Welcome to General Ecology Bio 4416 Instructor: Susan Schwinning Office Hours: Mon, Wed 1:00 – 2:00 pm, or by appointment 312 Supple

1. How this course works. Lab and Lecture sections are taught independently. To pass the course you must pass both (>60%). To pass the lecture: acquire a minimum of 120 points in 3 midterms (40pts) and 1 final (80 pts). To pass the lab: show up, submit assignments and complete an independent research project.

Advice on how to handle the lab: The lab grade is 1/3 of the course grade The lab grade will often improve the course grade Failure to attend 3x gives you an “F” in lab, therefore an “F” in the course 50% of the lab grade is tied to the independent research project Partnering up in teams of two is recommended

Advice on how to do well in lecture: attend and review all lectures using materials posted online think along and ask questions make use of office hours/ read the required texts form study groups study for the midterms and final.

Grading: Material coveredPoints MIDTERM 11/440 MIDTERM 21/440 MIDTERM 31/440 FINALall80 WEEKLY LAB EXERCISES Several guided field experiments or observations, writing assignments 50 INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PROJECT up to you50 TOTAL300 Pass: 120(lec)+60(lab)

2.How you get information. (or through TRACS or the department’s faculty web pages)

3. What is ecology?

Ecology Ernst Häckel (1866) “Ökologie”: the comprehensive science of the relationship of the organism to the environment. Today’s definition: The scientific study of the distribution and abundance of organisms and of the interactions that determine distribution and abundance. From greek words oikos (= house/household) + logia (= study of)

The distribution and abundance of organisms is a complicated thing. How can we even begin to study it scientifically? Prairie Coral Reef

molecular cell tissue organ organism population community ecosystem landscape biome ecosphere The hierarchy of biological organization: (Adapted from Odum & Barret, 2005) Ecology

4. Why do we need math to do ecology?

Why Math?

Math is a way to express commonality in the perplexing richness of human observation and experience.

The richness of biological phenomena:

Let’s have a great semester!