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Course Code: 
24371
Course Outline: 

AN-NAJAH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Science-Department of Biology and Biotechnology

Course Outline-Ecology

Dr. Raed Alkowni

Course Objectives:

General Ecology is a broad introduction to the science of Ecology, the relationships between organisms and their environment. It is the science of understanding how living things interact with the physical environment. It is a broad interdisciplinary field incorporating such sub-disciplines such as geology, soil biology, botany, physiology, physics, chemistry and animal behavior, which all contribute to our knowledge of how living things live and grow. We will explore interactions between organisms and their abiotic and biotic environments, from the level of individual organisms and populations to communities and ecosystems to global processes.

Laboratories provide the opportunity to investigate ecological questions, and to practice techniques through lab and field activities.

 

Lectures textbook:

  • Ecology: Concepts and Applications. Manuel M. 5th edition. 2009 McGraw-Hill Publishers.
  • General Ecology Laboratory Manual. George Cox. 8thEd. 2002. McGraw-Hill Publishers.

 

Additional Reading:

  • Additional readings from primary and secondary literature: handed out in class, and available on the web-learning platform.
  • Ecology unit 8: Biology Campbell & Reece, 8thedition (2008).
  • Laboratory activity handouts will be distributed in class

 

Exams:

The evaluation of student understanding of the course will be through Quizzes, homework and written exams. The marks will be distributed as:

Lecture: 75%

First Exam       20%

Second Exam 20

Final Exam      35%

 

Lab: 25%

            Reports & Quizzes      10%

            Final Exam                  15%

 

 


Course Outline:

 

Lecture:

 

 

                   Wk

Chapter Title

1-2

Introduction to Ecology Science: Biotic & Abiotic Factors

3-4

Individual (Organism) Ecology

5-6

Population Ecology:

Population Structure; Population Distribution & Abundance; Population Dynamics; Population Growth

 

First Exam

7-9

Community Ecology:

Community, Habitat, Niche; community interactions: Competition, Predation, Herbivory, Symbiosis, and Others; Energy And Nutrient Relations; Food Chain and food; Webs; Disturbance and Succession

10-11

Ecosystem Ecology:

Energy Flow and Chemical Cycling

 

Second Exam

12-14

Large Scale Ecology  (Biosphere)

Biomes Of The World; Global Changes;

15-16

Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology

 

 

 


Ecology Lab

 

This introductory ecology lab focuses on the process of collecting, recording and analyzing data, and equips students with the tools they need to function in more advanced science courses. It reflects the most current techniques for data gathering so that students can obtain the most accurate samples. Balanced coverage of plant, animal and physical elements offers a diverse range of exercises. Includes exercise on writing research reports.

There will be several field trips that take place during normal lab hours. Research Project will be required to complete a research project and write a paper about your project. Your project should involve a simple experiment or series of field observations designed to test a specific hypothesis. The data that you collect must be analyzed in a quantitative manner. This means that you should plan your study carefully and pay close attention to the importance controls, replication of experimental units (or sampling units), etc.

The format of your paper should follow the general format of journal articles (Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, and Literature Cited sections, etc.). The PowerPoint presentation is not to exceed 15 minutes. The presentation should address all salient features of the study: why the study was conducted, how it was done, what were the results, and what are the conclusions. The use of photographs and figures is strongly encouraged. The criteria used for grading the final paper and the PowerPoint presentation will be made available for students. Research proposals and final papers turned in past the due date will lose 10% of the earned points for every past-due day. Late PowerPoint presentations will not be accepted.

 

Lab Works

 

Week

Title

Lab#

 1

General Lab Safety And Instructions

-

 2

Introduction. How to write good ecological Reports, Experimental Design in Ecological Studies; Sampling Design in Ecological Studies

Lab1

 3

Sampling methods; Basics of Statistical Analysis and Testing in Ecology

Lab2

 4

How to measure Spatial Distribution (practice in field)

Lab3

 5

Estimate population densities and describe patterns of dispersions(practice in field)

Lab4

 6

Species Diversity: data collection (practice in field)

Lab5

 7

Species Diversity: Measuring diversity and data analysis

Lab6

 8

Species Diversity: Student presentations

 
 9

Life Tables: Data Analysis on Life Tables practice

Lab7

 10

Soil properties: data collection (practice in field)

Lab8

 11

Soil properties: data analysis (practice in lab)

Lab9

 12

Soil properties: student presentations

Lab10

 13

Water Analysis: for Sewage contaminants, pesticides, or any other pollutants

Lab11

14

Geographical ecology (Scientific trip) / (Revision and watching videos about Global Ecology)

Lab12

15 

Revision

-

16 

Final Exam