BIOL 4117/5151 Advances in Contemporary Ecology

Office CB 4039, Research Lab CB 3021, Tel: 343-8250

Email: shecnar@lakeheadu.ca

 

Lectures: 4:00-5:30 pm T & TH in RB 2044    Office hours: TBA

 

Course Description:  An investigation of topics in contemporary ecology with an emphasis on large-scale patterns of abundance and distribution of organisms in nature.  Topics covered will include the importance of scale in ecology, latitudinal patterns of species richness, range size theory, and the relationship between abundance and distribution.  This course will include instruction and practice in compilation, analysis and interpretation of macroecological data.

 

This year we will focus on recent advancements and resurgence of interest in the field of community ecology.  We will read, discuss, and critique Mittelbach's new textbook on the subject.

 

Required Textbooks 2015:

 

Levin, S.A. (ed).  2009.  The Princeton Guide to Ecology.  Princeton University Press, Princeton.  ISBN: 978-0-691-12839-9

 

Mittelbach, G.G.  2012.  Community Ecology.  Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland MS.  ISBN: 978-0-87893-509-3.  A new textbook examing recent developments and resurgence of interest in the field of community ecology.

 

Brown, J.H. 1995. Macroecology, University of Chicago Press, paperback, ISBN 0-226-07615-6.  The first macroecology textbook produced.  Although several years old, it still provides a good and inexpensive introduction to the field and background reading for the course.

 

Gaston, K.J. 2003. The Structure and Dynamics of Geographic Ranges, Oxford University Press, paperback, ISBN 0-19-852641-5.  An up to date synthesis of the field of aerography.

 

Blackburn, T.M. and K.J. Gaston (eds). 2003. Macroecology: Concepts and Consequences. Blackwell Publishing, paperback, ISBN 0-521-54932-9. The most recent textbook on the topic of macroecology with chapters written by experts on many of the important questions in the field.

Dodds, W.K.  2009.  Laws, Theories, and Patterns in Ecology.  University of California Press, Berkeley.  paperback.  ISBN: 978-0-520-26041-2.  A concise review of the key concepts of ecology and discussion of what constitutes 'laws' and 'theories'.

 

Gaston, K.J. 1994. Rarity. Chapman & Hall, paperback, ISBN 0-412-47510-3. A thorough treatment of the topic of rarity in a compact volume.

 

Gaston, K.J. and T.M. Blackburn. 2000. Pattern and Process in Macroecology. Blackwell Science UK, paperback, ISBN 0-632-05653-3.  An advanced summary of the field that uses Britain's avifauna as a case study. An excellent but expensive book.

Hanski, I. 1999. Metapopulation Ecology. Oxford University Press, paperback, ISBN 0-19-854065-5 A comprehensive synthesis of the field of metapopulation ecology covering both theoretical and empirical research.

 

Holyoak, M, M.A. Liebold, and R.D. Holt. (eds.).  2005.  Metacommunities: Spatial Dynamics and Ecological Communities.  University of Chicago Press. paperback, ISBN: 0-226-35064-9.  The first treatise published on a new framework for the study of community ecology.

 

Hubbell, S.P. 2001. The Unified Neutral Theory of Biodiversity and Biogeography. Princeton, paperback, ISBN 0-691-02128-7 A new mathematical theory that extends MacArthur and Wilson's island model in an attempt to merge the fields of ecology and biogeography.

 

Maurer, B.A. 1999. Untangling Ecological Complexity: the Macroscopic Perspective. University of Chicago Press, paperback, ISBN 0-226-51133-2 An interesting perspective on complexity in ecological communities written by one of the co-founders of the sub-discipline of macroecology. Maurer provides an extensive justification for using the macroecological approach and in-depth discussion of the geographic range, large-scale assembly of communities, and evolution at the macro-scale.

 

Ricklefs, R.E., and D. Schluter. 1993. Species Diversity in Ecological Communities: Historical and Geographical Perspectives. University of Chicago Press, paperback, ISBN 0-226-71823-9 An influential edited volume that coalesced changing viewpoints in ecology. Chapters are uneven, but many provide an interesting read.

 

Rosenzweig, M.L. 1995. Species diversity in space and time. Cambridge University Press, paperback, ISBN 0-521-49952-6 An entertaining and informative book that provides a very thorough treatment of the role of area in producing patterns of species diversity.

 

Journals: Important journals in macroecology include: Global Ecology and Biogeography, Ecography, and Evolutionary Ecology Research.  Papers on macroecological topics also occur in ecological journals such as: Ecology, American Naturalist, Oikos, Oecologia, Ecography, Conservation Biology, Journal of Biogeography. Occasionally macroecological papers are published in general science journals such as Science or Nature or in taxon specific journals.

 

4117: Midterm 20%, Presentation 20%, Written Summary 10%, Discussion 20%, Final Written Exam 30%.

5151: Midterm 20%, Presentation 20%, Written Summary 10%, Discussion 20%, Final Written Exam 20%, Final Oral Exam 10%.

 

Course Design:  This course like the complex systems it studies is constantly evolving.  In the course we will investigate and review key concepts in ecology.  The approach consists of a combination of lectures, student presentations, practical assignments, and group discussions based on assigned readings.  The supervisor will provide some initial lectures to introduce the breadth of the course.  Students will be assigned topics (concepts)to review and subsequently they provide a concise presentation and written materials to the class.  Students will also choose papers from the recent primary literature related to the topic(s) for distribution and discussion. 

 

Goals & Expectations: This course, like the concepts it explores, is constantly evolving.  Its goal is to provide a contemporary large-scale perspective to students who are, or intend on, pursuing graduate studies in ecology.  The course is taught at an advanced level and assumes that the student has a solid foundation in basic ecology.  The course is demanding.  Besides covering much lecture material, students must prepare for and take an active part in discussions, and complete assignments on their own time.  Missed examinations will be graded zero unless you have a bonafide excuse and supporting documentation.  If you do miss an exam, contact the instructor as soon as possible.

 

Presentation(s): Students will provide one or more presentations of a key ecological concept or topic.  The topic may be either in basic or applied ecology but must be approved by the instructor.  The student should provide a 15 to 20 minute presentation using PowerPoint, overheads, chalkboard, or a combination of methods.  The presentation should aim to define and provide a contemporary review of the topic.  The goal is to ensure that the audience will have a firm grasp of what the concept is, why it is important, what its implications are, how it is used, etc.  Graduate students will be expected to use the earliest time slots, followed by undergraduates.  The presentation will be followed by a discussion providing an opportunity to ask and answer questions.

 

Written Summary:  Student presenters should provide a one to two page typed summary of their concept or topic as a handout for the class.

Reading and Discussion - Paper:  The student(s) doing the presentation will lead the discussion and critique of a paper related to the concept or topic presented.  This paper must be from the recent ecological literature and pre-approved by the instructor.  The discussion leader will provide a summary of the paper, additional information, opinions or criticism, and pose some questions to stimulate and continue discussion.  The paper should be sent out the week preceding the presentation so that the class has sufficient time to peruse and discuss the paper.

 

Reading and Discussion - Book:  Towards the end of the semester after our presentation of concepts, the entire class will discuss the assigned book at our meetings.  This opportunity should be used to consider the problem or questions in the book in relation to the concepts previously reviewed.  The book will be reviewed and critiqued and its implications and applications will be discussed.

 

Examinations: Format will vary according to the enrollment in the course but can be expected to include a mix of different types of questions such as true or false, multiple choice, fill in the blank, short answer, essays, quantitative problems, pattern interpretation, and drawings. If class size is small, questions may be exclusively essay format.  Graduate students will be given an oral examination at the end of the course in addition to all other requirements.

 

Reserve Materials: Discussion papers and instructions for assignments will be emailed to students before class.  Some reference materials may be placed on reserve at the Paterson Library under the course number and instructor's name. It is the student's responsibility to regularly check their email inbox to download course materials for perusal before class and to copy material as required and return originals in good condition to the reserve folder(s). If a student would like to find additional material on some topic of interest they should see the instructor.

 

Jan.    09    W    Organizational Meeting and Introduction

          11     F     Hecnar - Metapopulations to Metacommunities

          16    W     Name (Grad) - Topic TBA

          18     F     TBA

          23    W    TBA

          25    F     TBA

          30    W    TBA

 

Feb.   01     F     TBA

          06    W    TBA

          08    F     TBA

          13    W    TBA