Course Information

Fundamentals of Ecology

Biology 320

Fort Lewis College – Winter 2012

Class Meeting:             Lecture:           T&R  11:15-12:35  Room 235 Berndt Hall

                                     Lab:                 W     1:25-4:30    Room 440 Berndt Hall (Botany Lab)

Instructor:      Cynthia Dott, PhD;  Department of Biology

office: 2445 Berndt Hall; phone: 247-7322

e-mail: dott_c@fortlewis.edu

web page:  http://faculty.fortlewis.edu/DOTT%5FC/

Office hours: T 9-10, W 12:30-1 or by appt., & R 1:30-2:30 

Required Texts & Supplies:   (abbreviations used in syllabus are in parentheses) 
Readings are to be completed on the date they are listed in the syllabus, before class!

1.     Elements of Ecology, 7^th ed., by Robert Leo Smith & Thomas M. Smith (2008)  (Smith)

2.     Ecology Lab Exercises, edited by Dr. Dott – available in my O:/ drive

3.     quad-ruled composition notebook for lab and field notes, data, observations

4.     pad of quad-ruled paper for class exercises

5.     a scientific calculator for labs & some lectures

Additional readings will be made available from a folder in Dr. Dott’s O: drive, or linked to the course web page.  Note that O: drives can only be accessed from off-campus via theFort.  Some of the articles are denoted by the author’s last name on the syllabus; others will be announced and added to the syllabus later.  Other assignments, data from lab exercises & review sheets will also be available on the course web page (see link above).

Additional notes about Labs:  Be prepared for some extended field trips in a variety of weather conditions!   Most of our lab sessions will occur during our winter months here in Durango.  We WILL go outside, and it WILL be cold, wet, snowy, muddy, possibly rainy, cold, or maybe even warm and sunny – come prepared!  As they say in Norway, there is no such thing as “bad weather” – just bad clothing (you choose)!  During the ocurse of the semester, we will be investigating 4 different ecological topics that will each span multiple weeks (3-4) of lab time, allowing you to delve into these projects in some depth.  Each will culminate with a written scientific report and/or formal presentation.  These open-ended labs will give you additional insight into how the scientific process really works, and will give you better insights into what to expect with your senior thesis research.  The final topic we cover will relate to forest disturbance history, and as part of this unit we will take an all-day field trip to Mesa Verde National Park to learn about fire history and park management.  More details on this will be announced in class, but do plan on setting aside a full day on Wed. 4/17 (or possibly 4/10).  

Lab/Field Notes:  You need to keep a lab/field notebook during this course, that acts as a journal detailing your work during our lab/field work.  The information contained in the notebook should include:

            1. Date

            2. Location—If in the field, where did the trip take place?  If you know the elevation, also include it here.

            3. Temperature/Weather Conditions

            4. Habitat—what was (or were) the habitat(s) in which the research was completed?

            5. Species observed—List the species that you observed using both their common and scientific names.

            6. Any special notes or observations—Actual data concerning plant species' density or animal censuses, etc., should be placed here.

This notebook should be neat and well-organized because, among other things, it will serve as your record of the data that you collect in either laboratory or field research.  Your notebooks willl be turned in for grading at the end of the semester, but also the information contained in them will be critically important to your completion of scientific reports, as well as exams &/or quizzes.

If your thirst for understanding of ecological systems is not quenched this semester (and I hope it is only increased!), consider taking Field Ecology (Bio 376) (required for Environmental Biology majors) during 1^st  summer session – usually after your junior year.  Or, if you desire more insights into the ecology of our specific region, you may want to take Ecology of the Southwest (Bio/SW 250) (a non-majors course, so it cannot count toward your biology degree, except as an elective).  Some of the material would be review for you after this semester, but it would give you more detailed insights into the workings of local ecological systems.

Academic honesty:

Plagiarism occurs anytime someone claims another’s work as his or her own.  It includes anything from outright copying from published works (including the Internet) in term papers or poster sessions, to paraphrasing someone else’s ideas without proper citation, to copying answers on assignments or exams from classmates.  Plagiarism is a violation of academic honesty, and will not be tolerated in this course.  Committing plagiarism can result in anything from a zero grade on the work in question to an F in the course to suspension or dismissal from Fort Lewis College.  In all cases of academic dishonesty students will be reported to the College Academic Standards Committee, where a file will be started in their name.

Academic honesty does not, however, require that every student needs to work in isolation.  Scientists, like other people, seldom work alone.  When they collaborate with one another, they usually acknowledge that cooperation by co-authoring a paper.  In this class, if a project is not assigned to be a collaborative project (on which all contributors get the same grade), it will be expected that the writing and thinking that go into your work are yours alone.  That doesn't mean you can't discuss labs with other students or with faculty.  If you do discuss assignments with other people, however, include an "Acknowledgements" section at the end of the lab write-up to thank those that helped you.  Remember, however, that acknowledgements should thank those who inspire your thinking, not those who do your thinking for you.
(adapted from Dr. K. Hannula)

See the Student Handbook’s description of plagiarism and the potential consequences:

http://www.fortlewis.edu/shared/content_objects/student_services_policies/student_handbook//2004_campus_policies.pdf

Students with disabilities have equal access and equal opportunity in this course.  If you require reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements, you must register with Disability Services, 280 Noble Hall, 247-7459.  If you qualify for services, bring your letter of accommodation to me as soon as possible.

Evaluation:

Points will be awarded approximately as delineated below.  We will have 3 lecture exams (including the final), 1 or 2 group lab reports, and 1 or 2 individual reports, in addition to regular in-class exercises and assignments and at least one lab quiz.  You will also be graded on your participation in class discussions, group activities, and your attendance to class and lab.  We have a small enough class that your absence will be evident, and could hinder our ability to carry out group activities and discussions in class.  I will take attendance on randomly selected (unannounced) days, either in class or in lab.     The point break-down is approximately as follows:

Assignment:                           Points Possible:                Grading:      

Exams (3)                                      300 points (100 each)                      A = 90-100%

Lab Reports (3-4)                           300 points (50-100 each)           B = 80-89%

Quizzes                                         ~50 points                                       C = 70-79%     

In-Class Exercises & Homework   ~100 points                                       D = 60-69%

Participation & Attendance              50 points                                       F = < 60%

Lab/Field Notebooks                       50 points

TOTAL PTS:                    ~800                                                                        

In my courses, I follow a standard grading system.  A grade of C is about average for college-level work.  B is above average, and A is really outstanding and excellent, and as such is not a very common grade.  D is well below average for college work.  If you have questions about the grading scheme, or about your standing at any time during the semester, please feel free to contact me.

Assignments are due on the date assigned in the syllabus.  Late assignments lose 5 points per day up to 3 days, 0 points thereafter; missed assignments receive 0 points.  There are no make-up exams, unless you have a valid excuse due to participation in a professional conference, an athletic event, or extreme health or family emergency, AND you make arrangements with me ahead of time.  Please make sure to check your course syllabi before scheduling trips home or weekends away, or before scheduling work!!!  Anyone who is receiving a failing grade at the time of mid-term grades will be respectfully asked to withdraw from the course.  In my experience, people rarely are able to pull out of a tailspin begun early in the semester, ultimately end up dropping, and often drain energy from myself and their classmates in the process.  The week after spring break is your last chance to withdraw from the class (& receive a “W” instead of an “F”).

Do NOT plan to leave for Spring Break until after the exam on Thursday, Feb. 28 (presumably you have class responsibilities that Friday, anyway…!), and take note of our final exam on Monday, April 22.

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