Principles of Ecology EBIO 2040

Fall 2009

Principles of Ecology is an introductory course, building on a background of general biology (and to some degree, chemistry). The course covers the factors that shape the physical and biological environments of microbes, plants, and animals, how organisms cope with variation in their environment, the potential and realized growth of populations, how biological communities form and change through time and in response to disturbances, and how organisms influence the flow of energy and cycling of nutrients within ecosystems. We'll also cover the major environmental changes facing ecosystems, including land-use change, pollution, invasive species, and climate change.

Lecture Instructor: Bill Bowman, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Mountain Research Station, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research
Contact: william.bowman@colorado.edu
Office hours: MW 2-3 (Ramaley C389)

Course time: MWF 1-1:50
Classroom: Ramaley C250

Lab Coordinator: Bob Hermanson, office hours tbd; lab web page
Course TAs: Erin Bissell, Brian Buma, Kelsey Cody, Barbara-Lynn Concienne, Eve Gasarch, Rebecca Harris, and Anthony Saviola

Text: Ecology, Cain, Bowman, & Hacker, 2008; two copies available for 2 hour checkout in Norlin Reserve; eBooks available from bookstore and publisher

Grading: Two hourly exams will count for 100 points each, and a semi-comprehensive (part new material, part review) final will count 200 points. Lecture component is 67% of final grade, and lab grade is 33%. Make-up exams will not be given without some written documentation for why the exam was not taken (e.g. illness).

If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, and www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices.

Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. See full details at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html. Please alert me in the first 2 weeks of the course if you will not be able to attend class due to a religious observance, so that we can work out a plan for you to make up missed work.

Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. See policies at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code

The University of Colorado at Boulder policy on Discrimination and Harassment, the University of Colorado policy on Sexual Harassment and the University of Colorado policy on Amorous Relationships apply to all students, staff and faculty. Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the ODH, the above referenced policies and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at http://www.colorado.edu/odh

All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/

Lecture schedule (subject to change)

Date	Topic	Reading
24-Aug	Course introduction- what is Ecology?	Chapter 1
26-Aug	Physical Environment- climate at a global scale	Chapter 2, pp 22-34
28-Aug	Physical Environment- regional climates & climate variation	Chapter 2, pp 34-43
31-Aug	Terrestrial Biomes	Chapter 3, pp 51-69
2 -Sep	Terrestrial Biomes
4 -Sep	Freshwater and Marine systems/ Intro to physiological ecology	Chapter 3, pp 70-79
	INDIVIDUALS
7-Sep	NO CLASS- Labor Day Holiday
9-Sep	Physiological Ecology: Temperature regulation in plants	Chapter 4, pp 82-91
11-Sep	Temperature regulation in animals	Chapter 4, pp 91-95
14-Sep	Physiological Ecology: Water & osmotic balance	Chapter 4, pp 95-104
16-Sep	Energy acquisition- autotrophy	Chapter 5, 106-119
18-Sep	Ecology of photosynthesis
21-Sep	Energy acquisition- heterotrophy	Chapter 5, 119-127
	POPULATIONS
23-Sep	Population distribution and abundance	Chapter 8, 174-187
25-Sep	Population growth	Chapter 9, 196-208
28-Sep	First Hourly Exam	review questions
30-Sep	Regulation of population growth	Chapter 9, 208-214
2-Oct	Population dynamics	Chapter 10, 218-230
5-Oct	Life histories	Chapter 7
7-Oct	Competition	Chapter 11, 240-249
9-Oct	Competitive exclusion and coexistence	Chapter 11, 252-257
12-Oct	Consumers: Herbivory	Chapter 12, 260-264
14-Oct	Consumers: Predation	Chapter 12, 264-280
16-Oct	Parasitism	Chapter 13, 282-289, 292-296
19-Oct	Mutualism and commensalism	Chapter 14
	COMMUNITIES
21-Oct	Nature of communities (Nichole Barger)	Chapter 15
23-Oct	Diversity I (Nichole Barger)	Chapter 18, 388-396
26-Oct	Diversity II	Chapter 18, 396-407
28-Oct	Mutualism (cont.)
30-Oct	Community dynamics	Chapter 16
2-Nov	Community dynamics (cont); intro to invasive species
4-Nov	Second Hourly Exam	study questions
6-Nov	Invasive species- Cane Toads, an Unnnatural History	film
9-Nov	Conservation biology- threats to biodiversity	Chapter 22
	Homework reading: Biogeography	Chapter 17
11-Nov	Primary production and environmental controls	Chapter 19, 412-424
13-Nov	Global patterns of production and secondary production	Chapter 19, 424-429
16-Nov	Energy flow in ecosystems	Chapter 20, 432-439
18-Nov	Energy flow in ecosystems
19-Nov	Trophic cascades and food webs	Chapter 20, 439-451
23-27 Nov	NO CLASS- experiments in trophic relations
30-Nov	Nutrient supply from soil and sky	Chapter 21, 454-463
2-Dec	Nutrient cycling	Chapter 21, 463-473
4-Dec	Nutrient cycling
7-Dec	Global ecology- global C cycle	Chapter 24 526-541
9-Dec	Climate change
11-Dec	Global ecology- N and S cycles and acid rain	Chapter 24, 541-551

14-Dec	Final Exam; 4:30-7:00 pm in Ramaley C250