Objectives

Method of delivery: Paper pushers delivered with discussion assessed with short answer Simulation delivered assessed with homework Concept map delivered assessed with short answer and evaluation procedure in their group Chart delivered assessed with short answer

Global Objectives: Students will be able to examine a geographical location and be able to predict relationships between biotic and abiotic systems and give examples of relevant scientific studies. Students will be able to predict anthropogenic effects on that geographical location. Educational Objectives: “Students will understand. . .” How science as a way of knowing is different than other information types. The hierarchical arrangement in ecology of individual, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere, and the focus of subdisciplines such as landscape ecology. How abiotic conditions determine what biota are present and the biota in turn affect abiotic conditions. Basic laws of matter and energy and how they apply to ecological systems. How properties of matter and energy combine to create multiple habitats.
 * Week 1 Abiotic Conditions**
 * Simulation: Limiting Nutrients OR Barnacles**

Macroclimates interact with landscape to produce microclimate How water moves through terrestrial and aquatic habitats and organisms. How organisms survive in suboptimal environmental conditions, maintain temperature and balance water and solutes. Variation in abiotic conditions translates into tolerance limits and optimal conditions, which in turn affect location of organisms. The forms of energy that different organisms use, and how organisms are structured to interact with their energy sources. Types and measures of fitness, and how fitness is affected by sexual and social systems. The mechanisms of natural selection, and how an adaptation could be the result of other forces besides natural selection. The different structures for a population and how that structure might be created by natural history components. Important life history components for most organisms and how knowing the values of these components can affect decisions in conservation The range of relationships between species and how to classify novel relationships into categories. How competition can affect species composition. The commonality between predators, parasites, and diseases. Exploitation relationships from both sides and the outcomes of these relationships. The cost/benefit nature of mutualisms and discuss how this leads to their coevolution. The up and downward movement of these interactions through trophic webs. The energy inputs and outputs of an ecosystem. The connection/alteration of biotic factors by abiotic factors and vice versa. The underlying theory for how succession occurs and why. How qualities of landscape location and size can affect ecosystem dynamics. The development of thought surrounding the latitudinal gradient in species richness. The relationship between global warming and ozone depletion and their effects on the environment. How the atmosphere and radiation interact to create global temperature. The potential risks of humans impacting a global nutrient cycle. The causes and effects of fragmentation on ecosystems. The causes and effects of biodiversity loss. The connection between the topics discussed in this class and their chosen field site.
 * Week 2 Individual Adaptations (individual interactions/adaptations to environment)**
 * Simulation: Nature’s Supermarket OR Barnacles OR Limiting Nutrients**
 * Week 3 Population Qualities (measures and interactions at the level of population)**
 * Simulation: Owls OR Islands and Selection**
 * Week 4 Community Interactions (how populations interact with each other)**
 * Simulation: Isle Royale OR Predator Avoidance OR Trophic Cascades OR Niches and Competition**
 * Week 5 Ecosystems (interactions of communities within abiotic parameters)**
 * Simulation: Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis**
 * Week 6 Global/Large-Scale Ecology**
 * Simulation: Island Biogeography**
 * Week 7 Synthesis/Application**