| BIOL 427 Fall 2009 Schedule (Last modified
November 24, 2009 9:30 AM
) |
| Week |
Date |
Topics |
Reading |
Notes |
| 1 |
Mon Aug. 24 |
Introduction - Ecology as a science
 |
|
Chapter 1 |
|
| Wed Aug. 26 |
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. 2 |
| 2 |
Mon. Aug. 31 |
The Physical Environment (Figures)
|
Computational Research Tools 1 pdf - data file |
Chapter 4 - 7
|
Computational Research Tools 1 assignment due in class
|
| Wed. Sept. 2 |
Physiological Ecology - Limiting factors and individuals (Figures) |
Computational Research Tools 2- data analysis PDF columbianus.xls |
Chapters 4 - 7 |
Observation and Hypothesis Testing assignment due at start of class
Computational Research Tools 2 assignment due Wed. Sept. 9.
Note: Two weeks until your presentations (see pdf for week 4) |
| 3
Last week for withdrawals |
Mon. Sep. 7 |
Labor Day, No Class |
|
|
|
| Wed Sept. 9 |
Physiological Ecology - limiting factors and distributions (Figures)
|
|
Chapters 4 - 7 |
QUIZ
Computational Research Tools 2 assignment due |
| 4 |
Mon. Sept. 14 |
Population Ecology I. population growth (Figures)
|
Population estimation I - Lincoln-Peterson and Schnabel methods assuming closed populations pdf |
Chapter 8 pp.113-122 par. 2,
Chapter 9 pp. 143 - 146 Mathematical Theory (read only sections labeled 1 "Multiplication rate constant";
Appendix II |
|
| Wed. Sept. 16 |
Population Ecology II. Factors limiting and/or regulating population growth Figures
|
Synthesis and presentation of primary ecological literature - (20 min sessions) (Session 1) - pdf |
Chapter 9 pp. 143-148 Mathematical Theory (read sections labeled 2 "Multiplication rate dependent on population size"; and pp. 148 - 154 par. 3; and Essay p. 157
Chapter 14 |
QUIZ |
| Fri. Sept. 18-20 |
Alpine Field trip to Onion Valley in the eastern Sierra's west of Independence, CA. |
|
|
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.
|
| 5 |
Mon. Sept. 21 |
No Class |
|
|
|
| Wed. Sept. 23 |
Population Regulation |
Synthesis and presentation of primary ecological literature (20 minute presentations) (Session 2) |
Chapter 14 |
|
| 6 |
Mon. Sept. 28 |
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. |
| Wed Sept. 30 |
Mark-recapture population estimation of a water strider population (Field) Part 2. |
|
|
We will be leaving CSUN at 8:00 for Alliso Canyon Park at Rinaldi St. |
| 7 |
Mon. Oct. 5 |
Behavioural Ecology definition, mating systems
|
|
Chapter 3 pp. 32-36 |
|
| Wed. Oct. 7 |
Ecology of Evolution - evolution, natural selection, sexual selection Figures
|
Population estimation II - Jolly-Seber method for open populations
Excel Worksheet for Lincoln-Petersen, Schnabel and Jolly-Seber Methods |
Chapter 2 (Skip Optimal Foraging) |
Bring Water Strider data to class
Mark-recapture Assignment due Mon. Oct. 19 |
| 8 |
Mon. Oct. 12 |
Exam (20%)
Includes all material, lectures, field studies, assignments, and readings up to Wed. Oct. 10. |
|
|
Rm. LO 1322 0800 - 1000 |
| Wed. Oct. 14 |
Life History - demography, life tables Figures (5mb) Compressed zip version (2mb)
|
Point Quarter Analysis
Point Quarter Calculator
Point Quarter DATA |
Chapter 8 pp. 122-126 Demographic Techniqes |
|
| 9 |
Mon. Oct. 19 |
Life History Theory Figures
|
|
|
QUIZ
Mark-recapture Assignment due |
| Wed. Oct. 21 |
Human Life-Tables (Field) |
|
PDF
Forest Lawn Data
San Fernando Mission Data |
Forest Lawn Cemetery, North Hollywood
Leaving at 7:45 am. |
10 |
Mon. Oct. 26 |
Species interactions - competition Figures
|
Life Table Analysis
|
Chapter 10 |
Bring Cemetery Data to Class
Human life-table assignment due Mon. Nov. 9. |
| Wed. Oct. 28 |
Community diversity (Field) |
|
PDF
Data from 2006-2009 for final project |
Comparison of diversity in unburned and recently (Sept. 2005) burned shrub communities. Chatsworth Park - Santa Susana State Park (1. Burn area) |
| 11 |
Mon. Nov. 2 |
Community diversity (Field) |
|
|
Comparison of diversity in unburned and recently (Sept. 2005) burned shrub communities. Chatsworth Park - Santa Susana State Park (2. Unburned area) |
| Wed. Nov. 4 |
Species interactions - predation Figures
|
Shrub diversity and similarity data synthesis.
Video: Walking with Ghosts |
Chapter 11 |
QUIZ
Shrub Diversity assignment due Wed. Nov 18.
|
| 12 |
Mon. Nov. 9 |
Sexual Size Dimorphism (Field) |
|
PDF
Shore Crab Data
|
Human Life Table Assignment Due
Comparison of sexual size dimorphism in two species of shore crabs. Malibu Beach. Vans leave campus at 7:00 am. Prepare for wet feet. |
Wed. Nov. 11 |
Veteran's Day: No Class |
|
|
|
| 13 |
Mon. Nov.16 |
Foraging Risk (Field) I |
|
pdf |
Testing GUDs in Fox Squirrels: Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area (Training day). Meet at the vans by 8:00 am.
|
| Wed. Nov. 18 |
Foraging Risk (Field) II |
|
Data |
Testing GUDS in Fox Squirrels: Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area (Experiment day). Meet at the vans by 8:00 am.
Shrub Diversity assignment due.
|
| Sat. Nov. 21 |
Paleoecology (Field) |
|
|
La Brea Tar Pits Page Museum. Leaving from campus at 8:30 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.
Paleoecology assignment due same day. |
| 14 |
Mon. Nov. 23 |
No Class |
Work on Presentation and Final Report |
|
|
| Wed. Nov. 25 |
Species interactions - plant herbivore interactions Figures
|
|
Chapter 12 |
|
| 15 |
Mon. Nov. 30 |
Community Ecology - dynamics, community structures, biodiversity Figures
|
|
Chapters 20 - 22 |
QUIZ
|
| Wed. Dec. 2 |
Applied Ecology - harvests, pests, conservation Figures
|
Presentations of research projects from field trips (Session 1) |
Chapters 15 - 17 |
Research Project PDF |
| 16 |
Mon. Dec. 7 |
Conservation Biology (cont.) |
Presentations of research projects from field trips (Session 2) |
|
Final report on research project due at start of class |
| Wed. Dec. 9 |
No Class |
|
|
|
| |
Mon. Dec. 14 |
Exam (20%)
Covers all material covered since last exam |
|
|
Rm. LO 1322 0800 - 1000 |
