BI 110 - Ecology and Field Biology

1. Describe the differences in the structure and function of different types of ecosystems
2. Describe how organisms interact with the physical and biological environments
3. Summarize ecological data and present ecological information in figures and tables
4. Relate ecological concepts to environmental problem solving
5. Use proper field techniques for sampling plant and animal populations and collecting field data

Knisely, K. 2013. A student handbook for writing in Biology. Sinauer Associates Inc. Sunderland, MA.

Smith, T., and R. Smith., 2015. Elements of Ecology 9th ed. Pearson/ Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco CA.

Smith, R. and T. Smith. 2001. Ecology and Field Biology, 6th ed. Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco CA.

Conduct of Course:
This course consists of approximately 42 hours of lecture and 28 hours of lab.

The lecture is a formalized classroom situation where the instructor discusses pertinent topics and students normally take notes. Students are encouraged to participate in class discussions, complete in class activities and to ask questions to clarify subject areas. The lectures concentrate on ecological terminology and foundational principles.

The laboratory component is conducted in the field. Students will use a variety of sampling techniques to study the ecological attributes of a variety local community and habitat types. Labs are held regardless of weather, and, therefore, students must be prepared for inclement conditions.

Classroom and laboratory attendance is considered vital to the learning process and as significant to the students’ evaluation as examinations and reports, therefore absenteeism is recorded.

• Students having a combination of excused and/or unexcused absence of 20 percent or higher for the scheduled course hours can be required to withdraw and would then automatically receive a “RW” (required withdrawal) for the course, regardless of any other evaluation results. (RW is a failing grade).
• An excused absence is one that is verified with your instructor. Verification should be prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence. Verification of the absence may take the form of a note from your doctor/College nurse regarding illness, or a note from another instructor regarding a field trip or other activity, or authorization by your instructor following an in-person meeting. Be sure to contact your instructor and ask what they will require from you as verification for each absence. An unexcused absence is anything NOT verified by the instructor prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence.

It is the students’ responsibility to know their own absentee record.

Normal hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with the potential for evening courses, exams, or extended field trips. Students are expected to be available for classes during these times.

Generative AI use: Where reasonable students will be encouraged to use Generative AI as a learning tool and in a collaborative manner. This is meant to be used to enhance student learning and understanding, improving the student’s capacity to complete work and think critically. Content created by generative AI programming including but not limited to Chat GPT, Microsoft Copilot and Grammarly for example should never be copied into a submissible assignment unless explicitly told to do so in the assignment instructions. In such cases it will be expected that students will reference the Generative AI used and provide a copy of the prompts.

Content of Course:
The following is a list of the material to be covered in the lectures:

1. Introduction to Ecology
2. The Ecosystem and Productivity
3. The Physical Environment
4. The Community
5. The Organism and its Environment
6. Intraspecific Population Ecology
7. Population Interactions

The following lab topics are conducted primarily in the field. They may not be conducted in the order listed on account of weather conditions and/or depending on term calendar.

Grassland: a survey of a grassland community introducing common sampling methods and experimental designs.

Pond: a contrast of the ecological processes and biodiversity of two pond ecosystems.

River: a survey of a river ecosystem, documentation of components, and relation to system health including the use of excel.

Terrestrial Ecosystem Monitoring: a practice of established terrestrial ecosystem monitoring protocols in a forested community.

Ecosystem Comparison: an in-depth look at plant, structural, and soil characteristics that distinguish two ecosystems.

Population Ecology: a contrast of the biotic and abiotic elements of animal habitats, including population density estimation, species diversity indexing, and population change modeling.
Course Assessments:
The final grade is an aggregate of the following components:

To obtain credit for this course:

• All lab reports and projects must be completed and handed in.
• All lab activities must be attended.
• Students who are absent during in-class assignments and quizzes will not typically be allowed to make up these exercises for marks but may be required to complete them for learning practice.
• A minimum grade point of D (50%) is required.

Note: Late assignments of any type must still be submitted, a deduction of 10% per day (including weekends) will be applied up to a maximum of 30% then a 0 will be assigned.

• Official final grades will be available on My Lakeland. Grades posted in D2L should be considered interim grades.  
• “Lakeland College is committed to the highest academic standards. Students are expected to be familiar with Lakeland College policies and to abide by these policies. Violations of these policies are considered to be serious and may result in suspension or expulsion from the College.”  

1. A minimum grade of D (50%) (1.00) is required to pass this course.

Students must maintain a cumulative grade of C (GPA - Grade Point Average of 2.00) in order to qualify to graduate.

Every effort has been made to ensure that information in this course outline is accurate at the time of publication. Lakeland College reserves the right to change courses if it becomes necessary so that course content remains relevant.

In such cases, the instructor will give students clear and timely notice of changes.

No part of this course outline may be reproduced in any form or resold without written permission from Lakeland College.

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