Ecology and Field Biology, Lab, Fall 2014

General Information
Title of Course, Catalog Number, Section, and Term:
Ecology and Field Biology, LAB; BIOL2150.21, FALL 2014
Pre-requisites:
BIOL1251, BIOL1253, BIOL1252, BIOL1254 General Biology I, II (or equivalent).
Class Room and Meeting Times and Dates:
LABORATORY: Monday, 11:50-3:10, DH5523
Instructor:
Dr. I.R. Isquith
Office Location and Office Hours:
Dickinson Hall Room 4460; Monday 3:30-5, Thursday 9:30-11, and by appointment
Telephone with voice mail:
201-692-2395
Email Address:
isquith@fdu.edu

Course Description
Study of relationships of organisms and their environment. Ecosystem analysis including study of abiotic
components, organisms, population dynamics and community structure. Laboratory involves fieldwork, analysis of
collections and quantitative methodology.
Text and Materials
Text: None required
Biology Program Objectives (BPO)
1. use the scientific method and understand its strengths and weaknesses;
2. research a biological topic using traditional and computer technology;
3. read and evaluate professional scientific literature;
4. write and communicate science;
5. utilize mathematical reasoning and quantitative skills in biology;
6. possess observational and technical skills;
7. possess major field knowledge
8. successfully compete in biologically related fields

Course Objectives
The objectives (goals) of this course are for you to become competent in knowledge of:
1. what ecology is (emphasizes BPO1,2)
2. how to do ecology (emphasizes BPO 1,2,3,4)
3. ecology and evolution (emphasizes BPO 7)
4. physical conditions and resources (emphasizes BPO 7)
5. effects of birth, death and migration (emphasizes BPO 7)
6. competition (emphasizes BPO 7)
7. parasitism (emphasizes BPO 7)
8. predation (emphasizes BPO 7)
9. populations (emphasizes BPO 7)
10. richness (emphasizes BPO 7)
11. energy in ecosystems (emphasizes BPO 7)
12. sustainability (emphasizes BPO 7)
13. pollution (emphasizes BPO 7)
14. conservation (emphasizes BPO 7)

Teaching Methodologies/Activities
The following will be used to assess student learning:
1. Graded Lab reports
2. Class room participation
Modes of instruction that will be used by the instructor:
1. Hands-on analysis of field collections
2. Video presentations
3. Guided field trips
Rules and Regulations
Attendance and lateness policy:
Students are responsible for all material missed due to absence and/or tardiness. Since students entering a class,
once the class is in session, are disruptive, admission may be denied to frequent offenders.
Attendance in laboratory is required. Due to the unique requirements of the laboratory course component, missed
work must be made up at another time. Excessive absences prevent you from learning the course content and skills and
will result in your grade in the laboratory course component being lowered. Your class average will be lowered 5% for
each unexcused absence.
Makeup and missed work policy:
Lab work, field trips, and reports:
If you miss class time including field trips, you will need to make it up. If a lab report is not submitted in a
timely manner, its grade will be lowered

Grades and Grading Policy

Grade components
Lab exercise : classification I
Lab exercise : classification II
Lab term project
Lab performance and behavior
AMNH report
Field reports (locations subject to change)
River
Pond
Terrestrial

5%
5%
25%
25%
10%
30%

Your lab average constitute 40% of your course grade. The combined lecture and lab average will be converted to a letter
grade using the following table:
A
AB+
B
B-

100-92
91-89
88-86
85-82
81-79

C+
C
CD
F

78-76
75-72
71-69
68-60
59-0

Field Reports and Term Project

Lab reports and projects are all to be prepared in the manner of a scientific paper, consisting of the following components:
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
Literature Cited (Bibliography)
Introduction: Introduces the subject of the report. It contains materials from scientific papers and texts. All materials should
be cited and included in the List of Literature section. Do not use numbered footnotes. Use a combination of the following
formats:
Smith (1998) found a new cat species.

In 1998, Smith found a new cat species.

A new species of cat was found. (Smith, 1998)
Materials and Methods: Exactly what you did. No detail is too small. Based on your Materials and Methods, anybody
should be able to exactly reproduce what you did. This section does not include your results.
Results: This is the data that you produced. Whenever possible it should be in tabular form. The data are not interpreted
here, but only presented in a logical, readable format.
Discussion: What did your data mean? What is its significance? How does it relate to published results? If your results
were not the same as other peoples, why werent they? Cite any references.
Conclusions: Basically, a very brief summary of the work.
Literature: Alphabetically use the following format:
Smith, J.D. 1995, J. Ecology 23:456-459, A new Cat Species.
Reports can be submitted once, prior to their due dates, for ungraded critical review. This does not alter their original due
date. All parts of the report should be word processed. Data sheets are the only permitted exception. Representations of
organisms can either be drawn, using a sharp, hard pencil, or digitally photographed and merged onto the data sheet.
Whatever format of representation you use, the magnification should be sufficiently high as to permit observation of critical
features. All pictures, no matter what format, should have an indication of the organisms size. If you are taking pictures in
the field, the easiest thing to do is to include an object of known size, e.g. a 10cm ruler or a coin, in the picture.
Magnification should be indicated on micrographs; the magnification is the ratio of the size of your drawing to the size of
the organism; NOT the microscope magnification that you used.

See FDU Academic Integrity Policy