EY505 Foundations of Ecology (Fall 2008)
Alan Knapp, A/Z 210, 491-7010
Dale Lockwood, A/Z 337, 491-0423
Tuesday – Thursday, 1100-1150 AM, E203 Engineering
Bldg.
Web Site: http://lamar.colostate.edu/~aknapp/ey505/
Text: None, but two suggested books for your shelf:
Philosophy of Ecology: From Science to Synthesis. D.R. Keller and F.B. Golley, eds., 2000, University of Georgia Press.
What Makes Biology Unique? E. Mayr, 2004,
Goals of
the course:
The Graduate Degree Program
in Ecology (GDPE) is an interdisciplinary program for students with interests
in a wide range of ecological subjects. The Program's stated goal is “to
provide advanced training in current ecological methods, theories, concepts,
controversies and applications by synthesizing knowledge from a wide variety of
traditional disciplinary areas of science”. EY505 is the starting point for
meeting this goal. It is one of the few courses that all GDPE students will
share in their programs of study, despite their varied backgrounds and academic
goals.
Although the course title
might imply that EY 505 is a “General Ecology” course at the graduate level,
this is not the case. One might also assume that a “Foundations” course might
be a “History of Ecology” course – also not the case. I view this course as one
that will emphasize students exploring, gaining appreciation for, and
ultimately increasing their understanding of the breadth of Ecology. The
rest of your academic careers in GDPE can be focused on receiving advanced
training in methods, concepts, controversies, etc. for the particular
sub-discipline that most interests you (the “depth” of your training). Here is
where we will improve our understanding of the context of ecology. This
requires some knowledge of where, how and why Ecology came to be, how and why
ecologists ask questions today, appreciating what is unique about Ecology, how
it compares to other sciences, and where Ecology might be headed in the future.
Along the way, students will
develop abilities to both critique and value ecological ideas past and present,
and approach the ecological future with an open mind.
Format:
Typically
there will be a lecture on Tuesday to introduce a topic or issue in ecology,
and a discussion on Thursday that may be general in nature or may focus on
critiquing case studies from the literature.
Tentative schedule
Week Topic Readings
Aug 26, 28 Introduction, expectations, overview Mayr 1996
Kingsland 2004
Sept. 02,
04 The why and how of ecology Graham & Dayton 2002
(past and present) Rousch 1995
Hairston et al 1960
Sept. 09, 11 More
history -- using succession to illustrate Clements
1916
philosophical
shifts in ecology. Gleason
1939
Sept. 16,
18 How ecology is done: Manipulative
experiments Stohlgren et al 2003
vs. natural patterns
Naeem et al 2000
Guest: Tom Stohlgren Sax et al. 2007
The
Ecological Hierarchy
Sept. 23,
25 Issues in Organismal
Ecology – adaptation & Gould & Lewontin 1979
ecophysiology Young et al 2004 & Responses
Guest: Lisa Angeloni
Sep 30, Oct
2 Issues in Population
Ecology Murray 1999
Hall 1988
Oct.07, 09 Issues in Community
Ecology Hutchinson 1959
Ricklefs
1987
Zobel &
Partel 2008
Oct. 14, 16 The Ecosystem alternative Odum 1969
Lindeman 1942
Reiners 1986
(Cook 1977 & Chaffin 1998)
Contemporary Ecology
Oct. 21, 23 The role of modeling in ecology Jackson et al 2000
Hobbs & Hilborn 2006
Oct. 28, 30 Using the past to understand the
present Kelly et al 1991
and predict the future Stevenson et al 2005
Guest: Gene Kelly
Chadwick et al 2007
Nov. 04, 06 Are there laws in ecology?
Lockwood 2007
Nov. 11, 13
Ecology, policy and getting involved Ecology-Policy Interface
Luken & Seastedt 2004
Pielke, Jr. 2002
Nov. 18, 20 Global Change and Ecology Vitousek et al. 1997
Ehrlich & Pringle 2008
Dec. 02, 04
Opportunities in Ecology May 1999
Guest lecture Thompson et al. 2001
Starzomski et al. 2004
Dec. 09, 11 Wrap-up Belovsky et al. 2004
Grading and
Assignments:
Weekly
assignments: 50% – From weeks 3 through
14, discussions of the weekly topic and the readings will be held (usually) on
Thursday. To facilitate involvement by all – which is a daunting task for a
class this size – each student will email the instructor a minimum of 2
questions/comments for discussion based on the readings. These can be points of
interest, confusion, elaboration, or general (not specific) questions, etc. The
key is to generate discussion in areas that you (rather than me) have an
interest. This email must be received by me (barring server problems) by
8:00 am the morning of the proposed class discussion time!
Additionally,
each week I may call on students to provide a brief elaboration on their comments
as an introduction to their discussion points. So please be prepared for class!
Discussions: 30% – this class is all about ideas in and
about ecology, understanding how and why ecology is done, and identifying the strengths
and weaknesses of different ecological approaches, so your participation in the
discussions is a key part of your course grade. Participation will be assessed
in a number of ways…in-class surveys and activities, random attendance, etc…
Final exam: 20%. The final exam (a short paper) will be based on synthesizing ideas from a selected group of readings assigned during the semester. More details about this as the semester proceeds.
Lecture Powerpoint Presentations
Week
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Final Exam here!!!! – Due Dec. 13, but early completion is encouraged!