Required and recommended texts and/or materials

The recommended textbook is:

Begon M, Howarth RW, Townsend CR (2014) Essentials of ecology. 4th edition. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Cambridge (This is available at the library in special reserve or alternatively can be purchased at the Co-op bookshop). The 3rd (2008) edition is also acceptable, if you can come by it second hand.

Other text books also available in special reserve:

• Begon M, Harper JL, Townsend CR (1996) Ecology: individuals, populations and communities. 3rd Edition. Blackwell Science, Boston.
• Krebs CJ (2001) Ecology: the experimental analysis of distribution and abundance. 5^th Edition. Benjamin Cummings, Publishers, San Francisco, London
• Krebs CJ (2008) The ecological world view. 5^th Edition. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood
• Ricklefs R, Miller GL (2000) Ecology. 4^th Edition. WH Freeman and Co. New York.
• Underwood AJ (1997) Experiments in ecology: their logical design and interpretation using analysis of variance. Cambridge University Press, New York.

Unit web page

PowerPoint slides as PDF documents, lecture recordings (on Echo360), unit readings, copies of all unit hand-outs and helpful resources for completion of assessments will be available through iLearn. Consequently, it is strongly recommended that you interact with the BIOL227 iLearn site regularly. To access the online unit, go to https://iLearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/ and type in your Macquarie OneID Username and password.

New to iLearn? You can find out more at: http://www.mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/

Experiencing difficulties? Visit: http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

Classes

The unit consists of 2 lectures per week (available to external students via Echo360) and either

• a 4 hour practical per week (weeks 1-6) for internal students or
• a weekend on-campus session for externals (Sat 15 & Sun 16 August)

There is a compulsory field trip to Smiths Lake in the September vacation that all students enrolled in this unit must attend. Students who cannot attend the fieldtrip should NOT enrol in this unit.

• Lectures: Monday 3 pm (E7B T5) AND Tuesday 10 am (E7B T5)
• Practicals (internal students): Tuesday 2-6 pm and Wednesday 9-1 pm OR (weeks 1-6 only)
• On campus session (external students): 15-16 August (9am -5pm)
• Field trip (compulsory for ALL students): A: 17-21 September OR B: 21-25 September

Lecture timetable  ***NB: All internal students are expected to attend every lecture

Part 1. Ecological Methods and Organisms and their environment

WEEK 1

27^th July                        1. Ecology: what is it and how is it done? (LB: Dr Linda Beaumont)

28^th July                        2. Conditions, resources and the niche concept (LB)

WEEK 2

3^rd August                     3. Distributions  (LB)

4^th August                     4. An introduction to ecological field sampling (KM: Dr Katherine McClellan)

WEEK 3

10^th August                   5. Global patterns of productivity    (LB)

11^th August                   6. Effects of environment on life history (LB)

WEEK 4

17^th August                   7. Population growth and intraspecific competition           (LB)

Part 2.  Interactions among species

18^th August                   8. Interspecific competition (LB)

WEEK 5

24^th August                   9.  Predation (LB)

25^th August                   10. Parasitism and disease (Dr Michelle Power)

WEEK 6                     

1^st  September               11. Facilitation (LB)

Part 3. Communities and ecosystems

2^nd  September              12. Describing community structure: diversity and species richness (LB)

WEEK 7                     

7^th September               13. The more the merrier: why biodiversity matters (KM)

field trip preparation…

8^th September               14. An introduction to the Smith’s Lake environment (KM)

WEEK 8

28^th September             15. Processes influencing community structure: disturbance and succession (KM)

29^th September             16. Processes influencing community structure: island biogeography (KM)

WEEK 9

6^th October                    17. The flux of energy through food webs (KM)

7^th October                    18. The flux of matter through food webs (KM)

WEEK 10

12^th October                  19. Spatial subsidies: another time, another place (KM)

Part 4. Applied ecological issues

13^th October                  20. Ecological impact assessment (KM)

WEEK 11

19^th October                  20. Restoration ecology (KM)

20^th October                  21. Invasive species and their management (KM)

WEEK 12

26^th October                  22. Managed ecosystems: agriculture, fisheries and forestry  (KM)

27^th October                  23. Global climate change    (LB)

WEEK 13

2^nd November                Exam discussion, revision, 300-level unit information  (LB/KM)                  

3^rd November                No lecture – personal study for the exam

Practical classes

For all practical sessions you must be wearing covered shoes to be allowed entry to the labs and there is strictly no eating or drinking.

Timetable for internal students

Due to renovations, the location for pracs is subject to change. Please ensure that you check iLearn prior to coming to prac classes. External students will be expected to read the timetable on iLearn prior to attending the on-campus session.

Week 1            28-29 July                               Practical induction and Niche Prac   

Week 2            4-5 August                              Group Practical Part 1

Week 3            11-12 August                          Group Practical Part 2

Week 4            18-19 August                          Group Practical Part 3

Week 5            25-26 August                          Oral Presentations

Week 6            2-3 September                        Oral Presentations

Practical induction

Please meet at the Biology Tea Room (E8A 280) to run through some safety issues pertaining to the pracs in weeks 2-4. We will also hold a question and answer session on sign-up, payment and requirements for the Smiths Lake field trip. We will then go to our labs to conduct a modelling prac based on species’ fundamental and realised niches.

Group Practical weeks 2-4

The practicals during the first half of the semester are focused around the concept of problem-based learning. In Week 2, you will be taken for a walk around the campus and the nearby Ecology Reserve to introduce you to a number of ecosystems. During the walk, you will make observations regarding the distribution and abundance of organisms, from which you will develop research hypotheses. After returning to the lab you will form a group of 3-4 students, decide on a single hypothesis that you will test, and come up with the research plan. The plans will be discussed by the whole class so there is an opportunity for feedback. Once each plan is finalised, you will come up with a list of necessary equipment. In Week 3, the research plan will be carried out. In Week 4, there will be a tutorial on graphing and statistical analysis. You will have time to collate and process your results in your group. Full prac notes will be provided in the first week.