Ecology Lecture Website: http://www.fiu.edu/~gaisere/PCB3043/
Ecology Lecture Instructor: Evelyn Gaiser
Office Phone: 305-348-6145
Office Location: OE211
Office Hours: after class

Objectives:

This course will emphasize the integration and practical application of ideas and concepts from the Ecology lecture course. Emphasis will be placed on your ability to synthesize, articulate, and communicate concepts covered in the lab and lecture, in both written and oral form.

Course Description:

• This lab is conducted in weekly four-hour meetings (be prepared to stay for the entire 4-hours each week). Most labs will involve outside work, so be prepared to get hot and sweaty, wet and muddy, rained on, and even bitten by bugs every week. Some weeks you may want to bring a change of clothes and shower in the rec center after lab!
• Students must be prepared to perform laboratory tasks at each meeting.  Your attendance and participation in all lab exercises determine a substantial percentage of your lab grade (see below). Do not be late! Many of the labs will involve fieldwork away from the classroom, making it difficult or impossible for you to catch up (or even find your lab section) once lab has begun.

Required Texts:

1. The lab manual will be available for download (see schedule below).
2. Molles, Manuel C. 2008. Ecology: Concepts and Applications. 4th Edition. McGraw Hill.

Policies:

• Appropriate behavior and respect for other students and the TA is expected at all times by both students and the TA.
• All students must e-mail the TA with their FIU e-mail address, and check their e-mail accounts on a daily basis for messages about the course. Changes to class schedule, assignments and due dates may be announced by e-mail only. Any e-mail address changes are the student’s responsibility to report to the TA. Include PCB3043L and your name in the subject line of all e-mail.

Grading:

Reading Assignments:
You are required to read and prepare for each lab assignment prior to attending lab. Preparation for each week’s lab is essential to understanding the material that will be covered in the lab.

Quizzes:
Quizzes will be at the beginning of lab periods. The quiz will cover material from the previous lab as well as the reading assignment for the current lab. You will receive a 0 if you arrive in Lab after the quiz has been handed out. There will be no make-up quizzes given.

Lab Worksheets:
Worksheets answers must be double spaced, 10 point font and will be limited to three pages in length not including any required tables and graphs. Worksheets must be ON TIME on the day they are due; 10% of its points will be deducted if late and for EACH ADDITONAL DAY they are late.  Your TA will describe the details of the worksheets. 

Formal Lab Report:
One full lab report, in the style of a scientific manuscript, will be required of all students. You may write this report for one of the following: (1) the Population Ecology labs, (2) the Species Interactions labs, (3) the Community Ecology labs, or (4) the Ecosystem Ecology labs—this is your choice. See the appendix of your lab manual for example reports. Your ability to follow these guidelines will largely determine your grade. Your TA will describe the details of the formal lab report.

Everglades National Park Field Trip:
An all-day field trip to Everglades National Park is mandatory of all lab participants. The field trip will be scheduled for a Friday or a Saturday. Space for each trip will be limited; sign up for one of the available field trip dates early to assure that you will get your first choice.

Expectations and Suggestions for Success:
Student’s grades are generally reflective of the effort made to prepare for weekly labs. Prepared students have read and reflected upon the main points made in the assigned readings for each lab. Students who begin to work on their lab reports and worksheets the day that they are assigned have a greater opportunity to ask questions of the TA, are able to turn in their assignments on time, and generally get better grades. Often students that have initial difficulty with the course can still be successful. Interacting with your TA early in the semester outside of class is the best way to accomplish this.

Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a serious offence, and one that will not be taken lightly. Plagiarism can be intentional (copying another student’s work, collaborating too closely with another student) or unintentional (not citing all references, collaborating too closely with another student.) The best ways to avoid unintentional plagiarism are to reference all outside information, and to do all work on your own. If you have any questions about what is plagiarism, please consult your TA. Instructors may use detection software to determine if plaigiarism has taken place. All suspected acts of plagiarism will be investigated and taken to the FIU Grievance Committee. Plagiarism will result in your suspension or expulsion from the university. 

Schedule:

Other important dates:

• Tuesday, January 16: Drop/Add period ends
• Monday, March 12: Last day to drop a course with a DR grade

Syllabus and schedule subject to change by TA, all changes will be announced in class or via e-mail.

Last update: Friday, January 5, 2007 at 4:38 PM