Fundamentals of Ecology (BIO/ESS 148) :: Syllabus, Spring 2025

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Lecture Time: Mondays and Wednesdays, 01:30 PM - 02:45 PM
Lecture Location: Classroom and Office 2 Bldg Room: 140
Discussion section time & Location
- 03D - Monday 04:30 PM - 05:20 PM; Classroom and Office 1 Bldg Room: 113
- 04D - Wednesday 04:30 PM - 05:20 PM; Classroom and Office 1 Bldg Room: 114
- 02D - Wednesday 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM; Classroom and Office 1 Bldg Room: 265
Instructor: Prof. Yeakel Office Hours: Wednesdays 9-10 AM (SE1 288), Fridays 9-10 AM (Zoom) or by appointment.
Teaching Assistant: Anabelle Marques Klovrza Office Hours: Mondays 2:30-3:30 PM (COB1 320), Fridays 11-12 (Zoom) or by appointment.
Course Websites
Everything that we do this this course will revolve around two principle websites. In some cases, information will be duplicated on both sites (link to readings), and I will attempt to cross-link as necessary.

The CatCourse Website (Canvas): Turning in assignments, grades, lectures, links to readings
The Ecology Course Website: Basic course information, discussion section activities, links to readings. This course site will have the up-to-date schedule information and links to discussion section and in-class activities.
Course Schedule:

Course Schedule
Course Description

This course fulfills an upper division requirement for the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) emphasis track of the Biological Sciences Major, as well an upper division requirement for the Earth Systems Science Major. This course provides an introduction to ecology - the scientific study of how organisms interact with each other and their physical environment. Prerequisite: BIO 001 or BIO 005 or ESS 001 or ESS 005 or consent of instructor. Normal Letter Grade only.
Course Goals & Outcomes
- Goals
  - Learn key concepts and major topics in ecology, including: how organisms interact with their environment; the dynamics and regulation of populations; the various types and character of the interactions among organisms; the nature, geography, and biodiversity of communities; the structure and function of ecosystems; and applied and large-scale ecological topics, such as conservation biology, landscape ecology and ecosystem management, and global change
  - Understand the linkages between ecology and the other subfields of the biological sciences and earth systems science
  - Understand the fundamentals of the methods used in ecological research
  - Appreciation for the positive and negative impacts of humans on ecological systems
  - Be able to communicate ecological knowledge to other scientists and laypersons, and apply basic concepts to comprehend and evaluate science in the popular press and in the primary scientific literature
- Outcomes At the end of the course, students should be able to:
  - Explain the fundamental ecological principles that pertain to individual organisms, to populations, to communities, to ecosystems, to landscapes, and to the globe
  - Develop a broad appreciation of the linkages among ecology, evolution, and earth systems science
  - Describe and understand the various techniques used in ecology, from computation to experimental, and how these techniques are coupled with the scientific method to address ecological questions
  - Comprehend the practical applications of ecological principles in human society and the potential impacts of humans on ecological systems
  - Critically evaluate the scientific literature as well as the popular press, and take ownership of the course material to improve their functioning in society
Format & Procedures

This course is structured as follows: two 75-minute lecture sessions and one 50-minute discussion section per week. Discussion sections will provide students an opportunity to discuss in more detail scientific findings from peer-reviewed publications and practice using the R programming langauge to confront ecological problems. Your participation in lectures and discussion sections is mandatory.
Course Requirements & Grading Procedures
- Class Attendance and Participation Policy
  - This course is delivered in person. The lecture & discussion attendance is required.
  - The 2 lowest lecture attendance scores will be dropped.
- Required and Supplemental Readings
  - Required Textbook: W.D. Bowman, S.D. Hacker, and Cain, M.L. 2017. Ecology, 6th Edition. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Publishers. Sunderland, MA.
  - Everyone should have access to the e-book via the inclusive access program; if you do not want the e-book, you will need to OPT-OUT. See the Announcment on Canvas from the bookstore for details.
  - Access the ebook through redshelf
  - Readings will also be assigned for the Discussion section and instead of the book for some lectures. These are required and will be provided on the course website.
  - Note: earlier editions (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th) of this textbook may be used but are not recommended.
- In-class laptops or tablets
  - Each student may use a laptop or tablet during lectures and discussion sections to take notes and participate in coures/discussion activities. Any operating system will suffice, as will iPads or similar tablet-like devices.
  - Students will need access to a laptop or tablet during discussion sections. See the Technology Resources Program for information about loaning laptops/tablets.
  - Smartphones are not allowed to be used in class or discussion. Use of a smartphone during class will result in loss of attendance points.
  - Electronic devices are to be used during class only to perform class-related functions (e.g. note-taking). Use of devises for other means may result in loss of attendance points.
- Course Assignments and Projects
  - Homework: Throughout the semester, homework assignments will be assigned, consisting of exercises provided by the Teaching Assistant/Instructor.
  - Discussion Activities: All students are required to go to their respective Discussion Sections and participate/engage in the discussions and activities conducted in the section. Your discussion grade will take into account both participation and responses to Discussion assignments.
  - Exams: There will be 3 “midterm” exams during the semester and 1 comprehensive final. There will be no make-up exams or early exams. If you are sick during an exam, you must supply a note from your doctor verifying your illness. Your grade for the missed exam will be based on your average score from the other exams. You cannot miss more than one exam for an excused illness and taking the final is mandatory in order to pass the course.
  - Grading: Your final grade will be based on the following: lecture attendance: 10%; discussion section participation & activities: 25%; homework: 20%; midterms: 30% (three, 10% each); and comprehensive final exam: 15%.
  - Grades will be given using the approximate framework: A: 90 - 100%, B: 80 - 90%, C: 70 - 80%, D: 60 - 70%, F: < 60%. This framework is subject to change given the distribution of the final grades.
  - Late assignments (e.g., homework) will not be accepted.
Artificial Intelligence Policy
- It is a violation of university policy to misrepresent work that you submit or exchange with your instructor by characterizing it as your own, such as submitting responses to assignments that do not acknowledge the use of generative AI tools. Do no use generative AI to complete assignment tasks unless otherwise instructed. Generative AI may be used to explore/advance understanding in subject material, but will not be used to directly assist in required assignments (again - unless otherwise specified). Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have about the use of generative AI tools before submitting any content that has been substantially informed by these tools.
- Use of AI that violates the terms above will result in a zero for the assignment, and the violator may be subject to academic discipline.