BIOL 423
GENERAL ECOLOGY
- Catalog Entry
Biology 423. General Ecology
Three hours lecture; three hours laboratory (4).
Prerequisites: 8 credits in Biology & STAT 211
An integrated field and laboratory study of living organisms and how they are affected by living and non-living factors in their environment. Emphasis on the study of natural populations and communities and factors governing their distribution and abundance.
- Detailed Description of Content of Course
1. Introduction: relationship to other sciences, approaches to the study of ecology
2. Populations
a. Population density
b. Dispersion patterns
c. Age distribution
d. Mortality
e. Natality
f. Population growth
g. Carrying capacity, fluctuations, and cycles
h. Factors controlling populations
3. Communities
a. Population interactions
1. Symbiosis (mutualism, commensalism)
2. Competition
3. Predation
b. Niche
c. Diversity
d. Dominance
e. Stratification
f. Periodicity
4. Ecosystems
a. Energy
b. Productivity, efficiencies, ecological pyramids
c. Biogeochemical cycles: H2O, C, O, N, S, P
d. Physical Factors: gravity, pressure, light, temperature, rainfall
5. Human Ecology: air and water pollution, waste disposal, natural resource depletion
- Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
The course will include, lecture, laboratory, and independent research project. The lectures will provide basic information in the field of general ecology. Thought questions and problems make the students active participants. The laboratory provides an opportunity for the students to have hands-on experience with some of the basic sampling techniques and equipment in ecology. It promotes cooperative, as well as individual, effort in collecting data. It also familiarizes the students with library resources. It provides the opportunity for the students to analyze and interpret data. Through computer simulations and typing reports, it provides an opportunity to become familiar with computers and word processing.
The individual research project familiarizes the student with the opportunity to design and do an experiment. Working with the faculty of the Statistical Consulting Service in the design of the experiment and the statistical analysis of the results provides the student with practical research experience. The research project report is written as a formal scientific paper. The students also give a short oral presentation of their project to the class.
- Goals and Objectives of the Course
On completing this course students should:
1. Be familiar with information and resources in the field of ecology.
2. Be able to collect and interpret ecological data.
3. Be able to use computers to analyze ecological data.
4. Be able to use statistics to explain ecological data.
5. Be able to communicate both in writing and orally.
- Assessment Measures
Mid term examination and final examination will test knowledge of terms, concepts, interpretation of data and graphs, and the solution of problems. Graded laboratory reports will include data collection and analysis. Each student will design and carry out an independent research project. Both written and oral reports on the project will be evaluated.
- Other Course Information
General Ecology is required core course for biology majors.
- Review and Approval
DATE ACTION REVIEWED BY
September 2001 Dr. Charles M. Neal, Chair |