Animal Ecology

3 credit hours

BIO 424A Undergraduate Prequisites

Bio 111, 112. a college level math course.
BIO 5424Z Graduate Prequisites:
Undergraduate degree and at least 18 hours of undergraduate biology courses.
Classes will meet from 6:00PM - 8:30PM wednesdays in Hederman Science Room 205.
Instructor: Dr. Robert Hamilton
Hederman Science Room 205; Phone (601) 925-3872
Office hours:
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM M, W, F
NOTE: I am available during these posted hours unless otherwise notified. I will be available during these hours without appointment unless I am occupied by a previous appointment. I am usually available at any time during the academic work day (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM). Also feel free to e-mail me with any questions at rhamilto@mc.edu.

IF YOU NEED SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS DUE TO LEARNING, PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, OR OTHER DISABILITIES, PLEASE CONTACT DR. BUDDY WAGNER IN THE COUNSELING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER. HE MAY BE REACHED BY PHONE AT (601) 925-3354 OR BY MAIL AT P.O. BOX 4063, CLINTON, MS 39058.

THE LAST DAY TO DROP A CLASS IS FRIDAY, MARCH 23. STUDENTS CANNOT WITHDRAW AFTER MARCH 23 UNLESS ALL OF THE THREE FOLLOWING CRITERIA ARE MET:
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
NO REFUNDS FOR DROPPING A SINGLE CLASS AFTER THE FIRST WEEK

Course Description:
An analysis of the factors that regulate animal populations.
Rationale for course:
Any understanding of living systems requires a knowledge of animals. An understanding of living systems sufficient for professional and preprofessional programs in the life sciences requires a rigorous knowledge of basic factors that regulate the distribution and abundance of animals, which is animal ecology. Animal Ecology thus fulfills the mission of the college through the concentrated study in specialized fields, in this case, the specialized field of Animal Ecology.
Learning objectives:
 
This is a basic course that will review fundamental processes and concepts like genetic variation, climate, and geography. Students will then learn the basic concepts and methods of analysis that have developed from the study of animal ecology, most specifically:
Resource allocation
Demography
Regulation of population growth
Sociality
The Ecological Niche
Interactions between populations

Competition
Predation
Parasitism
Mutualisms

The ecological community
Island biogeography


Evaluation:

Graduate:
Students will prepare 4 reviews of classic works in animal ecology, such as:
 
MacArthur, R. H. and E. R. Pianka. 1966. On optimal use of a patchy environment.

MacArthur, R. H. and Wilson, E. O. 1963. An equilibrium theory of insular zoogeography.

Elton. C. S. 1946. Competition and the structure of ecological communities.

Each of these reviews will be worth 5% of the final grade for a total of 20% of the final grade

Each student will present four classic papers in animal ecology. Each presentation will be worth 10% of the final grade for a total of 40% for the presentations.

Graduate students will write one midterm worth 10% of the final grade and one final worth 30% of the final grade.

Undergraduate:
Undergraduate students will each present two classic papers in ecology. Each undergraduate presentation will be worth 15% of the final grade.

Undergraduate students will submit written reviews of two classic papers in ecology. Each review will be worth 10% of the final grade.

There will be two midterms, each worth 15% of the final grade.

There will be a comprehensive final worth 20% of the final grade.
 

Nine sessions will be devoted to a complete review of the material in the textbook. Following the review of the textbook, sessions will be devoted to student presentations. We will not meet Feb 21 as I will be attending the Mississippi Academy of Sciences meetings. We will not meet March 14 as that is the week of March break.

Grading Scales

The standard grading system published in The Mississippi College Graduate or Undergraduate Bulletin will be used for the determination of final grades: The scales are:

Undergraduate:  A  90-100, B 80-90, C 70-80, D 60-70, F < 60
Graduate: A 90-100, B+ 85-90, B 80-85, C+ 75-80, C 70-75, D 60-70, F < 60
Expected Student Outcomes
Students will be expected to relate the theories of animal ecology (scientific explanations are called theories) to the observations from which those theories are generated. The textbook outlines the basic theories of animal ecology. The classic papers in ecology outline the kinds of observations that were used to generate those theories.
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."
Academic Integrity:
See The Mississippi College Graduate or Undergraduate Bulletin for what the university considers to be academically dishonest, the student's responsibility, and the consequences for academic dishonesty.
Missed Tests:
Makeups will be allowed only if PRIOR notification BY THE STUDENT is made to the instructor.
Resources to Teach the Course: