Spring 2025 - BISC 407 D100
Population Dynamics (3)
Class Number: 2737
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
BurnabyJan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Leithen M'Gonigle
lmgonigl@sfu.ca
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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:
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.