz’s return date. Late materials are not accepted for credit. Students are required to take
quizzes and the final exam at the assigned times, and any unexcused absences will result in a grade of ‘0.’
Item
Assignments
Points
120
Quizzes
180
FinalExam
Total
100
400
A (372-400 points)
A- (360-371 points)
Notes
Homeworkandinclassactivities(seePersonalGradebookonlastpage
foroverview)
EverytwoweeksonMondays.Allquizzesarecumulative.SeePersonal
Gradebookonlastpagefordates;6total(30pointseach).
Cumulative;5/8/2017at8AMinISC131.
B+ (348-359 points)
B (332-347 points)
B- (320-331 points)
C+ (308-319 points)
C (292-307 points)
C- (280-291 points)
D (240-279 points)
E (239 points or less)
Plagiarismandacademicdishonesty
Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty (cheating, turning in another student’s work as your
own) will not be tolerated. Evidence of academic dishonesty is grounds for a score of ‘0’ on any
assignment and further action including notifying the department chair and Dean of the College, which
can result a report filed with the Dean of Students.
According to the Student Code of Conduct (http://www.geneseo.edu/dean_office/dishonesty),
plagiarism includes the following:
“A. direct quotation without identifying punctuation and citation of source;
B. paraphrase of expression or thought without proper attribution;
C. unacknowledged dependence upon a source in plan, organization, or argument.”
Spring 2017
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In SUNY Geneseo’s policy, “Plagiarism is the representation of someone else’s words or ideas as one’s
own or the arrangement of someone else’s material(s) as one’s own.” Take care to properly cite sources
of ideas, figures, data, etc. (including internet sources) in your writing and presentations. Even if you
properly cite your source, when you borrow wording and sentence structure from the original source and
pass it off as your own (i.e., by not using quotation marks), you are guilty of plagiarism. Learn how to
paraphrase in your own words information from the original source.
Working with other students on homework assignments is fine, but you must each produce original
written answers to the questions and prepare or adapt code on your own (no copying and pasting from
classmates). Identical or highly similar responses from two or more students suggest answers are being
copied and ALL students may receive a ‘0’ or substantial penalty on the assignment. Check with me if
you are not sure where the line between collaboration and copying stands on any assignment.
Attendanceanddeadlines
Please be on time and prepared for class. You must inform me of absences immediately by sending me an
email and bringing me documentation if applicable. Excused absences must be made up within one week
of your return to class; no make-ups are allowed for unexcused absences. Assignments submitted after the
deadline will not be accepted. In the event of an excused absence on a quiz date, group points on the makeup quiz will be determined by taking the average of group points over the whole semester.
Professionalconductintheclassroom
I expect you to have completed any assigned work, including the pertinent sections in your text. It is
considered inappropriate in class to eat, sleep, chat with friends, and use cell phones or laptops for any
non-class activity. There will be times when we use cell phones or similar electronic devices in class, but
those time will be announced. Until then, keep your cell phones OFF and PUT AWAY. Any of the above
mentioned inappropriate actions in class will result in you a grade of ‘0’ for any points earned that day
(including homework assignments due that day).
Biology/Biochemistrypremajorpolicy
Students entering Geneseo in the Fall of 2013 (either as incoming freshman or as transfer students) and
students wishing to become Biology/Biochemistry majors in the Fall of 2013 or later are ‘premajors’ in
Biology/Biochemistry. To be able to declare a major in Biology/Biochemistry, premajors must first
earn at least a C+ average (2.3 GPA) in their first two required biology lecture courses taken at
Geneseo. For most students this would be BIOL 117 and 119 but if students have credit for BIOL
117/119 from an AP Biology score of 5 or from the transfer of college credits the first two required
courses (and the ones that will count in terms of advancing to the major) are: BIOL 203 and 222 (for
pre-Biology majors) or BIOL 222 and 300 (for pre-Biochemistry majors). Pre-Biology students who
have credit for 117, 119, 203 and 222 and pre-Biochemistry students with credit for 117, 119 and 222
will be evaluated on the basis solely of BIOL 300. [Note that although you can repeat courses if you
withdraw or earn a D / E you cannot repeat courses with a C- or C and earning these grades in ‘premajor
course’ makes it difficult to achieve a C+ average and to become a Biology/Biochemistry major.]
Accommodations
SUNY Geneseo will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented physical,
emotional, or cognitive disabilities. Accommodations will also be made for medical conditions related
to pregnancy or parenting. Students should contact Dean Buggie-Hunt in the Office of Disability
Services ([email protected] or 585-245-5112) and their faculty to discuss needed accommodations
as early as possible in the semester.
Spring 2017
3
LectureOutline
This course is organized into six scenarios that explore current issues in ecology. In each scenario I will
introduce several related topics, and build upon topics introduced in previous scenarios. Resources for
each scenario will be organized as Modules in Canvas. I may adjust the topics and dates during the
semester; be assured I will inform you of any changes in a timely fashion.
SCENARIO
GlobalChange:Whatarethepastandcurrent
changesintheearthsystem,andhowdothey
affectecologicalsystems?
Targetdates:1/18-2/3/2017
AlienInvaders:Whydosomespeciesbecome
established in new locations, and why are
theyproblematic?
Targetdates:2/6-2/20/2017
Omnivore’s Dilemma: What should we eat,
andwhy?
Targetdates:2/22-3/8/2017
ThePollinationCrisis:Whyarepollinatorsin
decline, and why should we worry about
them?
Targetdates:3/10-4/3/2017
ThreatenedPredators:Whyarepredatorsat
risk of extinction, when they have such
amazingadaptationsforhuntingtheirprey?
Targetdates:4/5-4/14/2017
Environmental
Health:
How
do
environmental alterations affect living
systems,includinghumans?
Targetdates:4/17-5/1/2017
TOPICS
Ecologicalinquiry
Biomes
Microevolution
Climatesandclimatechange
Biologicaldiversity
Lifehistory
Populationdynamics
Competition
Landscapedynamics
Decompositionandnutrientcycling
Plantadaptations
Animaladaptations
Aquaticenvironments
Terrestrialenvironments
Decompositionandnutrientcycling
Ecosystemenergetics
Foodwebs
Mutualism
Predation
Competition
Behavior
Landscapedynamics
Animaladaptations
Lifehistory
Populationdynamics
Predation
Aquaticenvironments
Terrestrialenvironments
Landscapedynamics
Biologicaldiversity
Communitydynamicsandstructure
Landscapedynamics
Spring 2017
4
Personalgradebook
Please print and use the table below to keep track of your grades, quiz and exam dates, and how points
are allocated throughout the semester. Check that your grade on Canvas (updated with each quiz)
matches your records. Do note that the timing of quizzes may not necessarily correspond to the end of a
lecture scenario (see previous page).
Date
1/18-1/29
Item
Assignments1
Points possible
18
1/30
Quiz 1
30
2/1-2/12
Assignments2
18
2/13
Quiz 2
30
2/14-2/24
Assignments2
18
2/27
Quiz 3
30
2/28-3/19
Assignments1
18
3/20
Quiz 4
30
3/21-4/2
Assignments2
18
4/3
Quiz 5
30
4/4-4/16
Assignments1
18
4/17
Quiz 6
30
4/18-5/1
Assignments3
12
Points earned by you
5/8
Final Exam
100
8-10:30 AM
1
These include homework assignments and activities in class, e.g., essays of varying lengths, online
problem sets, worksheets, and TopHat questions. Expect to learn some basic concepts on your own,
apply what we have learned in class, and use R. Note that only a subset of activities that are assigned
may be graded.
2
These include the same types of homework assignments and activities in class as described in the
previous category, except you will not be using R. Note that only a subset of activities that are assigned
may be graded.
2
These again include a variety of activities, as well as a group research proposal. You will create a poster
of your group’s proposal, and present it in a symposium on the last day of class. Note that only a subset
of activities that are assigned may be graded.
Spring 2017
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