Ecology

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Ecology

• Lecture 1
• Introduction to Ecology

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In this lecture

• Welcome Introduction
• What is Ecology?
• How does Ecology relate to other natural
  sciences?
• How does ecology relate to your program (i.e.,
  Environmental Tech)?
• Overview of the course content
• My expectations evaluation
• Elaborate on ecological definitions
• How we conduct ecological research

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Welcome

• Dr. Brian Hickey
• Research scientist (Biologist) at the St.
  Lawrence River institute of Environmental
  Sciences
• E-mail bats_at_riverinstitute.ca
• Tel [phone] Ext 225
• Office hours--by appointment or drop in and take
  your chances
• www.riverinstitute.ca

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My Background - behavioural ecologist
M. Sc. York University
B. Sc. Queens University
Ph. D. York University
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C.V.

• Ph.D. 1993
• 1994 -1999 Coordinated RAP for Ministry of
  Natural Resources, RRCA, Environment Canada
• 1999 Present Research Scientist at the St.
  Lawrence River Institute

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Current Research Interests
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Teaching

• Ecology
• Statistics
• Fresh Water Ecology II
• 1st Year field course
• Anatomy and Physiology (Laurentian U. Nursing)

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What is Ecology?

• Definitions of ecology vary slightly
• Your text (Townsend et al. 2003. Essentials of
  Ecology defines ecology as
• the scientific study of the distribution and
  abundance of organisms and the interactions that
  determine distribution and abundance

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What is Ecology?

• An ecologist is a scientist who studies ecology
  using scientific methods
• Environmentalists are not necessarily ecologists
  and ecologists are not necessarily
  environmentalists

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Ecology

• In some ways is a new science
• Modern ecology began in the 1960s
• In contrast, microbiologymany techniques date
  back 100s of years
• But ecological understanding was important the
  earliest human societies
• Ecological phenomena are complex and highly
  variable --many phenomena are poorly understood

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Ecological phenomena are complex and highly
variable

• Chemists can predict exactly what will occur then
  two well studied chemicals meet.
• The reactions will always be the same under
  standard temperature and pressure.
• The reaction rate will vary in a predictable way
  as temperature changes.

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Ecological phenomena are complex and highly
variable

• In contrast, when two species meet, the
  interactions may be much less predictable.
• When two species (a predator and prey) meet the
  reactions will vary according to the
• Hunger level or the predator
• Level of alertness of the prey
• Motivational states of the animals
• Genetic makeup of the two individuals
• And many other factors.

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Ecological phenomena are complex and highly
variable

• This makes ecology both challenging and
  interesting.
• But it means that this course will also be filled
  with cases where we dont have complete
  explanations for the phenomena we are studying

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Ecology
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How this course relates to the Environmental Tech
Program?

• Heavy focus in this course the on drinking water
  and water quality
• We derive drinking water from natural ecosystems
• We also use natural ecosystems to assimilate our
  waste water
• An understanding of ecology, therefore is
  essential to preserving and protecting are water
  resources

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We need to understand how ecosystems function

• To predict how ecosystem changes will effect
  water quality or quantity
• e.g., climate change
• To predict human activities will affect
  ecosystems
• e.g., deforestation, water diversions, effluent

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This course will also provide

• An overview of ecology and a theoretical
  background for those who will work at
• Conservation Authorities
• Resource Management Agencies
• Environmental consulting companies
• Environmental conservation groups
• Go on to pursue higher levels of post-secondary
  education

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The challenge

• Ecology is a broad subject
• Our understanding of ecological processes is
  always changing or improving
• Only one term to cover a vast subject

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Ecology
Small scale
Large scale
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Course Content

• Evolutionhow animals and plants change in
  response to natural selection
• Abiotic factors and how they influence
  individuals and populations
• Nutrient cycles
• Soil ecology

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Course Content

• Behavioural Ecology
• Territoriality
• Learning
• Reproductive behaviour
• Plant Ecology
• Population Ecology
• Population dynamics
• Competition
• Predator prey interaction

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Course Content

• Community Ecology
• Food webs
• biological diversity
• Invasive species
• Sampling Design
• Designing research and monitoring programs
• Evolution, systematics and taxonomy
• Field identification

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Evaluation

• Exams (mid-term and final)
• Three components
• Short answer
• Short paragraph
• Essay
• Seminarsbased on a peer reviewed paper that you
  will read
• Projectsindividual or group

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Expectations

• Attend classes
• Know all the material presented in class
• Read textI will not read the text to you!
• Hand in assignments on time

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Expectations contd

• Think
• Integrate
• Apply material to novel situations
• Not just repeat

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Evaluation

• Lectures (Exams mid term 25, final 25)
• Seminars (25)
• Individual field/lab projects (25)

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My goal is to produce technicians

• Who can think for themselves
• Be useful in the lab or field
• Adapt to novel situations
• Make reasonable decisions on their own
• Communicate
• Write
• Communicate orally

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To achieve this goal

• The course has a lecture component
• theory
• Independent lab/field projects
• Independent thinking writing
• Hands on experience
• Field trips/labs
• Seminars
• Oral communication critical thinking

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Lectures

• I will not lecture strictly from the text
• I will use
• Current literature
• Classic studies
• A variety of texts review papers
• The text is meant to supplement the lectures
• I will give you my view of the subject based on
  my own experience
• The text will provide an alternate approach to
  the subject

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Text

• Townsend et al. 2003. Essentials of Ecology
• Available at bookstore

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Lab component

• Largely independent lab/field project
• Possibly some additional field excursions/labs
• Two intensive field courses (1st and 2nd year)
  complement this course

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A basic understanding of Ecology

• Is essential for many of the kinds of work
  environmental technicians will undertake
• Pest control
• Species recovery/habitat restoration plans
• Ecotoxicology
• Environmental assessments
• Mitigating environmental impacts
• Setting exploitation quotas

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Why is a good base of ecological theory essential?

• Examples of conservation gone wrong
• Buffers on tile drained land
• Duck box programs
• RAP fish objectives
• Perch population concerns

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Riparian buffers
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RAP fish objectives
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