Advanced Ecology (Bio 260): Course Information

Spring 2016

Instructor:

Dr. Ron Coleman	Office: 119 Humboldt

916-278-3474 (w)

916-705-2606 (cell) until 10 pm

rcoleman@csus.edu

or	rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com

website: http://cichlidresearch.com

or	http://www.csus.edu/indiv/c/colemanr/index.html

Course Location & Times:

Lec:	#34394	Mon, Wed 5:30 to 6:45 pm	Hmb 124

Office hours:

Ron Coleman	Wed 2:00 - 5:00pm	Room Hmb 119

What this course is about:

Principles and applications of theoretical and field ecology as they apply to populations, communities and ecosystems. Lecture/discussoin three hours. Prerequisite: BIO 160 or equivalent. Graded: Graded Student. Units: 3.0

Learning Objectives:

Conceptual

Develop an understanding of the theoretical and mathematical basis of population and community ecology

Practical

Work with tools (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Mathematica) to analyze and understant population processes

Do a project that applies what you have learned to a system of your chooseing

Experience reading and analyzing the primary scientific literature

Create and present an effective PowerPoint presentation lecture of your project

Attendance and Deadlines:

It is important that you attend every class. If you miss a class, you risk rapidly falling behind and that becomes your problem, not a problem for me or the rest of the class, i.e., we will not wait for you.

Deadlines are strictly adhered to. It is not fair to students that complete work on time for other students to have extra time to do the same work. Plan ahead and schedule your time. Most importantly, don't leave things to the last minute; you don't need that kind of stress!

Email policy:

This course does not use SacCT. However, we do make regular use of email. On occasion, I may send important messages to your Saclink account. As a Sac State student, you are responsible for regularly checking your Saclink email account (i.e., daily). Failing to do an assignment because you did not check your Saclink email account is your problem. Furthermore, when corresponding with me about this course, you MUST use your Saclink email account, not a gmail, yahoo or any other email account. This is an official University policy.

Textbook:

Gotelli, N.J. (2008) A Primer of Ecology, Fourth Edition. Sinauer, Sunderland, Massachusetts. ISBN: 978-
0-87893-318-1 REQUIRED.

Donovan, T. M. and C. Welden. 2002. Spreadsheet exercises in ecology and evolution. Sinauer Associates, Inc. Sunderland, MA, USA. Available online (free) at:

http://www.uvm.edu/rsenr/vtcfwru/spreadsheets/?Page=ecologyevolution/ecology_evolution.htm

Exams:

There will be a midterm and a final for the course. The midterm will be held during the lecture period on March 16.

The final will be held during finals week on May 16 at 5:15-7:15pm.

Exams will be essay-type questions.

Grading:

The number of points/questions on a particular exam is irrelevant to the exam's worth -- it is merely a tool for grading. What matters are the following percentages.

Your lecture grade will be calculated according to the following scheme:

Midterm	20

Final Exam	30

Project	30

Presentation	10

Other assignments

and Participation	10

----

100%

Your letter grade will be calculated according to the following table:

A = 93 to 100%	C+ = 77 to 79%

A- = 90 to 92%	C = 73 to 76%

B+ = 87 to 89%	C- = 70 to 72%

B = 84 to 86%	D+ = 67 to 69%

B- = 80 to 83%	D = 60 to 66%

F = 0 to 59%

Honor Code:

Please don't cheat. Besides the fact that we will be forced to take strong measures if we catch you -- including recommending your dismissal from the class and from the university -- I will be profoundly disappointed in you.

Don't even think about doing any of the following:

a.	giving or receiving information from another student during an examination

b.	using unauthorized sources for answers during an exam such as writing answers on hats, clothing or limbs

c.	illegally obtaining the questions before an exam

d.	altering the answers on an already-graded exam

e.	any and all forms of plagiarism

f.	destruction and/or confiscation of school and/or personal property

Feedback:

I appreciate your feedback on this course. It is most useful to tell me things while the course is in progress, rather than waiting until the end of the course. If there is something that needs changing, LET ME KNOW and I will see what I can do about it. This course is a collaboration between you and me. I really enjoy teaching this class and I want you to have a great time as well.