Course Information and Syllabus 
                                              Stony Brook University 
                                           College of Arts and Sciences 
                                       Department of Ecology and Evolution 
                              BEE 550 Fundamentals of Ecology 
                                                   Fall 2018 
                                                          
              Instructors: Jessica Gurevitch, Stephen Baines, Resit Akçakaya 
              Time: Tuesday & Thursday, 2:30 - 4:30 pm 
              Location: Life Sciences 648 
              See blackboard for instructor office location, hours and contact information. 
        
              Texts:  
                 Begon, M., Harper, J.L., & Townsend, C.R. Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems. 4th 
                    edition. Wiley-Blackwell (2006).  
                                                 rd    th
                 Gotelli, N. J. A Primer of Ecology.  3  or 4  ed. Sinauer Assoc. (2001; 2008). 
               
              Objective: By the end of this course, the students will have mastery of key scientific 
              concepts, approaches and theories in ecology, at various levels of organization from ecology 
              of individuals and populations to ecology of communities, landscapes and ecosystems; and 
              will have an in-depth knowledge of current research directions in ecology. 
               
              Grading: Three take-home assignments (12% each), in-class participation (12%), a mid-term 
              exam (26%), and a final exam (26%).  Both exams will be in class.  Take-home assignments 
              will include problems sets and/or essay questions, and will be due one week after being 
              handed out. 
               
              Course description: This course covers a great deal of information, and integrates across 
              many subareas of Ecology.  Almost each lecture could be the focus of a separate course.  
              Therefore, it is important that you keep up on the readings with each lecture.  Instructors 
              will provide you with (1) papers that are required readings for each lecture, and (2) 
              additional references for you to follow up on areas that are of particular interest.  If you have 
              not had extensive course work in Ecology, reading the text before class is essential.  Even if 
              you have had many courses in Ecology, the text will remind you important information and 
              will provided needed background for thinking about material in more depth.  We assume 
              that you will read any required readings prior to the lecture in which they are discussed and 
              we will ask questions in class to clarify what you have read, if needed.  In-class participation 
              grades will be in terms of keeping up with the assigned reading; being prepared to answer 
              questions on material from previous classes; and ideas, questions, in-depth comments and 
              general participation in class discussions. 
               
              Class schedule: Tentative class schedule and book chapters assignments given below.  
              Students must check Blackboard each week for updated schedule and reading assignments, 
              including assigned articles for discussion in class. 
               
               
               
               
                     
                   Class    Day       Date     Instruc- Lecture topic                                                     Book Chapters* 
                                                 tor 
                    1      Tue     28 Aug       JG      Intro: Science, evidence, and replication                          
                    2      Thu     30 Aug       JG      Plant C balance and functional ecology                             
                    3      Tue      4 Sep       SB      Water relations and thermal energy balance                         
                    4      Thu      6 Sep       SB      Nutrition; material acquisition and MTE                            
                    5      Tue     11 Sep       RA  Demography: population growth and variability                         Gotelli 1 
                    6      Thu     13 Sep       RA  Demography: age structure & life history                              Gotelli 3; Begon 4 
                    7      Tue     18 Sep       RA  Intraspecific competition and density dependence                      Gotelli 2; Begon 5 
                    8      Thu     20 Sep       RA  Dispersal & metapopulations                                           Gotelli 4; Begon 6 
                    9      Tue     25 Sep       RA  Landscape ecology                                                      
                   10      Thu     27 Sep       RA  Interspecific competition                                             Gotelli 5; Begon 8 
                   11      Tue      2 Oct       RA  Predator-prey dynamics; trophic chains                                Gotelli 6; Begon 9&10 
                   12      Thu      4 Oct       RA  Applications - PVA; MSY                                               Begon 7 
                           Tue      9 Oct               NO CLASS: Fall Break                                               
                   13      Thu      11 Oct      RA  Applications - Red List; Climate change                                
                           Tue      16 Oct              EXAM (covers lectures 1-13)                                        
                   14      Thu      18 Oct      JG      Communities:history, definition & description                     Begon 16 
                   15      Tue      23 Oct      JG      Communities: succession & assembly                                Begon 19 & 21 
                   16      Thu      25 Oct      JG      Communities: patterns and maintenance of diversity                 
                   17      Tue      30 Oct      JG      Communities: Predation and food webs                              Begon 20 
                   18      Thu      1 Nov       JG      Parasitism; diseases; positive interactions; mycorrhizae  Begon 12&13 
                   19      Tue      6 Nov       JG      Research synthesis and evidence-based conservation                 
                   20      Thu      8 Nov       JG      Applications - Invasive biology discussion                         
                   21      Tue     13 Nov       SB      Global Climates & Biomes                                           
                   22      Thu     15 Nov       SB      Macroecology/Biogeography                                          
                   23      Tue     20 Nov       SB      Meta-communities and phylogenetic community                       Begon 21.1-21.5 
                                                        structure 
                           Thu     22 Nov               NO CLASS: Thanksgiving                                             
                   24      Tue     27 Nov       SB      Intro to Ecosystems                                                
                   25      Thu     29 Nov       SB      Production                                                        Begon 17 
                   26      Tue      4 Dec        SB      Nutrient cycles 1                                                 Begon 18 
                   27      Thu      6 Dec        SB      Nutrient cycles 2                                                  
                                    TBA                  EXAM (covers lectures 14-27)                                        
                    *For each lecture, additional reading assignments will be posted on Blackboard. 
                     
                     
                    ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT 
                    Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for 
                    all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Faculty 
                    are required to report any suspected instance of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary.  
                    For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic 
                    dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website.  The minimum punishment for 
                    plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty in this course will be a grade of zero on that 
                    assignment or exam. 
                     
       CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT 
       Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other 
       people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of Judicial Affairs any disruptive behavior 
       that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, and/or 
       inhibits students' ability to learn. 
        
       DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES (DSS) STATEMENT 
       If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your 
       course work, please contact Disability Support Services (631) 632-6748 or 
       http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/dss/.  They will determine with you what accommodations 
       are necessary and appropriate.  All information and documentation is confidential.  Students who 
       require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs with their 
       professors and Disability Support Services.  For procedures and information go to the following 
       website:  http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/fire/disabilities.