Biophysical Ecology (Biol 641)
 

Fall, 2006 Syllabus

Guidelines for Discussion Paper Summaries

Aug. 24 (Th) Lecture 1: Introduction to physiological ecology
Aug. 29 (Tu) Lab 1: How do we measure “the environment?” Introduction to field instrumentation and environmental biophysics
Homework Due: Helmuth 2002 reading
Aug. 31 (Th) Lecture 2:  Effects of temperature on organismal physiology
Sept. 5 (Tu) Paper discussion 1: Kearney and Porter 2004
Homework Due: Kearney and Porter 2004 summary & ibuttons
Sept. 7 (Th) Lecture 3: Boundary layers and mechanisms of heat exchange in the environment I
Sept. 12 (Tu) Lab 2:  Convective cooling and fluctuating environments
Homework Due: Lab 1 reports
Sept. 14 (Th) Lecture 4: Mechanisms of heat exchange in the environment II
Sept. 19 (Tu) Lecture 5: Climate change and biogeography
Homework Due: Lab 2 reports
Sept. 21 (Th) EXAM 1
Practice Exam 1 Questions
Sept. 26 (Tu) Paper discussion 2: Davis et al. 1998, Hodkinson 1999
Homework Due: Davis et al. 1998, Hodkinson 1999 summaries
Sept. 28 (Th) Video: Silent Sentinels
Oct. 3 (Tu) Lab 3: Measuring coral respiration when you don't have an ocean
Oct. 5 (Th) Lecture 7:  Mechanics of gas and nutrient exchange
Oct. 10 (Tu) Lecture 6: Global ecology, politics and climate change: The bottom line
Homework Due: Lab 3 report
Oct. 12 (Th) Communicating science to K-12 educators
(Guest Lecture by Colette Dryden)
Oct. 17 (Tu) EXAM 2 (material covered Sept. 21-Oct 12)
Practice Exam 2 Questions
Oct. 19 (Th) FALL BREAK- NO CLASSES
Oct. 24 (Tu) Lecture 8: Physiology of diving and saturation technology
Introduction to Final Projects:  Finalize project ideas
Example Proposal
Example Lesson Plan
Oct. 26 (Th) Discussion of final projects
Homework Due: 5 minute presentation on final project
Oct. 31 (Tu) Discussion of final projects, continued
Nov. 2 (Th) Lecture 11: Physiology and ecology of deep sea and hydrothermal vent
communities (Lecture by Allison Smith)
Nov. 7 (Tu) No Classes (Vote!)
Nov. 9 (Th) Paper discussion 3: Lewis and Linn 2003
Homework Due: Paper Summary, Draft of final project introduction (bring 3 copies)
Grading Rubric for Introductions
Nov. 14 (Tu) Lecture 9: Ecology of polar environments (Lecture by Jen Jost)
Nov. 16 (Th) Lecture 10: Freeze tolerance and physiological ecology of polar environments (Lecture by Jen Jost)
Homework Due: Peer reviews of introductions
Nov. 20 (Mo) 4:00 CLS 005 Dr. Carol Blanchette, UC Santa Barbara; Dept Biological
Sciences Departmental Seminar (Optional)
Nov. 21 (Tu) Lecture 8: Particle capture and feeding in flow  
Homework Due: Draft of final project methods section (bring 3 copies)
Nov. 23 (Th) No classes: Thanksgiving break
Nov. 27 (Mo) 4:00 CLS 005 Dr. Rafe Sagarin Duke University Nicholas School of the
Environment; Dept Biological Sciences Departmental Seminar (Optional)
Nov. 28 (Tu) Communicating science to the news media
Homework Due: Peer reviews of methods section
Nov. 30 (Th) Class presentations 1: Grad students  (10 minutes per person)
Dec. 5 (Tu) Class presentations 2: (10 minutes per person)
Dec. 7 (Th) Class presentations 3: (10 minutes per person)
Homework Due: Final project papers must be uploaded to Blackboard by 5 pm.