Fall 2017 - BISC 360W D100

Techniques in Ecology and Evolution (3)

Class Number: 4447

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 5 – Dec 4, 2017: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Erin Barley
    ebarley@sfu.ca
    778-782-4972
    Office: B9234
  • Instructor:

    Elizabeth Elle
    eelle@sfu.ca
    1 778 782-4592
    Office: B8234
  • Prerequisites:

    BISC 202, BISC 204 (or GEOG 215), and STAT 201, all with C- or better.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A practical lab- and field-based introduction to techniques in ecology and evolution. Students will collect, analyze, and interpret data, using appropriate experimental design and statistical methods. Specific topics include: sampling and describing communities, evaluating spatial patterns, investigating animal behaviour, population estimation, estimating competition, and phylogenetic inference. Students who have taken BISC 404 Plant Ecology may not take BISC 360 for further credit. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course is writing-intensive. It’s a new course, and so some experiments will be….experimental! Contact Elizabeth if you have questions.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:


Learning Outcomes:

This course aims to foster the following skills and qualities in students:         At a minimum, students should be able to:
Experimental design
  • design appropriate methods to collect observational or experimental data to address hypotheses
  • critique methods in published scientific papers
Interpretation of data
  • perform statistical analyses of observational and experimental studies
  • present results as tables or figures
  • interpret results of experiments
Reading skills
  • read and critically evaluate ecological studies in the primary literature
  • provide a synthesis of the results obtained from a number of separate studies
Writing skills
  • introduce a hypothesis to be tested, citing literature appropriately
  • interpret findings and compare them to existing literature

Grading

  • Worksheets and quizzes 45%
  • Lab report -Methods/Results only 10%
  • Lab report - Full Report 1 20%
  • Lab report - Full Report 2 25%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

No textbook required. Readings from the primary literature will be made available on Canvas, and lab handouts will be provided as part of your course registration fee.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS