Advanced Ecology - Populations and Communities

PCB 5423 - Fall 2005

Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 - 10:45 am in GL 250

Web-CT link

Professor :  Dr. Suzanne Koptur
office:  OE 232, ph. 305-348-3103
office hrs T, R 11 - 12 am; Tuesday 1:30 - 3 pm, and other times by appt.
kopturs@fiu.edu

Course Objectives:  The goal of this course is to provide a common foundation for graduate students in ecology.  We seek to increase your familiarity with theory and practice of modern ecology.  Two textbooks will be used to provide background material for lectures and discussions of classic and recent papers from the primary literature.  We will use computer assisted methods for problem solving and exploration of models.

Activities:  You are expected to do the assigned reading, work problem sets that are assigned, and prepare for and lead class discussion several times during the term.  While you may discuss problems with classmates, you are expected to solve them and prepare your answers independently, expressing answers in your own words, with supporting work included.  Leading class discussions will involve teamwork, in not only reading (a) designated paper(s), but compiling a relevant bibliography and providing additional background from additional reading you do for preparation.  Two oral exams will be given, and are to simulate qualifying exam questions, to help you prepare for them.  We will have one weekend field trip to put some of our ideas into practice in a unique ecosystem.

Grades:  The mid-term and final exams will each be worth 15 % of the total grade.  Grades based on your preparation for and participation in class discussions will account for 30% of the total.  The final 40% will be derived from your performance on the problem sets.

Textbooks:
Alstad, D.N. 2001.  Basic Populus Models of Ecology.  Prentice-Hall (paperback).
Gotelli, N. 2001.   A Primer of Ecology, 3rd ed.   Sinauer (paperback).
Ricklefs, R.E., and L. Miller.  1999.  Ecology.  4th ed. W.H. Freeman.
POPULUS computer program - shareware can be downloaded from http://www.cbs.umn.edu/populus/

Advanced Ecology Schedule of Events

readings in textbooks indicated in last two columns of syllabus table:
 

date/day

topic

Gotelli

 Ricklefs

Alstad
30 Aug T Introduction
1 Sep R Density Independent Models 1 14,15 1
6 Sep T Density Dependent Models 2 16 2
8 Sep R Population Growth Discussion (Problem Set 1 given)
13 Sep T Population Dynamics Models  18
15 Sep R Dynamics Discussion 
20 Sep T  Age-structured models (Problem Set 1 due) 3 3
22 Sep R Age-structured Discussion
27 Sep T  Metapopulations (Problem Set 2 given) 4 17,18
29 Sep R  Metapopulation Discussion
4 Oct T Island Biogeography (Problem Set 2 due) 7 19
6 Oct R  Island Biogeography Discussion
11 Oct T Test day - oral exams, individual times TBA
13 Oct R Competition 5 20,21 4
18 Oct T Competition Theory Discussion
20 Oct R Competition 2 (Problem Set 3 given) 22
25 Oct T no class - FIU closed after Hurricane Wilma 24 Nov strike
27 Oct R  no class - FIU closed after Hurricane Wilma 24 Nov strike 6 23 5
1 Nov T Competition in Nature Discussion 
3 Nov R Prof away, students play - EPAC meetings in Gainesville
8 Nov T Predator-Prey (Problem Set 3 due)  24 6
10 Nov R Predation Discussion 
15 Nov T Herbivory and Parasitism / Community Concepts (Problem Set 4 given) 25
17 Nov R Herbivory and Parasitism Discussion 
22 Nov T catch-up day
24 Nov R Thanksgiving holiday
29 Nov T  Mutualism 30,31
1 Dec R Coevolution and Mutualism Discussion
2 Dec F Class field trip to local natural areas 9 am - 2 pm
6 Dec T Evolution and Adaptation, Life Histories and Sex (Problem Set 4 due) 32,33
8 Dec R Evolutionary Ecology and Sexual Strategies Combined Discussion
13 Dec T Oral Final Exam period 9:30 - 12:15 pm - individual times TBA