CLASS TIME

7:30 - 8:20 A.M. - Monday, Wednesday, Friday SH 201 – 101 - Field

LAB TIME

3:00 - 6:00 P.M. – Wednesday

TEXT BOOKS

ECOLOGY: Concepts & Applications (3^rd ED)  by Manuel C. Molles, Jr.

FIELD NOTEBOOK

Three-ring notebook to accommodate handouts, data-sheets, and reports (Student supplies these)

INSTRUCTOR

Richard L. McCluskey 

Credit Hours:

4 Semester Hours

OBJECTIVES

1. To understand the dynamic relationships amongst and within species.
2. To appreciate biogeographic distribution over the earth's surface.
3. To learn means by which the Factor Groups – Edaphic, Climatic, Aquatic, Nutritional, Biotic, Anthropeic - influence the distribution of life on the earth.
4. To observe the delicate balance-mechanisms at work in nature.
5. To develop some student-understanding the overwhelming impact of the Anthropeic Factor-Group on the world ecosystem.
6. To intensify an appreciation for the role of God in nature.
7. To develop some appreciation for the excitement of doing research.
8. To encourage the development of an "ecological conscience," in each student, that is sensitive to the needs of our biotic and physical environment.

NATURE OF THE COURSE

1. This is a biology course, not a religion course, but God is seen as the central figure in creation. This course, then, is presented from a "creationist" perspective, assuming a relatively short history of life on earth and a creation week of 7 literal days. Class members who may hold varying views on origins are most welcome and are encouraged to participate in the class and its activities. NOTE: The textbook is authored by an individual who holds views on origins that differ from that of the teacher and SWAU, but this volume was selected for its excellent introduction to the science of Ecology.
2. This one-semester foundation-course will, from necessity, focus on “descriptive Ecology”. We will study some biogeography, basic ecological principles, social complexities from populations to communities to major ecosystems. We will observe types of habitats and the influences of abiotic factors on life. Additionally, we will study the impact of the anthropeic factor-group (humans) on populations, communities, and ecosystems.
3. The presentation of this course assumes that each student has successfully completed (grades of “C” or better) the two-semester sequence of General Biology (BIOL 111, 112) or its equivalent. NOTE: Determination of equivalent preparation must be evaluated by the course-instructor within the first week of class.
4. This is mostly a textbook-based course in which each student is expected to have completed the assigned reading before the beginning of each class period.
1. The textbook has been selected, not only for its interesting readability, but for its depth and breadth of the subject.
2. This one-semester course cannot possibly cover the full dimension of the subject, so the teacher will highlight selected areas on which the student should concentrate.
3. At each class period the student needs to be prepared to respond to specific questions over new reading or previous notes.
5. Each student is expected to read two feature-articles from EACH of the following journals during the semester. Any one journal may not be used more than TWO TIMES. One reading and one report of that reading is due on dates indicated in the Course Outline. (Look for a “J” in the course-outline to indicate due dates of your reports. Please submit them only on due-dates, not in clumps.)
1. Each report is to be placed on the Reading Report forms. (To be supplied by the course-instructor)
2. Each report must include:
1. Your name
2. Title of Article – Properly Notated
3. Author(s)
4. Journal, including volume, issue, pages, date
5. Summary of the main points in the article
6. Conclusion
3. The publications from which you are asked to select ecological articles are in the SWAU Library and include:
1. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST – Ecology  Feature Articles Only
2. AMERICAN NATURALIST – Ecology Feature Articles Only
3. AUK
4. CONSERVATION
5. ECOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
6. ECOLOGY
7. ENVIRONMENT – Feature Articles Only
8. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY

NOTE: Do not return journals to the library-shelf after use.

6.  Necessarily, Ecology is truly a "field" course, with minimal "laboratory" events, addressing the following objectives:
1. To learn sampling and analytical techniques.
2. To observe and study habitat-types: Terrestrial, Aquatic, Marine
1. Study of Upland Forest and Streamside Forest.
2. Study Lotic and Lentic Habitats.
3. Observe and study Marine Habitats and surrounding areas on a four-day trip to the Texas Gulf Coast.(Nov. 13 - 16)
3. To study and implement some of the basic techniques for evaluating population-survivorship.
4. To learn data-analyses and report-writing.
5. To analyze some of the physical parameters that impact an ecosystem.
6. To personally observe the impact of the anthropeic factor group in selected habitats.
7. You will be supplied with a “terminology list” for each chapter and offered study-helps to aid in preparation for examinations.

IN CASE OF SEVERE WEATHER

In the event of severe weather, an announcement will be made between 9:00 P.M. and 10:30 P.M. indicating that classes will be delayed or canceled the following day. NOTE: An announcement could also be made that classes and labs will continue as usual.

If it is not determined until early morning that classes must be delayed or canceled an announcement will be made by 6:00 A.M. You may check the following for official delay or closing-announcements:                  SWAU Switchboard – 817-645-3921               KJCR – 88.3 FM                   KXAS TV NBC 5

STUDENT ACCOUNTABILITY

1. Attendance – Perfect, on-time attendance at each class and lab appointment is expected and beneficial.
1. Tardiness and/or absence from more than three scheduled classes/ labs may force the instructor to initiate administrative withdrawal from the class.
2. To complete field work in a timely way, we usually must leave right on the hour at 3 P.M. You must be on time for each lab or expect to be left behind.
2. Participation in Class and Lab
1. While information will usually be presented in a lecture-format, you need to be prepared to participate in discussions over the reading-assignment and/or recent lecture- notes.
2. Introduction for each “lab” experience will, when appropriate, be presented one week in advance. You should plan, then, to have studied the handout(s) before “lab” and be prepared to answer questions and to participate.
3. Your participation will be evaluated and included in your grade.
4. SAFETY NOTE: For all field and lab work you are urged to wear long pants and close-toed shoes. (Shorts are appropriate only on boat trips.)
3. Examinations
1. One of the realities of the formalized learning process is to be tested.
1. The course will be divided into four units with an exam at the end of each. (See Course Outline.)
2. You can expect each exam to include questions based on material form all previous exams. The last exam is scheduled for Monday, December 11 at 7:30 A.M.
3. The exams will be mostly comprised of objective questions with a minimum of lists and descriptions.
2. For your field experiences, you will be tested as well, mostly prescheduled. (See Lab Outline)
4. Field Notebook – You need to prepare a Field Notebook using a three-ring binder.
1. This is a formal presentation of your field experiences and should be prepared with care.
2.  Format
1. Table of contents – Only the divider-pages should be numbered and include the title of the field-lab.
2. Each “chapter” needs to include:
1. Instructional handout
2. Instructional Notes, if any
3. Data collected
4. Conclusion – Created individually, by you
5. Make- up of your Grade
1. Unit Exams – 4                                                           60%

Exam 1 – 10%

Exam 2 – 10%

Exam 3 – 15%

Exam 4 – 25%

2. Participation and Attendance                                      7.5%
3. Reading                                                                     7.5%
4. Lab
1. Notebook                                                        5%
2. Quizzes                                                          10%
3. Lab Exam                                                      10% 

                                                                    100%

Grade Calculation

A = 90% and above

B = 80% - 89%

 Lowest acceptable BIOL Major

C = 65% - 79%

D = 50% - 64%

F = Less than 50%

DATE

TOPIC

TEXTBOOK REFERENCES

1

AUG

30

W

-

Ecology: Meaning and Scope

(1)

1-11

2

 SEP

1

F

-

Life on Land

(2)

14-51

3

4

M

-

Life on Land

4

6

W

-

Life in Land

5

8

F

-

Life in Water

(3)

52 - 88

6

11

M

-J1

Life in Water

7

13

W

-

Temperature Relations

(4)

89- 116

8

15

F

-

Temperature Relations

9

18

M

-

Water Relations

(5)

117 – 143

10

20

W

-

Water Relations

11

22

F

-J2

Energy/Nutrient Relationships

(6)

144 – 169

12

25

M

-

EXAMINATION 1 (CHAPTERS 1-5)

13

27

W

-

Energy/Nutrient Relationships

14

29

F

-

Social Relations.

(7)

170 – 196

15

OCT

2

M

-

Social Relations

16

4

W

-

Social Relations

17

6

F

-

NO CLASS – FALL HOLIDAY

18

9

M

-

Population Distribution & Abund.

(9)

226 - 253

19

11

W

-J3

Population Distribution & Abund.

20

13

F

-

EXAMINATION 2 (CHAPTERS 6-7,9)

21

16

M

-

Population Dynamics

(10)

254-276

22

18

W

-

Population Growth

(11)

277 - 297

23

20

F

-

Competition

(13)

323 – 345

24

23

M

-J4

Exploitation

(14)

346 - 373

25

25

W

-

Mutualism

(15)

374 – 396

26

27

F

-

Species Abundance & Diversity

(16)

397 - 417

27

30

M

-

Species Interactions – Communities

(17)

417 – 440

28

1

W

-

EXAMINATION 3 (CHAPTERS 10, 11,13-17)

29

3

F

-

Primary Prod. & Energy- Flow

(18)

441 – 461

30

6

M

-J5

Nutrient Cycling & Retention

(19)

462 – 483

31

NOV

8

W

-

Nutrient Cycling & Retention

32

10

D

-

Succession & Stability

(20)

484 - 510

33

13

M

-

GULF COAST FIELD TRIP – 4 DAYS

-

6:30 A.M Load Vans

-

7:00 A.M. Leave SWAU Campus

-

2:00 P.M. Grocery Stop in Sinton Arrive at Welder Wildlife Refuge

-

6:00 P.M. Supper – Fix your own in Kitchen

-

7:30 P.M. Worship & Agenda – In Dormitory

14

TU

-

6:00 A.M. Breakfast & Load

-

7:00 A.M. Bird Watching

-

8:00 A.M. Leave for Fulton

-

10:00A.M. 4-hour Birding Trip on Wharf Cat Sack Lunch (Some food available on-board)

-

2:00 P.M. Observation of Coastal Features

-

6:00 P.M. Arrive at University of Texas Marine Science Institute

-

8:00 P.M. Worship & Agenda Men’s Dorm

15

W

-

6:30 A.M. Breakfast

-

7:30 A.M. 4 hr. Katy Cruise – Dredge and Observe

-

11:30 A.M. Lunch – Fix or Restaurant

-

1:00 P.M. Leave for North Padre Island National Seashore

-

5:00 P.M. Group Supper in Corpus Christi

-

8:00 P.M. Worship & Agenda

16

TH

-

7:00 A.M. Breakfast, Clean, Pack, Load

-

8:30 A.M. Leave for Aransas Wildlife Refuge (Alligator hunt)

-

12:00 Noon Depart for SWAU

-

5:00 P.M. Arrive at SWAU

34

17

F

-

Succession & Stability

(20)

484 – 510

35

20

M

-

Succession & Stability

22

W

-

Thanksgiving Break

24

F

-

Thanksgiving Break

36

27

M

-J6

Landscape Ecology

(21)

511 – 535

37

29

W

-

Landscape Ecology

38

1

F

-

Geographic Ecology

(22)

536 – 559

39

4

M

-

Global Ecology

(23)

560 – 579

40

6

W

-

Global Ecology

41

8

F

-J7

Global Ecology

42

11

M

-

EXAMINATION 4 (FINAL 18 – 23)

(7:30 A.M. – 9:20 A.M.)

1

AUG

30

W

-

Introduction to BIOL 230 - Classwork & Field/Lab

Presence List – Preparation – Upland Forest Stand

2

SEP

6

W

-

Quiz – Upland Forest Presence

Collect Upland Forest – Stand Data

3

13

W

-

Learn Streamside Forest Presence

Set up Ecotone Study-Site

4

20

W

Quiz – Streamside Forest Presence

Collect Ecotone Data and Equipment

5

27

W

Quiz – Streamside Forest Presence

Set up for Aquatic Analysis

Analyze Ecotone Data

6

OCT

4

W

Visit Lentic (Pond) Habitat – Physical Measures

Visit Lotic (Streamside) Habitat – Physical Measures

Introduce Mark – Recapture Mammal Study

7

11

W

Set up Mark- Recapture Grid

Evaluate Lentic and Lotic Data

VIDEO – Cheetah’s Tale

12

TH

7:30 A.M. – CHECK TRAPS – TEAM A

CHECK TRAPS FOR RODENTS

MARK AND RELEASE CAPTURED RODENTS

8

18

W

Set up Mark–Recapture Grid

Edaphic Influences – Collect Soil Samples

Owl Pellet Study

19

TH

7:30 A.M. CHECK TRAPS TEAM B

CHECK TRAPS FOR RODENTS

RECORD RECAPTURES VS. NEW CAPTURES

RELEASE RODENTS AND COLLECT TRAPS

9

25

W

Evaluate Soils – Texture and Mineral Analysis

Evaluate Mark–Recapture data

10

NOV

1

W

Water Treatment – Wastewater – Potable

11

8

W

Ecology of the Texas Coastal Bend

VIDEO – Whooping Cranes

12

17

TU to F

4-DAY FIELD TRIP TO GULF COAST

Prepare Bird Presence list

Physical Measures

Prepare Marine Presence list

Observe Ecological Zones

Evaluate Role of Refuges – Public and Private

22

W

NO LAB – THANKSGIVING BREAK

13

29

W

VIDEOS – “Holy Cow” – “The Baobab Tree”

14

DEC

7

W

LAB EXAMINATION – NOTEBOOKS DUE