Survey of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior BIO 199 Spring 2004

Class meets: Monday, 3:35-5:30, FA 126

Instructors: T. Caraco, C. D’Elia, H. Ghiradella, H. Hirsch, G. Kleppel, K. Mohr, G. Robinson, C. Stewart, I. Wang

Instructors in charge:

Thomas Caraco Email: caraco@albany.edu

George Robinson Email: grobins@albany.edu

Office hours of all instructors are posted outside the Biological Sciences Office

Required readings and lecture notes will be available through the ULibrary EReserves site.

In addition to Monday afternoon class meetings, all students will be required to attend scientific seminars and lectures (see below).

Grading: A-E, based on percent of maximum points (100 total)

Written assignments: 90 points

Participation: 10 points

Class Schedule

Class Date Topic/Assignments Instructor Readings_______

1 1/26 Course introduction T.C., G.R.

2 2/2 Biological invasions T.C.

3 2/9 Watershed ecology G.R.

4 2/23 Hydrological processes K.M.

5 3/ 1 Animal behavior H.H.

6 3/8 Photobiology H.G.

7 3/15 Photobiology H.G.

8 3/22 Primate evolution C.S.

9 3/29 Biological conservation G.K.

10 4/12 TBA

11 4/19 Marine ecology C.D.

12 4/26 Forms of rapid evolution I.W.

13 5/3 Course Wrap-up T.C., G.R.

Course objectives

This lecture course is a survey of environmental and evolutionary sciences. All instructors are faculty from Biological Sciences or Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Departments. Each instructor will address topics of current scientific research, bringing to bear his or her research experience. The aims of the course are to introduce second-year Biology and Environmental Science majors to the variety of scientific studies on our campus, and to help prepare them for upper division classes in ecology, earth and atmospheric sciences, and in evolutionary biology.

Course readings and assignments

One assigned reading, from the scientific literature, will accompany each class meeting. Students should read the assigned material IN ADVANCE, to prepare for each lecture and associated discussions. Readings will be available on-line, through ULibrary services.

After each lecture, students will receive one or a few questions to answer based on the lecture and reading material. Answers will be due at the beginning of the next class following the assignment. Nine or ten sets of questions will be distributed. Each student is required to submit six answer sets. Choose any six, but each assignment is due the class following its distribution. Points will be deducted for late assignments.

In addition, each student is required to attend three relevant scientific seminars or public lectures on campus or at nearby colleges and universities, and to prepare reports summarizing the seminar or lecture. Lists and schedules of departmental and university-wide events will be posted.

Formats for written assignments

Answers to questions (six required) should be in essay format (full paragraphs), and written in scientific style, including: correct use of scientific units for all values and measurements; correct use of scientific binomials for all organisms; figures, tables, equations, or diagrams to summarize or illustrate points. Illustrations may be hand-drawn. Answers should be a maximum of three pages, double-spaced, printed in 12-point font, pages numbered and stapled. Begin the first page with your name and the date. Maximum 10 pts. each (60 course points total).

Reports (three required) should summarize the presentations attended by students. They should be in essay format (full paragraphs), and written in scientific style (as above). Reports should be a maximum of two pages, double-spaced, printed in 12-point font, numbered and stapled. Begin the first page with your name, then the title of the talk you attended, the name of the speaker, followed by the date and location of the presentation. Begin your essay by explaining the title, then describe the questions addressed in the talk, the scientific methods employed to answer them, and the speaker’s conclusions. Maximum 10 pts. each (30 course points total).

You are encouraged to meet with fellow students to discuss the assigned questions, but all written assignments must be prepared on your own. Late assignments will be penalized one point per day. No assignments (reports or answers to questions) will be accepted after the last class meeting (May 3) without special arrangement.

Class participation

Attendance and participation will be graded, with a maximum of ten points toward the course total. Participation means joining in discussions, asking questions, and otherwise contributing to the course. Be prepared to discuss the presentations you attend outside class.