Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2020 - BISC 360W D100

Techniques in Ecology and Evolution (3)

Class Number: 1323

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • 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:

Note: This course includes on campus labs September - early November.

This course is writing-intensive and some labs include an outdoor component, rain or shine. Lectures and labs will be delivered synchronously through a mix of in-person and remote instruction. All lectures will be delivered online, while lab activities (primarily in the first half of the course) that require in-person instruction will follow physical distancing guidelines while in the lab or outdoors. For students unable to attend in-person lab activities due to the current pandemic, alternate activities will be planned to satisfy the learning objectives.

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 35%
  • Papers (write-ups of labs/experiments) 65%

NOTES:

This course outline is tentative and subject to change.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Webcam and microphone, Computer

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:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/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

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).