Ecology of the Southwest
Biology 250
Fort Lewis College – Fall 2013
Note: This class counts as a science course with lab (SCI-1) in the gt-Pathways General Education core of required breadth courses.
Class Meeting: Lecture: T,R 11:15-12:35 Room 130 Chemistry Lecture Hall
Lab: R 1:25-4:30 Room 460 Berndt Hall
Instructor: Cynthia Dott, PhD; Associate Professor of Biology
office: 2445 Berndt Hall (2nd floor of Biology wing); phone: 247-7322
e-mail: dott_c@fortlewis.edu
Office hours:
T 9-10, W 12-1, Th 10-11, or by appointment!
Course Websites: Dr.
Dott’s webpage -
http://faculty.fortlewis.edu/DOTT%5FC/
Moodle Page -
https://moodle.fortlewis.edu/
Required Texts: (abbreviations used in syllabus are in parentheses)
1. The Naturalist’s Guide to the Southern Rockies, by A. DeLella Benedict (2008) (Guide)
2. A Sand County Almanac, with essays on conservation…, by Aldo Leopold (1991 Ballantine edition) (Leo.)
3. Beast in the Garden, by David Baron (2004) (Beast)
4. Lab Exercises, posted on the course Moodle site
Additional readings will be assigned from the High Country News website: www.hcn.org (HCN), or will be posted electronically on our course Moodle site.
Supplies:
1. bound composition notebook to be used as field notebook/field journal
2. 3-ring binder (for class notes, hand-outs, and lab exercises)
3. manilla folder (provided) with your name on the front – this is where you will turn in and pick up assignments, quizzes, etc. Pick up your folder at the beginning of class each day, return it to the box at the end of each class session.
Course Objectives:
In this course, you will become aquainted with the living aspects of the Southwestern environment. You will learn about the dynamic and diverse ecological settings of the Southwestern states, from habitats of the San Juan Mountains, to the cold deserts of the Colorado Plateau, to the Great Basin shrublands and the classic hot deserts most commonly associated with the southwest. We will begin with thoughts on the nature of ecology and of the southwest as a whole (A Sense of Ecology), then move on to a survey of southwestern plant and animal habitats (One Earth, Many Homes), and close with a discussion of issues relating to Southwest and Global conservation (Sustainability in Ecological Systems).
During this semester journey, you will develop an understanding of the scientific method as a framework for studying natural systems, including both its strengths and limitations. You will have an extraordinary opportunity to experience field ecology during our lab/field exercises, including a few all-day* field trips. Here you will learn to collect, analyze and interpret ecological data, and to conduct some open-ended field studies of your own that enable you to use your new knowledge of the scientific method and natural systems.
* see Course Schedule for details
Study Skills:
The skills you develop this semester will help you to succeed in future semesters of your college career. Make no mistake – while this is a fun and exciting class, I will all be asking you to work hard and expecting you to be a vital and involved member of our community. So don’t let any apparent informality fool you into thinking you don’t have to do much work – you do - but often it will be FUN!
I‘m here to help you learn, but you will have to uphold your end of the bargain, too. Come and talk to me any time during the semester when you have questions, don’t understand an assignment or concept, or are having troubles of any kind. I’ll try to help, or send you to people on campus who can help you out. The key is not to wait too long before coming to see me (or any of your professors)…
We will take some time our first day to outline our expectations of each other in this class, and to set up some rules of common courtesy we can all agree on; I’ll make you all copies of these rules once they’re established.
Evaluation:
Your grade for Ecology of the Southwest will be based on the following assignments, and will use the grade scheme shown below. We will have 3 lecture exams (including the final exam), 2 lecture quizzes, 2 lab quizzes, a natural history field journal, and lab assignments most weeks that will be turned in on randomly chosen weeks for a grade. Each of you will also give one brief oral presentation. The point break-down is approximately as follows:
Assignment: Points Possible: Grading:
Exams (3) ~300 points (~100 each) A = 90-100%
Quizzes ~ 100 points B = 80-89%
Lab Quizzes (2) ~ 50 points C = 70-79%
Field Journal ~ 100 points D = 60-69%
Lab Assignments ~ 50 points F = < 60%
Presentations ~ 25 points
Participation & Attendance ~ 25 points
In my courses, I follow a standard grading system: A grade of C is average (not below), B is above average, and A is truly outstanding, 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, after which they’re not accepted. Missed assignments receive 0 points. There are no make-up exams or quizzes, unless you have a signed Dean’s excuse due to extreme health or family emergency. Please make sure to check your course syllabi before scheduling trips home or weekends away!!!
This is your contract for the class – hold onto it, and consult it when you have questions.
All business aside, I
expect us to have a lot of fun this semester. You have a fantastic opportunity
to delve into new ideas and new ways of thinking, and to explore the Southwest
on field trips and hikes that few of your peers will experience in the course of
a single semester. Enjoy!!
LEARNING GOALS FOR THE SEMESTER - Indicated by Students on 9/3/13
- Return to SW Ecology Home Page -