Lectures: Monday & Wednesday 08:30-10:00 Room AT 2020
ELECTRONIC DEVICES. Unless instructed to do so, students in class are not allowed to take photographs, send or receive phone or text
messages, to use E-mail or social networks, download files, stream content, or surf the internet. Audio and video recording during lectures and tutorials is
strictly prohibited unless permission is granted on an individual basis by the course instructor. All electronic devices other than notepads
or laptops used to take notes, and calculators required for assignments and tutorials, must be left out of the room or turned off and located
out of sight. No electronic devices other than calculators are allowed during quizzes. Students anticipating or sending urgent messages are expected to remain outside of
the classroom.
There may be one or more guest lectures during the course.
GUEST LECTURES ARE AN INTEGRAL COURSE COMPONENT AND STUDENTS WILL BE EXAMINED ACCORDINGLY.
BEHAVIOUR DURING LECTURES AND TUTORIALS. Students must respect the rights of others by conducting themselves at all times in a professional,
polite, unbiased and civil manner.
Contents:
| Introduction | Course Outcomes and Assessment |
| Evaluation | Report Format |
| Report Due Date | Report Style |
| Final Term Report | Format for the Term Report |
| Tentative Timetable | |
2. Students will know the sources and content of relevant and recent literature on ecological structure in the north by incorporating required and recommended readings, as well as independently demonstrated scholarship, in assignments, oral presentations, and in each student’s term report.
3. Students will question and discuss current concepts in ecology and evolution via student presentations and directed assignments.
4. Students will develop the skills, discipline, and study habits necessary for self-instruction in this and other areas of ecology by choosing and reviewing contemporary research themes on ecological structure in northern ecosystems.
5. Students will attain the theoretical and empirical background necessary to solve ecological and conservation problems in the north by fully incorporating required readings, and the lectures’ rigorous theory and concepts, in their choice of topics to review, in their oral presentations, and in each student’s final written term report.
6. Students will contribute to research and conservation strategies and priorities in the north by actively participating
in workshops, tutorials, and student seminars.
Workshops and tutorials will centre on reviewing course material, discussing key concepts and newsworth events, research methods, and scientific communication (including student presentations and the final term report). Printed and WORD versions of the final report must be submitted no later than the end of class (09:50) on 01 April 2020. Failure to submit the report on time will result in a report grade of zero.
Performance will be evaluated regularly. The evaluation will be based on the student's grasp of important issues, logical reasoning, non-trivial criticisms of the material, and the ability to solve ecological problems. Students are encouraged to share their ideas and questions.
Written or other reports may be assigned at intervals during the course. Evaluation of the reports will be based on the student's ability to synthesize a field of enquiry, to apply that synthesis to a particular problem, or to develop significant new insights into ecological or evolutionary issues. Reports will not, in general, be review papers. Rather they will require the student to apply what is known (and what's not known) to an unresolved question in ecology. Evaluation will be devoted equally to clarity of presentation, rigour of treatment, and suitability of the report to the assignment.
All students will give two short oral presentations to the class. Themes, format and evaluation will be be discussed during a workshop early in the term.
Please note: The term report is a term project and not a final examination. Students will be ineligible to write a special examination as outlined in regulation VII in the Lakehead University Calendar.
SOME SUGGESTIONS:
DO start background work on each assignment as soon as you receive it.
DO read required readings (and appropriate related literature) on time so that you are always up-to-date on course material.
DO re-write your essays and reports as many times as necessary to meet the length restriction, to improve your prose, and to make your material as readable, interesting and informative as possible.
DO interact with classmates in order to ensure that you fully understand course material and assignments.
DO read professional scientific essays (eg., the "News and Views" section in the journal "Nature" or perspectives in "Science") in order to appreciate the value of concise, clear writing.
DO NOT leave the term report until the "last minute".
DO NOT stray from the instructions.
DO NOT use web-based material other than to search for and download properly reviewed and edited documents.
DO seek classmates' opinions, but ensure that assignments and reports are completed independently and represent only content and ideas that are yours alone.
DATES TOPIC
6-13 January Northern Ecosystems are Dynamic
15 Jan.- 27 Jan. Latitudinal Gradients in Diversity
29 Jan. - 5 February Latitudinal Gradients in Body Size
10 Feb.- 26 February Population Dynamics of Northern Species
17-21 February FAMILY DAY AND STUDY WEEK - NO CLASSES
2-11 March Northern Food Webs
16-23 March Conservation and Management
25 March - 1 April Northern Climate Change
1 APRIL FINAL REPORT DUE 09:50
Guest lectures, tutorials, and workshops may be scheduled at irregular intervals.
Lectures: 08:30-09:50 Monday and Wednesday Room AT 2020
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