BIOL 202 - Biology II: Introduction to Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior - Spring 2007

Instructor: Dr. Erik P. Scully - Office: Smith 261 (through 247); Hours: MWF 11-12

Phone: 410-704-3012; E-mail: escully@towson.edu

Course website: http://www.towson.edu/~scully/biol202.html

DATE LECTURE TOPIC (Campbell & Reece, pages)

1/29 Introduction to the course: higher order principles in Biology (3-6; 9-15)  (BIOL 202 & Natural Selection)

1/31 The Logic of Natural Selection (15-16)  (Natural Selection) (Biology as a Science)

2/5 Asking questions, generating hypotheses (19-26); Building models

2/7 Introduction to Population Biology; Life History Patterns and Strategies (1141-1143)

2/12 Density-independent population growth (1139-1141; 1143-1145)

2/14 Density-dependent population growth (1145-1156)

2/19 Interspecific Competition: the niche (1159-1161); Modeling interspecific competition

2/21 Experimental case histories of competition

2/26 Predation; Modelling predation (1161-1163)

2/28 Experimental studies of predation

3/5 Plant-animal interactions

3/7 Parasite and pathogen life history patterns (1163-1164)

3/12 EXAM I

3/14 Basic Epidemiology; Modeling Epidemics

3/19 Spring Break

3/21 Spring Break

3/26 Darwin, Wallace and Natural Selection (441-446; 436-437 )

3/28 Quantifying genetic variation (462-464)

4/2 Understanding evolution via a "Null Model" (454-458)

4/4 Defining the Deme and Genetic Drift (460-462); Inbreeding

4/9 Migration & Mutation (459-460) (Last day to Drop)

4/11 Selection: the basics (446-448)

4/16 Selection in polygenic systems (464-468)

4/18 Frequency-dependent selection

4/23 Sexual Selection (468)

4/25 Kin Selection (1128-1130)

4/30 Exam II

5/2 Defining a Species (473-476); Mechanisms of Speciation (477-482)

5/7 Community Structure and Development (1165-1176)

5/9 Disturbance and Diversity; Island Biogeography (1177-1180)

5/14 Last Class

5/16 FINAL EXAMINATION 12:30-2:30

Text: Campbell, N. A. and J. B. Reece. 2005. Biology, 7^th edition. San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings.

E-mail Account: Every student is expected to have an E-mail account for at least the semester. Send an e-mail message from your preferred e-mail address as soon as possible. Please include your name in the message. The e-mail list will only be used for class announcements, distribution of laboratory materials, and examination review.

Populus: This course will introduce you to a number of basic mathematical models in Ecology and Population Genetics.  If you are interested in exploring these models through computer simulations, I recommend that you download a copy of Populus from the University of Minnesota (see below).  Populus is available in DOS and Java versions for PCs, and there are Mac and Linux versions.  I recommend version 5.3 of the program.

Populus Home Page: www.cbs.umn.edu/populus/

Biology II: Comments & Policies

INTRODUCTION: Biology II (BIOL 202) is the second semester of the introductory course that is required of all Biology majors at Towson University. It is designed to build upon the concepts of cellular organization and genetics that were covered in Biology I (BIOL 201), and to show both how these processes are manifested in, and the emergent properties of higher levels of biological organization.

Biology II will focus on phenomena found at the "higher" levels of biological organization that are manifested in all species and communities. These phenomena include those factors that affect the growth of populations, interactions between species, and the structure of biological communities. We will also explore how the evolutionary process affects all of these phenomena. Finally, where appropriate, we will examine how the behavior of individuals serves as the interface between the organism and its environment.

Like all introductory level courses, Biology II will only survey major topics. In the area of Population Biology, for example, we will only look at certain fundamental concepts and applications. Similarly in evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology, you will only get the basic principles of these complex and dynamic fields. You should plan to take the appropriate elective courses in order to explore any of these areas in detail. Finally, I also hope that this course will give you the foundation to appreciate the factors responsible for the characteristics of specific organisms that you may encounter as part of courses in Physiology and specific taxa.

BACKGROUND: It is expected that you will have a basic knowledge of the following topics: Molecular Genetics, Mendelian Genetics, Photosynthesis, and Cellular Respiration.

GRADING: The following are the relative values of the course requirements: Lecture Examinations (2 @ 25%; 50% of total grade); Lab Exam (10%); Final Examination (comprehensive; 25%); Lab Reports (2 @ 5% each; 10%); Computer Assignments (5%). Percentage - Letter Grade: 90 or above: A; 89: A-; 85-88: B+; 80-84: B; 79: B-; 75-78: C+; 70-74: C; 69: 65-69: D+; 60-64: D; <60: F.

MISSED EXAMINATIONS: If you cannot make a regularly scheduled examination, you must make arrangements to take a "make up" examination within 48 hours of the original examination date.

ATTENDANCE: BIOL 202 is a 4-credit laboratory course. Significant course material will be covered in laboratory, and that material will appear on the lecture and laboratory examinations. Frequent absence from lecture and laboratory will affect your performance in the course.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: University policy requires me to state my official response to such situations: (a) If you are suspected of cheating on an examination, you will have your examination confiscated, and you will receive no credit for the examination. (b) It is expected that you will cite properly the sources of all information used in your reports. The full text of the University's Academic Integrity policy can be found at: wwwnew.towson.edu/provost/studentacaintegritypolicy.htm

INCOMPLETES: Only a chronic illness or severe personal trauma are acceptable reasons for receiving a grade of "I" in this course.

THE LAB REPORT OUTLINE

The Lab Reports required as part of this course should follow the standard format of a scientific research report. In general, the format is as follows:

Introduction: A brief summary of the principles related to the phenomenon that you are investigating. It should be concise, and focus on the topic, but is should be more than "The object of this exercise was...".

Materials and Methods: A brief summary of the protocol followed in the exercise. It should be detailed enough that someone could repeat your work by following your description.

Results: A brief presentation of the data. It may include tables, graphs, and the results of any appropriate statistical analyses. Do not include "raw" data.

Discussion: A detailed presentation of the conclusions and implications that should be drawn from your results. Also, some critique of the experimental methodology and directions for future research may be appropriate.

THE FOCUS SPECIES

We will be covering a wide variety of topics during the course of the semester. At the same time, however, what we cover can be applied to every species on this planet. In order to help you to apply the concepts from the course, I am going to ask you to choose a "focus species". Your species can be any non-human organism. It can be plant, animal, prokaryotic, eukaryotic, and even a virus. As we progress through the semester, I'm going to ask you to apply concepts to your species. For example, what factors affect the population growth of your species? How do evolutionary factors affect your species? You will not be required to write a paper on your species, but you will be expected to use your species as an example during class discussions and you may be asked to use your species as an example on examinations. Most people will choose a species that they know well, but don't be afraid to expand your horizons - haven't you always wanted to learn more about aardvarks?

FIELD STUDY

The Baltimore metropolitan area has been chosen as a Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site as an example of an urban ecosystem. The LTER website (www.beslter.org) has a wealth of information that will serve as general background. The Towson University campus is a perfect area to study the effects of urbanization on habitat structure. We will examine different areas of campus in order to get a better appreciation of this phenomenon. Specific information can be found in a 2003 report written by students in the Environmental Science program (wwwnew.towson.edu/ess/student_projects.htm - Managing the Landscape of Towson University:  Becoming a Model).

For example, we will discuss some of the effects of having the campus' natural areas distributed as isolated fragments. Similarly, why do some species of mammals thrive in urbanized areas while others do not? Our "focus species" for this study will be the Eastern Gray Squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis. For some information on this species, see the Maryland DNR site at: www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/greysquirrel.html.