This is the general on-line syllabus for Biology 205 - Prinicples of Ecology at Old Dominion University.  The course is generally offered during the  fall semester; the tentative schedule at the end will give you a general idea of topic coverage and sequence.  You may also wish to check out the study guide for more details about course content. 

Students enrolled in the course should have the current semester's syllabus, available here as a PDF file.
 
  • Instructor, office, office hours
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  • Expectations
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  • Text and other resources
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  • Difficulty, special needs, changes
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  • Evaluation
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  • Hints for maximizing performance 
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  • Grading
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  • E-mail accounts, WWW  etc.
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  • Honor code
    		•
  • Tentative schedule
    		•
  • Course objectives
    		•

    [ top ] [Ecology home] [Dr. K home] [ ODU Biology ] [ Old Dominion University ]
    INSTRUCTOR, OFFICE AND OFFICE HOURS: 
    Dr. Kerry S. Kilburn - MGB 302-A, (voice) 683-5680 
    e-mail: kkilburn@odu.edu (work); kkilburn@infi.net (home)
    Office hours vary by semester

    TEXT AND OTHER RESOURCES:
    Molles,  Ecology: Concepts and Applications

    This course has a WWW site (http://www.lions.odu.edu/~kkilburn/ecohome.htm)
     It includes links to course materials (lecture notes in both Word Perfect and Adobe Acrobat formats; on-line syllabus and study guide) and to other resources relevant to the course. 

    EVALUATION: 
    Your grade in this course will be determined by your performance on the following assignments:

    1. Lecture exams: three lecture exams worth 100 pts. each (three "mid-terms" and one final) will be given. Exams will assess your understanding of facts and concepts as well as your ability to apply facts and concepts to novel situations.  Exam dates are indicated on the course schedule and will be taken at the Learning Assessment Lab (“Testing Center” in the Gornto building; 683-3170).  You will need to provide your own scantrons and number 2 pencils for all exams.  I will drop the lowest of the three “midterm” exam scores.  No makeup exams will be given unless you have an ongoing, irreconcilable conflict with the exam dates and/or a legitimate reason for missing two exams.

    2.  Weekly quizzes will be given in class at the end of the period and will be worth 5 points each.  The questions (and format) will be similar to those on the lecture exams.  I will use your top 10 quiz scores in computing your final grade.  No makeup quizzes will be given.

    3.  The final exam will be worth 100 points and will be partially comprehensive.  It may not be used as one of your “dropped” exam scores.  The general format will be the same as for the lecture exams; you will need a scantron and number 2 pencil.  The final will be given in the classroom on the scheduled exam date. If you miss the final exam for a legitimate reason (illness, family emergency, or inability to travel due to weather), you must notify me the day of the final and arrange to make up the exam within 24 hours. 

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    GRADING: 
    Your grade will based on the following scale: 
      90.0 - 100 % =A
      80.0 - 89.9% = B
      70.0 - 79.9% = C
      60.0 - 69.9 = D
      < 60.0 = F
    I do not grade on a curve, nor do I provide extra-credit assignments. If a student receives an anomalously low score on a single exam, I reserve the right to weight that exam less heavily. If, at the end of the semester, your grade falls on a "borderline", I reserve the right to take improvement, effort, and class participation into account in determining your final grade. 
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    MISSED EXAMS: 
    In general, missed exams will used as low scores to be dropped.  If a second exam is missed, it may be made up only in the event of a legitimate problem (i.e., family or work emergency, illness, inability to travel due to weather). In order to make up an exam, you must notify me the day of the exam; arrangements for making up the exam will be made on a case-by-case basis. The final exam may be taken early for any of the above reasons; you must notify me no later than two weeks prior to the final exam in order to do so. Missed finals may be made up within 24 hours; again, you must contact me the day of the final to make the necessary arrangements.

    HONOR CODE: 
    By taking this course, you agree to adhere to Old Dominion University's honor code. Cheating on exams and plagiarism in written work will not be tolerated; infractions will be dealt with according to University policy.

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    COURSE OBJECTIVES: 
    The primary objective of this course is to allow you to become familiar with the scope of ecology and to master its basic facts, principles, and concepts. Our approach will include a mix of theory (including a variety of mathematical, verbal, and graphical models of important ecological processes), field and lab techniques as presented in the text, and basic natural history. The group project will provide a chance for you to apply the principles you've been learning to a specific topic related to conservation and resource use; it will also allow you to practice and improve your writing and oral communications skills. 

    EXPECTATIONS: 
    You should plan on spending a minimum of two hours out of class for every hour you spend in class  preparing for this class. That time includes skimming each section of the text before it's covered in class; reviewing and/or rewriting lecture notes; re-reading text material in depth; and preparing questions over any material with which you need additional help. I expect that you'll need another hour or two each week once you begin to work on your group project; you may also need additional time to prepare for exams. This is not a formula for receiving an "A" in the course -- remember that your grade is based on demonstration of learning, not on time or effort. I will offer as much individual assistance as I can -- but remember that you need to let me know if you need my help!

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    IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY: 
    If you are having any difficulty -- whether it's with specific course content or with anything else I can help with -- please don't hesitate to ask for my help. Remember also that you have access to a variety of student services on campus; I'm more than willing to help you locate those as necessary. 

    IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL NEEDS: 
    Please inform me as soon as possible of any special needs you might have. 

    CHANGES:

    I reserve the right to make reasonable changes to the syllabus following timely notification of the students. 
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    HELPFUL HINTS: 
    For most students, the best way to maximize academic performance is to develop a consistent, regular program of preparation, review, and study and to STICK WITH IT. That means setting aside specific times each week to "preview" upcoming material from the text and to review previous material from the text and lecture. With a regular, consistent study program, test preparation becomes much more effective and much less traumatic. Although none of the strategies included here will guarantee your success in the course, they have proven helpful to many of my students in a variety of classes. You might consider trying several of the following until you work out the study style that works best for you. 
    • Tape the lectures and listen to them in the car, at home, etc. for review.
    • Ask questions in class -- there's no such thing as a silly question!
    • Rewrite your lecture notes, filling in details and concepts from the text.
    • Ask questions in class -- your classmates will thank you for it.
    • Test yourself by making up questions and answering them .
    • Ask questions in class -- let me know when something's not clear!
    • Use flash cards to study vocabulary whenever you've got a few minutes.
    • Ask questions in class -- let me know you're awake and aware!
    • Study in a group; take turns explaining material to each other. 
    • Come to my office hours as often as you need to for any help you think I can offer.
    • If you like surfing, check out the academic success links from the home page.
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    E-MAIL, WWW, BULLETIN BOARD: 
    E-mail is one of the best ways to communicate with me, so it's a good idea to sign up for a student e-mail account if you don't already have one.  You can sign up for your account at any of the networked computers in the library or in most of the computer labs around campus. Although we are attempting to enter the computer age, the class bulletin board is still the kind made of cork and mounted in the third-floor hallway down from my office. I will post information there throughout the session; please be sure to check there regularly for announcements. You may also use the board to communicate with group members if you wish.

    I will periodically assign readings from the WWW, and have developed a course home page with links relevant to the major topics we're covering as well as resources I think you might find helpful for your projects.  If you know of good links that should be included, let me know.

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    TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (based on Fall 2000)
    Week /Date /Topics /Text
    1 /8/28 /Introduction; The abiotic environment and natural history /1-3
    2/ 9/4 /(Labor Day); Abiotic environment, natural history, cont’d /1-3
    3/ 9/11 /Ecology of individuals /4
    4/ 9/18** /**EXAM 1 9/21; The ecology of populations I: distribution and abundance /7
    5/ 9/25 /The ecology of populations I cont’d; II: dynamics /7, 8
    6/ 10/2 /Population dynamics cont’d; III: growth /8, 9
    7/ 10/9 /Population growth cont’d; Ecological interactions among species /9, 10
    8/ 10/16** /** EXAM 2 10/19; Competition /10
    9/ 10/23 /Exploitation /11
    10/ 10/30 /Commensalism and mutualism 1/2
    11/ 11/7 /Community structure I: species abundance and diversity /13
    12/ 11/14** /**Exam 3 11/2; Food webs /14
    13/ 11/21  /Thanksgiving holiday; Primary productivity and energy flow /15
    14/ 11/28 /Succession and stability /17
    15/ 12/4 /Nutrient cycling and retention 16
    16 12/11 FINAL EXAM – Wed 12/13 at 8:30 a.m. 
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    Kerry S. Kilburn, Ph.D
    Department of Biological Sciences
    Old Dominion University
    Norfolk, VA  23529