Department of Biological and
Environmental Sciences
General Ecology
Syllabus
BIO 2229
Fall Semester 2008
Section TBAA
Instructor: Dr. Alvin Diamond.
Prerequisites: BIO 1100, L100, CHM 1142, L142, or permission of the chair.
* NOTE: Lecture and Laboratory are co-requisites and must be taken
together.
Class Time: 8:00-8:50 M, W, F.
Class Location: 212 Math/Science.
Office Hours: First half of
the semester:
Office: 210K Math/Science.
Telephone: (334) 670-3938.
E-mail: adiamond@troy.edu
Course Description: Elementary concepts with a focus on energetics, limiting factors, the process of adaptation to a changing environment, the niche, ecological pyramids and succession. A survey of the major biomes of the world with emphasis on ecoregions in Alabama will be covered.
Course Objectives: Students will learn basic concepts in ecology including energetics, limiting factors, adaptation, the niche, ecological pyramids and succession. Students will become familiar with the characteristics of major biomes of the world and the ecoregions in Alabama.
Desired Competencies: Students will be able to define and discuss basic concepts in ecology and the characteristics of major biomes of the world and the ecoregions in Alabama.
Method of Instruction: Lecture format with some discussion.
Text: Smith, R. L. and T. M. Smith. 2001. Ecology and Field Biology (6th Ed.). Benjamin Cummins.
Course Evaluation: Four 100-point exams will be given: 400 total points
possible. A=90%, B=80%, C=70%, D=60%, F=<60%. *Pop exams may be given at any time. The total of all possible pop exam
points will be added to the total possible points in the class. Except in
rare cases make-up exams
will not be given without a doctor’s or university written excuse.
Topic Outline and Chapter Assignments:
1. The Ecosystem. Chapter 24.
2. Ecology and
Experimentation. Chapter 1.
3. The Organism
and its Environment.
Chapter 2:
Solar Radiation and Climate.
Chapter 3:
The Physical Environment.
EXAM 1
4. Adaptation. Chapter 5.
Chapter 6
and 7: Plant Adaptations to the Environment.
Chapter 8:
Animal Adaptations to the Environment.
EXAM 2
5. Decomposition. Chapter 9.
6. Soils. Chapter 4.
7. The Community.
Chapters 20, 21, and 22.
EXAM 3
8. Terrestrial Ecosystems. Chapters 28 and 29.
FINAL EXAM: The final exam will include a section of
comprehensive multiple choice questions over all of the material covered this
semester.
Calendar:
August 13- Classes begin
August 18- Last day to add a course
September 1- Holiday
October 6-12- Fall break
October 17- Last day to drop a course without academic
penalty
November 11- Holiday
November 26-30- Thanksgiving Holidays
December 3- Dead day
**FINAL EXAM---DEC. 4TH 8:00-10:00 AM
Course policies:
1) Attendance. Class attendance and participation are expected. Roll
will be taken for Troy University attendance records. Students are expected to be in class
on time and must have their cell phones turned off.
2) Exams. Exams given during the semester will be closed book. When the
end of the exam period is announced, you are expected to put down your pens and
turn in the exam or it will not be accepted. Cell phones and pagers must be
turned off and out of sight during an exam. A 10% penalty will be given if
your cell phone or pager rings during an exam. You may not leave the room for
any reason during an exam.
3) Makeup exams. Make-up exams may be of a different format
than the original scheduled exam. Except in rare cases make-up
exams will only be given if the student notifies the instructor prior to the absence and has a
physician’s or university (example: athletic function or band function) written
excuse. If
you miss a scheduled makeup exam you will not be allowed to reschedule that
exam.
4) Exam material. Lecture questions will be drawn from information given
to the student in lecture, hand outs, or in reading from the text (even if the
assigned reading is not discussed in lecture).
5) Troy University ADA statement: Troy University supports Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990, which insure that postsecondary students with disabilities have equal
access to all academic programs, physical access to all buildings, facilities
and events, and are not discriminated against on the basis of disability.
Eligible students with appropriate documentation, will be provided equal
opportunity to demonstrate their academic skills and potential through the
provision of academic adaptations and reasonable accommodations. Further
information, including appropriate contact information, can be found at the link
for Troy University's Office of Human Resources at http://www.troy.edu/humanresources/ADAPolicy2003.htm .
6) Additional Services. Students who have or may be dealing with a
disability or learning difficulty should speak with the instructor, contact the
Office of Adaptive Needs Program (215 Adams Center), or call
670-3220/3221.Various accommodations are available through the Adaptive Needs
Program.
7) Tutors. Tutorial help may be available to students in the Science
Learning Center. All interested students are encouraged to visit the center.
8) Cheating. Students observed cheating by the instructor will be
dismissed from class. The action to be taken against the student will be
determined after consultation with the Department head and other appropriate
individuals.
9) Lab Safety. Absolutely no eating, drinking or use
of tobacco in the lab. All students must read, understand, and sign the
departmental lab safety rules handout.
10) Incompletes. Will be given only in special circumstances. See
Bulletin for guidelines.
11)
Link to the
Departmental plagiarism policy.
12) Cell phones and other electronic devices: Use of any
electronic device by students in the instructional environment is prohibited
unless explicitly approved on a case-by-case basis by the instructor of record
or by the Office of Disability Services in collaboration with the instructor.
Cellular phones, pagers, and other communication devices may be used for
emergencies, however, but sending or receiving non-emergency messages is
forbidden by the University. Particularly, use of a communication device
to violate the Troy University "Standards of Conduct" will result in
appropriate disciplinary action (See the Oracle.) In order to
receive emergency messages from the University or family members, the call
receipt indicator on devices must be in the vibration mode or other unobtrusive
mode of indication. Students receiving calls that they believe to be
emergency calls must answer quietly without disturbing the teaching environment.
If the call is an emergency, they must move unobtrusively and quietly from the
instructional area and notify the instructor as soon as reasonably possible.
Students who are expecting an emergency call should inform the instructor before
the start of the instructional period.
This syllabus is subject to change without notice. Students will be
informed of any changes at the earliest possible date.