ESCI 433/533 Population Biology
Winter 2017
M 2-5pm
(many class meetings will be outside)
| Instructor: John McLaughlin | Teaching Assistant: Jesse Klinger |
| Office: ES 434 | Office: ES 67 |
| Phone: 650-7617 | |
| Office Hours: Mon 1-2, Fri 4-5, and by appt. | Office Hours: by appointment |
|
E-mail: |
E-mail: jesse[dot]klinger[at]pcc[dot]edu |
| ( Please do not send attachments in proprietary formats.) |
Course Web Site:
http://faculty.wwu.edu/jmcl/Popbiol/syl_2017.htm
http://larch.huxley.wwu.edu/Popbiol/syl_2017.htm
Text: (recommended)
Gotelli, Nicholas J. 2008.
A Primer of Ecology, 4th ed. Prerequisites: Ecology (ESCI 325
or BIOL 325), Course Description:
This course provides an examination of the structure,
distribution, and dynamics of populations. Both empirical and theoretical
approaches will be emphasized. Population biology is inherently
quantitative; students will be expected to use mathematics to evaluate
population concepts and to analyze population data.
The course is structured as a series of research projects
that investigate population concepts and evaluate predictions of
population models. Class meetings will include brief presentations
and discussions to introduce projects and their conceptual context.
To complete the projects, students will collect data individually or
in small groups, analyze data using population models, and
present project results in scientific paper format.
Students are encouraged to
collaborate on data analysis, but individual project reports are
required. One project will consist of numerical population simulations
instead of field study. Students will design and conduct the final
project independently, as individuals or in pairs. Please submit a
brief description of your project idea to the instructor at least
a week before you start.
On completion of the course, students should be able to apply information
about populations to (1) describe how various factors influence their dynamics,
(2) determine effects of age structure and spatial structure on population
growth and persistence,
(3) predict effectiveness
of programs for population conservation and management,
(4) design and conduct a population research project,
and (5) communicate population research results in written,
graphical, and oral formats.
Course Evaluation:
Grades will be based on written reports about five projects and
an in-class presentation on the independent research project.
Contributions of each report and the presentation to the final course
grade are listed in the assignment schedule below.
You may select among projects for two of the reports, as outlined
in the assignment schedule. The first two reports may be
informal. The last three must follow the standard format of a
scientific research article, which will be reviewed using
corresponding criteria, reduced for
projects 3-7 and complete
for the independent project.
For advice on scientific writing, see
notes on writing from Jesse. Course Schedule:
For suggestions on effective editing, click here.
Assignments
|
Project Report |
Due Date |
Weight |
| One | Jan. 18 | 10% |
| Two | Jan. 25 | 10% |
| Three or Four | Feb. 8 | 25% |
| Five, Six, or Seven | Feb. 22 | 25% |
| Project presentation | March 8 | 10% |
| Independent project report | March 8 | 20% |
Reading:
Bruno JF, Stachowicz JJ, Bertness MD. 2003. Inclusion of facilitation into ecological theory. Tr.Ecol.Evol. 18:119-125.
Ehrlich, PR. 1994. Enhancing the status of population biology. Tr. Ecol. Evol. 9(4)15.
North Cascades Ecosystem Grizzly EIS Scoping
Pease CM and DJ Mattson. 1999. Demography of the Yellowstone Grizzly bears. Ecology 80: 957-975.