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ECOLOGY
Syllabus and Course Requirements
I. Overview
Ecology deals with the
study of the interactions between organisms and their environment, and
the way in which these interactions determine the distribution and
abundance of organisms. The course is designed to cover the diverse
subjects necessary to understand interactions at the organismal,
population (single species and species interactions), and community
level. Since ecologists can play a significant role in constructing and
evaluating conservation or environmental management programs, we
incorporate lectures dealing with the application of ecological theory
to current environmental problems throughout the course. The course will
combine lectures and group learning dealing with both the theory of
ecology and applied issues with a practical component of laboratory and
field projects.
II. Course of Study (Text –
Ecology: Theories and Applications 4th Ed. by Peter
Stiling for the first three nine weeks; the fourth nine weeks the
students will use an in class copy of the Environmental Science
textbook)
Subject
Chapter
First Nine Weeks
Why and
How to Study Ecology 1
Genetics
and Evolution 2
Extinction
3
Group
Selection and Individual Selection 4
Life
History Strategies 5
Population
Growth 6
Physical
Environment 7
Second Nine
Weeks
Competition and Coexistence 8
Mutualism
9
Predation
10
Herbivory
11
Parasitism
12
Evaluation the Controls on Population
Size 13
The Main
Types of Communities 14
Third Nine
Weeks
Global
Patterns in Species Richness 15
Species
Diversity 16
Stability, Equilibrium, and Nonequilibirm 17
Succession
18
Island
Biogeography 19
Trophic
Structure 20
Energy
Flow 21
Nutrients
22
Fourth Nine Weeks
Environmental Science Textbook – An Overview
III. Make up Work
Policy
You have as many
days as you miss to make up the assignments (example: miss two days of
school, assignments/tests missed during that time will be due the second
day after you return). This is school policy. I am available for
test/quiz make-ups from 7:30-7:50 most every morning and afternoons from
2:45-3:15 – except during basketball season. However, missed labs,
quizzes, or tests are to be scheduled a day in advance.
IV. Grading Scale
The following values
are the minimum points for each type of assignment. Higher point values
may be assigned to special tasks of which you will be informed
throughout the school year.
Assignment Estimated Point Values
Tests 70-100
Quizzes 10-30
Homework 25-40
Lab 40-60
Projects 70-90
Daily
Participation 10
**** Bonus points
may be available on some assignments (always optional). Extra credit
will only be available on a few optional activities, so keep up with all
assignments.
Grading
Procedures for Final Semester Averages
– Nine Weeks Grades are 40% each
(80%) and Semester Finals (20%)
V. Student
Companion Textbook Website =
www.prenhall.com/stiling
Check grades
online: www.mygradebook.com
VI. Guidelines
for the Classroom
1. Treat others as
you wish to be treated yourself.
2. Obey all school
rules stated in the Student Handbook
3. Be prepared to
begin class on time with all required materials (pen/pencil, textbook,
notebook
with paper)
4. Hall pass usage
is for personal emergencies only. Those students who abuse this
policy
will lose permission of the hall pass.
Note: Sloppy,
unreadable, or half completed work will NOT be accepted
and will be handed back to the student to redo. If your handwriting is
unreadable, type your assignments.
VII. Curriculum
Standards
The state curriculum
standards used for this class can be found at:
http://www.state.tn.us/education/ci/standards/sci/9_12_ecology.shtml
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