| 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
|
| 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. |
|
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.
|
| 3
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. |
|
pdf |
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. |
|
Mark-recapture assignment due Mon. Oct. 8
data
|
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.
|
| 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) |
|
PDF
DATA
|
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.
|
|
|
Rm. LO 1322 0800 - 1000 |
| Wed. Oct. 17 |
Human Life-Tables (Field) |
|
PDF
Forest Lawn Data
San Fernando Mission Data
|
Forest Lawn Cemetery, Hollywood Hills
Leaving at 7:45 am.
|
| 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.
|
| 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) |
|
PDF |
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) |
|
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
|
| 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 |
|
pdf |
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 |
|
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
|
| 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) |
|
|
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.
|
| 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 |
