Spring 2025 - BISC 407 D100

Population Dynamics (3)

Class Number: 2737

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    BISC 102, (BISC 204 or GEOG 215), and MATH 154, all with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An evaluation of factors influencing the natural fluctuation and regulation of plant and animal population numbers.

COURSE DETAILS:

Using a combination of theory and applied exercises students will explore various facets of population biology and evaluate the factors influencing the natural fluctuation and regulation of plant and animal populations.

Course Outline:
  • Population growth (exponential, logistic, age-structured: life table analysis & projection matrix) 
  • Stability, oscillations, chaos in pop dynamics 
  • Species interactions (competition, predator-prey, host-parasitoid, host-pathogen) 
  • Spatial distribution (population dispersion, source-sink dynamics, metapopulation) 
  • Population estimation 
  • Case studies

Grading

  • Labs/Tutorials 30%
  • Midterm exam 30%
  • Final exam 40%

REQUIREMENTS:

Effective immediately, the Department of Biological Sciences is adopting a mandatory mask policy for all areas under Biology’s control and in spaces elsewhere where Biology faculty teach, applying to everyone regardless of vaccination status.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Mathematical software will be used during lectures and tutorials (programming language still TBD)

REQUIRED READING:

Otto, SP and Day, T, 2007. A Biologist's Guide to Mathematical Modeling in Ecology and Evolution

RECOMMENDED READING:

Rockwood, L.L. 2006. Introduction to population ecology (SFU library, paperback)

Turchin, P. 2003. Complex population dynamics: a theoretical/empirical synthesis (SFU library, ebook)

Thompson, S.K. 2012. Sampling (SFU library, ebook)

Buckland, S.T., et al. 1993. Distance Sampling: Estimating Abundance of Biological Populations. Chapman and Hall, London.

Krebs, C.J. 1999. Ecological Methodology (ed 2)

Gotelli, Nicholas J., A Primer of Ecology

Stevens, M. H. H. 2009. A primer of ecology with R (SFU library, ebook)

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website 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

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.