Ecology and Evolution: Biology 301 Fall 2001
Email Office Hours: Tues 5:00-7:00, Thurs 5:00-7:00
Required Text: Ecology, fourth edition by Robert E. Ricklefs and Gary L. Miller
On Reserve: A Primer of Population Genetics, third edition by Daniel L. Hartl
Date Topic Pages
Aug 23 Introduction to the course, ecological/environmental Chapt 1-3 stage and evolutionary play, data--means and variances Aug 28Energy, constraints, selective factors, pp. 71-75, the physical environment, biomes Chapt 8 Aug 30 Adaptations, link to population biology pp. 76-89,Chapt 6-7 Sept 4 Population structure and life tables Chapt 14 Sept 6-13 Population models, demography, limited growth Chapt 15-16 Sept 18 Population fluctuations and cycles Chapt 18 Sept 20 Metapopulations, patches, dispersal Chapt 17 Sept 25 Exam I Sept 27 Optimal foraging pp. 649-656 Oct 2-4 Evolution, adaptation, Hardy-Weinberg model, selection Chapt 30, Hartl pp. 19-33 F&H pp. 109-125 Oct 9-11 Adaptation: form vs function, evidence for natural pp. 640-648, selection F&S pp. 251-287 Oct 16 Fall Break Oct 18-23 Sex, sexual selection Chapt 33 Oct 25 Exam II Oct 30 Life history evolution Chapt 32 Nov 1-6 Population interactions: competition Chapt 21: 403-420;Chapt 22 Nov 8-13 Predation and defensive adaptations, disturbance, Chapt 23: 447-452,458-463,472-477 Coevolution Chapt 25 Nov 15 Exam III Nov 20 Experimental Analysis Nov 22 Thanksgiving Nov 27 Community structure, Succession Chapt 26: 521-532, Chapt 28 Nov 29 Ecosystems, energy flow, trophic structure Chapt 10 Dec 4 Biogeochemical cycles, nutrient regeneration Chapt 11 Dec 6 Ecosystem regulation, Global perturbations, Chapt 13 population growth Dec 14 2 pm Exam IV
The course is divided into four sections with four examinations. All exams will have a similar format of short answer questions, problems, and short essay questions. Students will be expected to interpret data presented as tables as well as in graphical form. Material for the examinations will come both from lecture and the readings. In addition to the major examinations there will be several quizzes, homework assignments, and discussions. The quizzes plus the homework and discussions will count 10% of your grade. Makeup examinations will be allowed only with a written doctor's excuse or proof of a genuine family emergency.
Students are expected to attend all lectures and to read the assigned text prior to the lecture. Dr. Woodin will be available both during office hours as well as by appointment. Please, if you need help, come see me or send me questions via email. Answers to questions submitted during the email period will be provided by 9 pm that evening. Email questions submitted during other times will typically be answered within 24 hours. Changes to the course schedule (if any) and outlines of lectures will be posted on the Department of Biological Sciences web page at www.biol.sc.edu. Lecture outlines will be posted each week. Homework assignments will be announced in class and typically will be due at the beginning of the next class period.
For each lecture there is the following standing homework assignment: 1. submit a possible exam question based on that lecture (it can include information from preceding lectures) and 2. submit a short (no more than half a page and often two sentences will do) summary of the primary points of the lecture. These can be submitted via email prior to the next lecture or at the beginning of the next lecture. Particularly good exam questions will be used on the exam and from 1 to 5 extra credit points given to the author.