Instructor: Neal D. Mundahl
Office: Pasteur Hall, Room 250
Telephone: (507) 457-5695
E-mail: nmundahl@winona.edu
Office hours: MWF 10:00-12:00, W 1:00-3:00; TR 2:00-3:00 or by appointment
Text: Essentials of Ecology by Townsend, Harper, & Begon
Goal and Objectives: The primary goal of this course is to familiarize you with the basic principles of organismal, population, community, and ecosystem ecology, with an emphasis on applied ecology. By the conclusion of the course, students will be able to:
1) explain the various biotic and abiotic forces acting on an organism in its natural environment,
2) determine the importance of these forces under varying conditions,
3) predict how human activities may alter the effects of these forces, and
4) evaluate the trade-offs occurring among our biological, social, political, and economic worlds.
Evaluation: Four lecture exams of equal value (mixed format) - 100 points each (400 points total)
Various problems and assignments - 100 points
Total for course: 500 points
Grading: 90-100% (450-500 points) = A, 80-89% (400-449 points) = B, 70-79% (350-399 points) = C, 60-69% (300-349 points) = D, <60% (0-299 points) = F
Tentative lecture outline:
Lecture topic / Text chapter
Introduction / 1
Natural, group, & individual selection / 2
Environmental factors & physiological ecology / 3
SEPTEMBER 20 **** EXAM 1 ****
Biomes & Aquatic Environments / 4
Population Change, Life History, & Intraspecific Competition / 5
Mutualism, Commensalism, & Parasitism / 7
OCTOBER 16 **** EXAM 2 ****
Species Richness / 10
NOVEMBER 13 **** EXAM 3 ****
Energy and Matter / 11
Sustainability / 12
Pollution / 13
Conservation / 14
FINALS WEEK: DECEMBER 12, 8:00 AM **** EXAM 4 ****