Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2022 - BISC 360W D100

Techniques in Ecology and Evolution (3)

Class Number: 1638

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 7 – Dec 6, 2022: 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-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Learning Objectives

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

This course outline is tentative and subject to change.

Delivery Method: Lecture: Synchronous (recorded), in-Person; Lab: Synchronous, in-Person.

Grading

  • Worksheets and quizzes: 45%
  • Papers (write-ups of labs/experiments): 55%

NOTES:

"Masks are required in lectures and recommended in labs."

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Laptop computer with Microsoft Excel

Students will be required to purchase access to an online software package for one lab (estimated cost of $6 USD). Details will be provided by the instructors.

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.


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