I. Introduction to ecology 8/28. Introduction to the course 8/30 Ecology defined : Chapter 1 Project I: Interactions between organisms and their environment System: Serpentine ( Soldiers Delight. MD) Techniques: AA, spectrophotometry, environemtal sensors) 9/1 Energy and Plasticity: Chapter 3 9/6 Temperature: 9/8 Moisture and other physical forces. 9/11 Light 9/13 Soils 9/15 /Fire Ecology 9/18 Exam I Project 2:Population Biology 9/20. Chapter 5: Population Structure 9/22 Population Growth Models. 9/25 Population regulation and Reading 2. The Black Plague
Project 3: Evolutionary & Behavorial Ecology System: Animal of choice Techniques: Digital Video 9/27 Evolution 1. Chpt 2 and friday 9/29 Evolution: altruism please also read this article on ../streams 10/2 Evolution: measuring genetic variation 10/4 Life History Stategies also read the lizards 10/6 Behavioral Ecology Chapter: Sex and Mating systems 10/11 Competition: Chpt 6.and make sure you read Competition:! Project 4: Species Interactions System: plant-insect interactions & invertebrate competition Techniques: experimental design 10/13 Exam II. 10/16 Predation 10/18. Predation 2 models. Chpt 8 10/20 Animal defense systems ( video)* 10/23 Foraging 10/25.Herbivory : defense mechanisms 10/27 Mutualism & video: mimcry 10/30: Parasitism Chpt 7 + preview Jed's animal page
	Project 5: Community structure & dynamics System: simulated aquatic microsystems Research techniques: Systems modelling with STELLA 11/1.Community structure and stability Chpt 9 11/3.Biodiversity Chpt 10 11/6 Succession 11/8 Community energy dynamics Chpt 11/quiz FRI..11/10. Biogeochemistry MON..11/13. Climate: Chapter 16 [624-634] / video 11/15.Paleoecology and page on questions for exam III 11/17 Conservation Biology Chpt 14 NOTE: homework assignment with this set of notes 11/20 Take home exam...no inhouse class. 11/27 Desert Chpt4 & 11/29 Tundra: alpine and artic Project 6: Ecosystems and their characteristics Systems: ecoystems of the world 12/1. Grasslands & savannahs + Exam 3 due + Check out the Animal pages! 12/6 Tropical Rain forests 12/8 Marine systems/ coral reefs

Facilitator: Dr. Esther Iglich
eiglich@mcdaniel.edu

Office: New Science Building - 209
Phone: ext 405

Course requirements:

1. Attendance is required- absences will result in loss of points; You must attend lab - absolutely no make-up here.

2. Before each class you will have read the background materials for that day - this will include the web notes, the chapter readings in the text or necessary literature article and completion of the assigned questions.

Class will not be lecture based - instead we will either discuss assigned questions, literature readings or work on our projects.

3. Grading: based on 2 major aspects - lab projects along with their final reports and the exams-

There will be four exams:

• Exam 1 which will include all materials related to the introduction on ecology and species interaction with the environment
• Exam 2 will cover all materials related to population growth, evolution and behaviour
• Exam 3 will cover all materials related to species interactions and community structure
• Exam 4 ( finals week) will cover all the ecosystems we work on.
  
  Projects: You will hand in on the specificed dates a:
  
• primary lab report which analyzes and discusses your and your groups experiments, and
• final overall synthesis based on the results from all the group experiments as well as background materials
  
  There will be 4 such projects
  You will also produce and present your own animal behaviour video on your organism
  Contribute to an ecoystem presentation.
  
  4. Class participation is required. This course is a communal undertaking; its strenght is based on the effort of all involved. Speak out as well as listen, respecting the input of all members.
  

  5. Each person is expected to help clean up at the end of lab period; those individuals who increase the burden of others will contribute their points for lab participation to those who cooperate.  

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  Last modified 12/200 emi