Lecture topics

BIOL3144 Ecology

New: Research opportunity in Dr. Sokolova's lab

Course Syllabus

Textbook: Smith & Smith. Elements of Ecology. Benjamin Cummings, 6th Edition

Take-home assignments: Click here. Check often for updates.
All homework must be typed up (-5 pts for handwritten submissions).

Test schedule:
    Test 1: September 22, 2008
    Test 2: October 15, 2008
    Test 3: November 5, 2008
    Test 4:December 3, 2008
    Final test: December 15, 2008 11:30 am - 2:30 p.m.
December 8, 2008 - Review session for the final test

Test study topics:
                Test 1 Click here
                Test 2 Click here
                Test 3 Click here
                Test 4 Click here
                Additional topics for the final test (the final test will cover all topics included into tests 1-4, plus these additional topics)

Book chapters and pages in the table below are given as follows: bold - Smith & Smith, 6th edition; in brackets -Smith & Smith, 5th edition.
 

Topic #

Theme

Handouts

Chapters
6th ed
(5th ed)

Pages
6th ed
(5th ed)

 

Introduction

PowerPoint    

1
(1)

2-16
(8-10)

1

Science of ecology and scientific method

PowerPoint    

1
(1)

2-16
(8-10)

2

Ecological applications and case studies

PowerPoint    

Lecture-based

Lecture-based

3

Effects of abiotic factors: Climate

PowerPoint    

3, 29
(3, 30)

44-64, 631-658
(37-54, 597-623)

4

Effects of abiotic factors: Soils

PowerPoint    

5
 (5)

85-96
(79-98)

5

Adaptation and natural selection

PowerPoint    

2
(2)

17-40
(11-33)

6

Plant adaptations to the environment

PowerPoint    

6
(6)

104-130
(101-122)

7

Animal adaptations to the environment

PowerPoint pt. 1
PowerPoint pt. 2    

7
(8)

133-160
(137-168)

8

Population biology: Distribution and abundance

PowerPoint    

9
(9)

184-202
(171-184)

9

Population biology: Population growth

PowerPoint    

10
(10)

204-220
(185-201 375-378)

10

Community ecology: Species interactions (3 subtopics below)

 

   

10A

Competition

PowerPoint    

11,13
(11, 13)

223-240, 256-281
(203-217 269-288)

10B

Exploitation

PowerPoint    

14,15
(15, 16)

283-318
(289-328)

10C

Mutualism and commensalism

PowerPoint    

15
(16)

319-330
(309-328)

11

Community structure

PowerPoint    

16
(13)

334-351
(241-267)

12

Community dynamics

PowerPoint    

18
(17)

373-395
(329-347)

13

Ecosystems: Structure and Function

PowerPoint    

20
(20)

426-448
(395-415)

14

Nutrient and Biogeochemical Cycling

PowerPoint    

21,22
(21-22)

450-492
(417-447)