University of South Carolina        Department of Biological Sciences 
Biology 570 --- Principles of Ecology --- Fall 2007
Time: Tuesday/Thursday 12:30 - 1:45 -- 102 Coker Life Science
Dr. David Wethey -- Office: 704 EWS -- Phone: 777-3936  Email: wethey at biol.sc.edu
Dr. Kevin Higgins -- Office: 706 EWS -- Phone: 777-7444 Email: higgins at biol.sc.edu

Date Topic Readings 
Off Campus Access
Homework  
Aug 23 Introduction / The Art of Experimental Ecology Exp Ecol Refs
D
Aug 28 The Art of Theoretical Ecology Lecture Notes
K
Aug 30 Describing Populations / Life Tables

D
Sep 04 LC Birch Discussion "The intrinsic rate of increase of an insect population" J Anim Ecol 17:15-26 Questions DK
Sep 06 Models for Single Species

K
Sep 11 RM May Discussion "Biological populations with non-overlapping generations" Science 186: 645-647 Questions DK
Sep 13 Population Regulation - Intrinsic Factors

K
Sep 18 Constantino et al  Discussion "Chaotic dynamics in an insect population" Science 275:389-391 Questions DK
Sep 20 Population Regulation - Extrinsic Factors

D
Sep 25 Andrewartha and Davidson Discussion "Influence of  rainfall etc on fluctuations in thrips" J Anim Ecol 17:200-222 Questions K
Sep 27 MIDTERM TEST

 
Oct 02  How Many People Can the Earth Support ? Lecture Notes

K
Oct 04 Return Tests / Cohen Discussion "Population growth and earth's carrying capacity" DROP DATE Science 269:341-346 Questions DK
Oct 09 Population Limits  
D
Oct 11 FALL BREAK  
 
Oct 16 Sibly Discussion "On the Regulation of Populations of Mammals, Birds, Fish, and Insects" Science 309:607-610
Questions
DK
Oct 18 Interspecific Competition Experiments

D
Oct 23 Park Discussion "Experimental studies of interspecies competition" Ecol. Monogr. 18: 267-307 Questions DK
Oct 25 Predator-Prey Theory

K
Oct 30 Volterra Discussion "Fluctuations in the abundance of a species considered mathematically"  Get Xerox at 704EWS  Questions DK
Nov 01 Host-Parasitoid Interactions

K
Nov 06 Metapopulation Theory
  K
Nov 08 Metapopulation Theory 2  
K
Nov 13 Metapopulations: Structure     D
Nov 15 Community Structure
  D
Nov 20 Paine Discussion "Food web complexity and species diversity" American Naturalist 103: 91-93
Questions
DK
Nov 22 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

 
Nov 27 Biophysical Ecology:  Drag, Lift and Cinema  
D
Nov 29 Porter Discussion "Mechanistic Ecology" Paper
Questions
DK
Dec 04 Population Harvesting

DK
Dec 06 Jackson Discussion "Historical overfishing and the recent collapse of coastal ecosystems" Science 293:  629-637 Questions DK
Dec 13 FINAL EXAM 2:00 pm  TAKE HOME Wethey question Get paper copy of Higgins question in class

YOU CAN TURN IN TYPED ANSWERS AT BEGINNING OF EXAM PERIOD

Sharon Kingsland article

Web of Science



 
 Grading:
100 pts - Midterm Test
100 pts - Final Exam
200 pts - Written Answers to Questions / Discussion Participation (20 pts each)
400 pts - Total

This page last modified September 6, 2007 URL: http://www.biol.sc.edu/~wethey/570/index.html