Ecology and Population Biology 314

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Ecology and Population Biology 314
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Professor Dr. Scott Nuismer
Office 266C Life Sciences South Office Hours
Tu,Thrs 1200-200pm
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Teaching Assistant Jeremy Yoder
e-mail jbyoder_at_gmail.com Office Hours Monday,
1130-1230 or by appointment
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Course web site
http//www.webpages.uidaho.edu/snuismer/Nuismer_L
ab/314.htm

• Syllabus (note that there are two slightly
  different versions)
• Lectures (posted the night before class)
• Laboratories (all posted on web now)
• Exam practice questions (posted 1 week in
  advance)

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Supplementary texts
A Primer of Ecology 3rd edition N. J.
Gotelli ? 36 on Amazon
Evolutionary Analysis 3rd edition S. A.
Freeman J. C. Herron ? 100 on Amazon
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Parts of the course

• Lectures
• Laboratories
• Exams

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Lectures

• Much of the lecture material will not be in the
  supplementary readings
• - The lecture material stands alone, the
  supplementary readings do not
• Material in supplementary readings NOT presented
  in lectures will
• NOT be on exams
• Lectures will be broken up by potential exam
  questions
• Questions are encouraged

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Laboratories (Begin January 23 or 26)

• Location TLC 123
• Based on mathematical analysis and computer
  simulations using Populus
• Lab write ups
• - Due in the next lab period (even if it is a
  review)
• - Working together is encouraged. Copying is
  not!
• - Write ups must be word processed (not
  hand-written)
• Primary literature report
• Exam week laboratories will be review sessions
• No laboratory exams. Laboratory material will be
  on lecture exams
• Reading should be completed before the lab!

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Exams

• Five 1 hour exams. Your grade is determined by
  the best four
• All exams are cumulative
• Laboratory material and readings from the
  current literature
• will be covered.
• No make up exams without a written, university
  approved excuse
• Re-grades will only be considered within 5 days

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Grading
gt 90 is an A gt 80 is an B gt 70 is an C
Grades are NOT rounded or curved. 89.999999 is a
B, not an A!
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What is population biology?
Plasmodium
Anopheles
What factors determine a species geographic range?
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What is population biology?
Plasmodium
Why does genetic structure exist? What are its
consequences?
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What is population biology?
What determines how many species exist within a
given region?
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What is population biology?
Food?
Predators?
What regulates population sizes?
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What is population biology?
The official world record for the oldest human
122 years, 164 days -- Jeanne Calment of France
113th birthday party
Semi-official world record for oldest organism
"Methuselah" at 4,767 years.
What maintains variation in life histories?
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One last reminder
If something doesnt make sense, ask a question!