BIOL 427 Fall 2007 Schedule (Check frequently for changes) | |||||
Week | Date | Topic 1 | Topic 2 | Reading | Notes |
1 | Mon Aug. 27 | Introduction - Ecology as a science | Computational Research Tools I pdf - data file | Chapter 1 | Computational Research Tools assignment due in class |
Wed Aug. 29 | Observation and Hypothesis Testing (Field) pdf | Field trip to O'Melveny Park, Granada Hills. Vans leave from the loading dock between Eucalyptus Hall (EH) and Citrus Hall (CH) at 8:00 am.
assignment due Wed. Sept. 5 |
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2 | Wed. Sept. 5 | The Physical Environment (Figures)
Physiological Ecology - Limiting factors and individuals (Figures) |
Computational Research Tools II- data analysis PDF columbianus.xls | Chapter 3 - 8 | Observation and Hypothesis Testing assignment due at start of class |
Fri. Sept. 7 - 9 | Alpine Field trip to Onion Valley in the eastern Sierra's west of Independence, CA. |
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Point Quarter Data 2007 | We will be leaving CSUN Friday at 12:00 noon and returning Sunday evening before 9:00 pm. We will be camping at Onion Valley Campground at an elevation of approximately 9200'. Please see details here. | |
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Last week for withdrawals |
Mon. Sept. 10 | Physiological Ecology - Limiting factors and individuals (see week 2) | Population estimation I - Lincoln-Peterson and Schnabel methods assuming closed populations pdf | Chapters 3 - 8 | Note: Two weeks until your presentations (see pdf for week 5) |
Wed. Sept. 12 | Mark-recapture population estimation of a water strider population (Field) Part 1. |
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We will be leaving CSUN at 8:00 for Alliso Canyon Park at Rinaldi St. We will be working in and around a small stream so bring shoes and clothes that can be wet and dirty. | ||
4 | Mon. Sept. 17 | Mark-recapture population estimation of a water strider population (Field) Part 2. |
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Mark-recapture assignment due Mon. Oct. 8 | Computation Research Tools II Analysis assignment due.
We will be leaving CSUN at 8:00 for Alliso Canyon Park at Rinaldi St. |
Wed. Sept. 19 | Physiological Ecology - limiting factors and distributions (Figures) | Population estimation II - Jolly-Seber method for open populations | Chapters 3 - 8 | QUIZ
Bring water strider data to class. |
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5 | Mon. Sept. 24 | Population Ecology I. population growth (Figures)![]() |
Synthesis and presentation of primary ecological literature - (20 min sessions) - (week 1) pdf | Chapters 9, 11 pp. 157 - 172; Appendix III | |
Wed. Sept. 26 |
Population Ecology II. Factors limiting and/or regulating population growth Figures |
Synthesis and presentation of primary ecological literature (week 2) | Chapter 16 | QUIZ | |
6 | Mon. Oct. 1 | Population Regulation![]() |
Chapter 16 | ||
Wed. Oct. 3 | Sexual Size Dimorphism (Field) |
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Comparison of sexual size dimorphism in two species of shore crabs. Malibu Beach. Low Tide is at 9:12. Vans leave campus at 7:00 am. Prepare for wet feet. | ||
7 | Mon. Oct. 8 | Behavioural Ecology definition, mating systems | Mark Recapture Assignment Due | ||
Wed. Oct. 10 | Ecology of Evolution - evolution, natural selection, sexual selection Figures | Chapter 2 | |||
8 | Mon. Oct. 15 | Midterm exam (20%)
Includes all material, lectures, field studies, assignments, and readings up to Wed. Oct. 10. |
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Rm. LO 1322 0800 - 1000 | |
Wed. Oct. 17 | Human Life-Tables (Field) | Forest Lawn Cemetery, Hollywood Hills
Leaving at 7:45 am. |
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Sat. Oct. 20 | Small Mammal Desert Ecology (Field) | We will be leaving in the vans from the loading dock at 4:30 pm. We will return sometime early Sunday morning as soon as we are done (anytime between 11:pm and 1:00am). Bring warm clothes, snacks, drinks, writing equipment, and flashlight. There are no facilities at the site (i.e. no water, no toilets, no Starbucks) | Theodore Payne Wildlife Sanctuary - Mojave Desert. Night time field study capturing, marking and tracking of nocturnal small mammals.
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9 | Mon. Oct. 22 | Life History - demography, life tables Figures (5mb) Compressed zip version (2mb) | Life Table Analysis | Chapter 10 | Bring Cemetery Data to Class
Human life-table assignment due Mon. Nov. 5. |
Wed. Oct. 24 | Community diversity (Field) |
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Comparison of diversity in unburned and recently (Sept. 2005) burned shrub communities. Chatsworth Park - Santa Susana State Park (1. Burn area) | ||
10 | Mon. Oct. 29 | Community diversity (Field) |
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Data
Note: Only use the first worksheet in the excel workbook for the assignment due Nov. 19. Previous semester's data is included for those who want to use the long-term data for their research papers. |
Comparison of diversity in unburned and recently (Sept. 2005) burned shrub communities. Chatsworth Park - Santa Susana State Park (2. Unburned area) |
Wed. Oct. 31 | Life History Theory Figures |
Shrub diversity and similarity data synthesis. Assignment due Mon. Nov 19. |
QUIZ
Bring shrub data and samples to class |
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11 | Mon. Nov. 5 | Species interactions - competition Figures |
Competition assignment PDF Assignment due Wed. Nov. 21 |
Chapter 12 |
Human life-table assignment due |
Wed. Nov. 7 | Foraging Risk (Field) I |
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Testing GUDs in Fox Squirrels: Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area (Training day). Meet at the vans by 8:00 am. | ||
12 | Mon. Nov.12 | Holiday | |||
Wed. Nov. 14 | Foraging Risk (Field) II |
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DATA | Testing GUDS in Fox Squirrels: Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area (Experiment day). Meet at the vans by 8:00 am. | |
13 | Mon. Nov. 19 | Species interactions - predation Figures | Video: Walking with Ghosts | Chapter 13 | QUIZ
Diversity and Similarity assignment due |
Wed. Nov. 21 | Species interactions - plant herbivore interactions Figures | Chapter 14 |
Competition assignment due |
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14 | Mon. Nov. 26 | Community Ecology - dynamics, community structures, biodiversity Figures | Video - TBA | Chapters 20 - 22 | QUIZ |
Wed. Nov. 28 | TBA | ||||
Sat. Dec. 1 | Paleoecology (Field) |
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La Brea Tar Pits Page Museum. Leaving from campus at 9:00 am. Admission ($3.50) will be collected before we go in. Bring lunch or some money if you want to buy some food from one of the neighboring restaurants. We will be back by 3:00 pm. Please let me know if you will be arranging your own transportation to the museum.
Assignment due same day. |
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15 | Mon. Dec. 3 | Applied Ecology - harvests, pests, conservation Figures | Presentations of research projects from field trips | Chapters 17 - 19 | Research Project PDF |
Wed. Dec 5 | Conservation Biology (cont.) | Presentations of research projects from field trips | Final report on research project due at start of class | ||
16 | Mon. Dec. 10 | Exam (20%) | Rm. LO 1322 0800 - 1000 |
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