FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY

Department of Biological Sciences

PCB 4043- Principles of Ecology (3 Credits) Summer 2009

M/W 2:00 – 3:50  -  ES 106 – Davie Campus

Instructor-

Dr. Tom Chesnes,  [email protected]

Office Hours- M/W: 1:30 – 2:00 / 3:50 – 4:20   Office TBD

Course website:  www.geocities.com/chesnesecology

            Announcements, lecture outlines, grades

Required Materials-

•       Ecology: the Experimental Analysis of Distribution and Abundance.  2001.  C. J. Krebs.  Fifth edition. Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco, CA.

•       EcoBeaker  Exercise Packets, SimBiotic Software, Ithaca, NY.

•       A calculator (yes, ecology is quantifiable)

Grading Procedures-

Three exams                                                                          :                       75 %

Participation and “Laboratory” exercises                                                   25 %

Guaranteed floors for grading:

A- 90               B- 80               C- 70              D- 60

Make-up exams are given at the discretion of the instructor, typically if one has a legitimate, written excuse. 

Important Dates:

25 May 2009                         Memorial Day – National Holiday

8 June 2009                          Exam 1

10 June 2009                       No Class- Class Holiday

8 July 2009                           Exam 2

29 July 2009                         Exam 3

Topics, Labs (and Readings in Krebs) to be covered in class:

Syllabus Overview / Introduction to course

Introduction to the science of ecology                                                         (p 2-15)

Evolution and Ecology                                                                                  (17-28)

Factors controlling Distribution -Methods for Analyzing                           (32-39)

Factors controlling Distribution - Biotic Factors & Interactions                (41-83)

Factors controlling Distribution - Biotic Factors & Interactions                (41-83)

Factors controlling Distribution - Abiotic Factors                                      (86-104)

Population Parameters                                                                                (116-131)

Mark and Recapture Lab

Demographic Techniques                                                                           (133-154)

Population Growth                                                                                        (157-176)

Isle Royale Lab Exercise 1 & 2

Species Interactions Competition                                                               (179-204)

Niches and Competition Lab

Species Interactions- Predation                                                                  (206-234)

Isle Royale Lab Exercise 3

Species Interactions- Herbivory                                                                  (235-256)

Species Interactions- Disease and Parasitism                                         (258-278)

Sick Fish Lab

Community Ecology                                                                                      (386-400)

Community Change                                                                                      (403-431)

Biodiversity                                                                                                    (434-456)

Ecosystem Metabolism - Primary Production                                           (513-534)

Isle Royale Exercise 5

Ecosystem Metabolism - Secondary Production                                      (537-557)

Ecosystem Metabolism - Nutrient Cycles                                                  (560-581)

Ecosystem "Health" - Human Impacts                                                        (583-607)

Applied Problems - Harvesting Populations                                              (305-328)

Applied Problems - Conservation Biology                                                 (355-382)

Corridors, Stepping Stones, and Butterflies Lab

***Schedule and Topics subject to change***