EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES (CLEARLY OUTSIDE THE STUDENT'S CONTROL).

PASSING THE COURSE AT THE TIME OF THE WITHDRAWAL

DOES NOT HAVE EXCESSIVE ABSENCES AT THE TIME OF THE WITHDRAWAL

A general review of plants populations and the factors that regulate plant populations.

Rationale for course:

No species, including humans, can live in isolation from the rest of the living world. Species interact with each other and with their environment. The science of ecology is focussed on the interaction of species with each other and with their environment. Fundamental to the complex living systems humans live in are plants. Plants are responsible for producing the high energy compounds that almost all other living organisms use for food. As human culture has placed greater and greater demands on natural systems, we have faced more and more difficult problems maintaining natural systems that can function as needed. The understanding of plant ecology in particular, is critical for the maintenance of functional natural systems. The growing importance of ecological information to agriculture, land restoration, urban design and even issues such as disease control has lead to a greater and greater demand for Ecologists, particularly Plant Ecologists. Plant Ecology thus fulfills the mission of the college through the concentrated study in specialized fields, in this case, the specialized field of Plant Ecology.

Learning objectives:

The principal learning objective of this course is to provide a basic knowledge of the nature of plant communities and the populations that make up those communities. Plant populations exist within the context of a specific community, and  we will look at plant populations from the perspective that they exist within a community of interacting plant and animal species.

Lecture:

Note: these files are a simple review of the structure of plants. We will investigate other topics during lecture periods.

Lecture 1

Lecture 2

Lecture 3

Lecture 4.

Lecture 5

Lecture 6

Lecture 7

Lectures will begin with a review of what plants are, focussing specifically on the basic anatomy and morphology of plants. Following this, weekly lecture periods will alternate between discussions of diversity and classic literature and discussions.

Laboratory:

Laboratory sessions will include discussion of the textbook "Ecological Diversity and it's Measurement" and two major independent investigations; the survey of a local forest community for diversity using the 0.1Ha method and a field guide for the identification of local trees.

Lecture and lab will focus on the analysis of communities and populations in the field. We will prepare a field guide for the identification of local trees. A web page describing tree diversity for a specific locality and a web page that functions as a guide for the identification of local trees will be prepared are group projects.

Evaluation:

Participation in data collection 10%
Midterm #1. Basic Plant Biology: 10%
Midterm #2. Basic measures of diversity: 10%
Midterm #3. Major themes in Plant Ecology: 10%
Analysis and report on forest diversity: 35%
Tree identification exam: 10%. Winning group is exempt from final exam.
Final exam 20%

Students will work in groups of about 3. The  reports, forest diversity and the field guide will be evaluated as group projects (ie one submission per group, either field guide or forest diversity report).

Grading will follow the ten point scale, over 90% = A, 80-89.9% = B, 70-79.9% = C, 60-69.9% = D, < 60% = F.

Attendance:

Strict adherence to Mississippi College's class attendance policy will be followed. "Any student whose absences, whether excused or unexcused, exceed 25% of the class will receive an "F" in the course." This means that if you miss more than 8 classes, you get an F.

Academic Integrity:

The Mississippi College Undergraduate Bulletin describes what the university considers to be academically dishonest, the student's responsibility, and the consequences for academic dishonesty. That policy will be followed in this class.

Missed Tests:

Makeups will be allowed only if PRIOR notification BY THE STUDENT is made to the instructor.

The following are available in the Plant Ecology folder, which is available on the desktop of computer in the lab and on the biolab drive on the server bio-che:

1. An analysis of the development of vegetation. Frederic E. Clements. The Carneige Institution of Washington Publication Number 242. 1916.

2. The individualistic concept of plant association. H. A. Gleason. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 53:7-26. 1926.

3. Homage to Santa Rosalia; or, why are there so many kinds of animals? G. E. Hutchinson. The American Naturalist 93: 145-159. 1959.

4. Theory.This is a statement that I prepared for a graduate course I teach.