Syllabus
Description--Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions
of organisms with each other and their environment, or ecosystem.
Humans play a critical role in these interactions. Manipulation
of these interactions for agriculture, forestry, energy production,
or settlement is at the basis of human society. Thus, we need to
have an understanding of these ecological interactions in order
to plan development, land use, recreation, or conservation in a
way which will protect the functioning of ecosystems. This course
provides an introduction to the scientific study of ecosystems,
focusing on how natural ecological systems operate, how human activities
affect these systems, and how constraints on these systems affect
society.
There are two main sections to the course. Lectures will cover
fundamental ecological concepts and the biological, chemical, and
physical processes important in ecological systems. We will cover
ecological systems at several scales of organization: the individual,
population, community, ecosystem, and landscape. Each topic will
be illustrated with a case study illustrating the applications
of ecological knowledge to planning, environmental conservation,
management, or restoration. We will also cover the ecology of specific
habitats, aquatic and terrestrial, and will examine the human impact
on these habitats.
Discussions will allow you to analyze case studies of planning
problems and apply the ecological concepts you have learned in
lecture to the understanding of and perhaps solution to these problems.
Case studies include problems of growth management, urban landscape,
public health, equity planning, wildlands management, and sustainable
development. Readings for discussion section include two types
of material. We will read and analyze a newspaper or magazine article
that raises planning problems. We will then examine a scientific
article that covers ecological background necessary for understanding
the planning problem. Discussion sections are also timed to coincide
with lectures on the appropriate ecological topics. Students will
also divide into groups, and each group will present its analysis
of one planning problem over the course of the semester. Reading
must be done in advance of Discussion section.
The analytical skills you develop in discussion section will be
applied to a paper assignment. You will take a topic involving
ecological issues from a newspaper. You will then identify the
important ecological issues raised, and will research those ecological
issues in the scientific literature and write a 5-7 page paper
summarizing the planning problem and application of scientific
information. The paper is due in Discussion section the week of
April 25. We will discuss the paper assignment in detail in Discussion.
Readings--There is a textbook and a xeroxed set
of readings for the course. The text is Colin R. Townsend, John
L. Harper and Michael Begon, Essentials of
Ecology 2nd ed. (Blackwell
Science, 2003). The readings are for the discussion section, and
are available at Notes-n-Quotes, 501 E. John Street.
Requirements--There will be five major requirements; two exams,
a paper, the group project, and participation in the discussion
section. Participation will be based on attendance and performance
on several unannounced quizzes. Grades will be based on a scale
of A>92>A->90>B+>88>B>82>B->80>C>70>D>60>E.
Participation in the discussions, including quizzes, will count
for 20% of the grade, group projects for 10%, the 1st exam for
20%, the Paper for 25%, and the 2nd Exam for 25%. You must complete
all requirements of the course to receive a passing grade.
Academic Honesty--You are strongly encouraged to discuss class
assignments with others, but your work in papers and exams must
be your own. Do not quote directly or paraphrase from published
works (including the world wide web) without a proper citation.
Footnote ideas and information that are not common knowledge. When
in doubt about what academic integrity requires, ASK! Failure to
abide by the principles of academic honesty will result in a failing
grade for the course.
|
