Ecology (EVE 101): Course Information

Summer Session I 2017

Instructor:

Dr. Ron Coleman	Office:	2202 Storer (119 Humboldt at CSUS)

Tel:	916-705-2606 (cell)

Email:	rcoleman@csus.edu

Websites:	http://cichlidresearch.com

http://www.csus.edu/faculty/c/rcoleman/

Teaching Assistant and Reader

Teaching Assistant: Gabrielle Names, grnames@ucdavis.edu	Office: Briggs 294

Reader:	Caroline Larsen, carwright@ucdavis.edu Office: Brigs 69

Course Location & Times:

Lecture	MWF 10-11:40am	Chemistry 166

Discussion

CRN 51641	A01	Thur	10:00pm-11:40am	Bainer 1134

CRN 51642	A02	Thur	12:10pm-1:50pm	Olson 105

Each student must attend both the lecture and one of the discussion sections.

Office hours:

Ron Coleman	MWF 11:40-12 noon	Chem 166 or by email appointment

What this course is about:

This course is an introduction to ecology.

Learning Objectives:

Conceptual

Understand the scope and meaning of ecology, and its many approaches, including population ecology, community ecology, behavioral ecology, etc.

Be able to argue how and why natural selection works

Understand key concepts of ecology

Practical

Practice scientific writing in a variety of formats

Gain an introduction to reading and using the primary scientific literature

Research and compose a well thought-out term paper on a topic related to ecology, making use of the primary literature

Attendance and Deadlines:

I expect you to attend every lecture; you miss class at your own risk. Anything I say is fair game for exams, whether it is in the text or not. Some things I say will definitely not be in the text, and some may contradict the text. In the latter case, what I say is taken to be the correct answer. If there is a difference between what I say and what is in the text or what you have learned elsewhere, please ask about it in lecture or after class and we will discuss the differences.

My goal as a lecturer is to guide and assist you in learning about this material. I cannot do that if you are not in class or if you do not tell me what you do not understand.

If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get the notes from another student, not from me. I DO NOT hand out lecture notes, nor do I post them to the web.

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, do not leave things to the last minute; you do not need that kind of stress! Summer session courses go by very quickly so do not get behind.

Textbook:

Smith, T.M. and R.L. Smith (2015) Elements of Ecology. Ninth Edition. Pearson, San Francisco, CA. REQUIRED. ISBN: 978-0-321-93418-5

Exams:

There will be one midterm and a final for the lecture portion of the course, both held during class time. Exams are held during the lecture period and will be a mixture of short-answer and essay questions. I do not believe in multiple choice questions and do not use them.

Exams will be comprehensive, i.e., anything in the whole course up to that point in time is fair game. My previous students comment on two aspects of my exams: I am a hard grader and I am a fair grader. You can expect long exams that test your knowledge, but they will be exams without tricks. My goal is to have you tell me what you know and understand. You will write a lot and you will have to work very quickly.

Grading:

This course is worth 4 units.

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	25

Final Exam	35

Term Paper	20

Discussion	20

----

100%

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

A+ = 96.0 to 100%	C+ = 77.0 to 79.9%

A = 93.0 to 95.9%	C = 74.0 to 76.9%

A- = 90.0 to 92.9%	C- = 70.0 to 73.9%

B+ = 87.0 to 89.9%	D+ = 67.0.to 69.9%

B = 84.0 to 86.9%	D = 60.0 to 66.9%

B- = 80.0 to 83.9%	F = 0 to 59.9%

I generally do not adjust or curve or scale grades; If you want an "A", work for it and make it happen!

I do not hesitate to correct any errors I make in grading (e.g., incorrect addition or if I missed grading an answer), but keep in mind that I am looking for clear, succinct answers, not answers that sort-of-show-you-
possibly-might-know-what-you-mean. If you feel that your answer deserves a better grade, please return it to me promptly.

I do not use "extra credit" assigments.

Key Dates:

First class:	June 26

Term paper proposal	July 7

Midterm:	July 14 (in class)

Term Paper Part I:	July 21

Term Paper Final	July 31

Final exam:	Aug 4 (in class)

Last class:	Aug 4

Honor Code:

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.

EVE 101 – Summer Session I – List of Lectures and Readings from Smith and Smith*

Instructor: Dr. Ron Coleman

1. Jun 26	Survey. Introduction, What is ecology? What do I do? Photos (Ch. 1)

2. Jun 28	My research

3. Jun 30	Term paper, Biodiversidy, Family exercise, Five-step argument for evolution by natural selection (Ch. 5)

4. July 3	Directions of selection (Ch. 5)

5. July 5	Levels of Organization (Biosphere to Individuals)

6. July 7	Biomes Term Paper Proposal due;

7. July 10	Optimal Foraging, Parental Investment, mating systems

8. July 12	Distribution of organisms, Niche concept, Population Ecology

9. July 14	Midterm (in class)

10. July 17	Cane Toads, Introduced species; population growth, Life Tables

11. July 19	Survivorship curves

12. July 21	Term paper Part I due; population projection, Intraspecific competition, interspecific competition

13. July 24	Predator Prey

14. July 26	Functional/Numeric responses

15. July 28	Trophic cascades

16. July 31	Term paper due, Island biogeography

17. August 2	Wrap-up

18. August 4	Final Exam (in class)

* This is a guide only and is subject to change.