Landscape Biogeography

GEO 4990/5990

Spring, 2006

 

 

 


Instructor: Dr. John Waldron                                                                

 

Office Hours: M, W 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Office:  Bldg. 1, Combs Campus                                                E-mail: jwaldron@uwf.edu                  

Office Phone:                                                                                                                                                

Class Times: T 5:30 - 8:25 p.m.                                              Class Location: Combs Campus, Lovejoy Rd.

                                                                                                                              

 

Course Overview:

 

This course investigates Landscape Ecology from the root perspective of the geographic tradition of biogeography.  Landscape ecology is the study of structure, function, and change in an area comprised of  interacting ecosystems. This course will cover basic ecological principles dealing with landscapes including dispersal of organisms, connectedness of habitat, and the pattern and processes involved in landscape change.

 

 

Required Text:

 

Turner, M. G., R. H. Gardner, and R. V. O’Neill. 2001. Landscape Ecology. Springer-Verlag, NY.

 

Format:

 

There will be lecture on key concepts and discussion.  You will be required to read your assignments before coming to class so as to facilitate conversation about the material at hand.  If students do not take the lead in discussing materials I will have to call on individuals for responses--so be prepared to respond.  The purpose of the textbook is to provide a supplement to the lectures.  The lectures do not mimic the text; both contain distinct information on similar topics.

 

Evaluation:

 

Grades will be based on your performance on a 2 midterms, 1 final, and a written report; Graduate students will be responsible for submitting weekly article summaries.

 

Attendance:

 

Time has proven that students who do not attend classes regularly tend do much more poorly than those who do attend.  This is particularly important since the information from the lectures cannot always be gleaned from the text.  Do not come to class late or leave early, this is incredibly disruptive to other students and will not be tolerated except under special circumstances.

 

 

Missed Assignments & Tests:

 

Only those students who contact me in a timely fashion with a University defined legitimate conflict or emergency may make up individual graded assignments.  

 

Late Work:

 

In order to be fair to others who hand in assignment on time, 1 grade letter per day will be deducted for assignments turned in late.  However, feel free to contact me if you are having trouble or if there is a conflict.

 

Final Grade:

 

A(4.0) =>93%

C+(2.3) =77-80

A-(3.7) = 90-93

C(2.0) = 73-77

B+(3.3) = 87-90

C-(1.7) = 70-73

B(3.0) = 83-87

D+(1.3) = 67-70

B-(2.7) = 80-83

D(1.0) = 60-67

 

Extra Credit Work:

 

Extra credit work may be assigned to the class as the instructor sees fit.  There will be no extra credit work assigned to specific individuals.

 

Final Exam:

 

The final exam for this course is scheduled for: MAY 2

 

Academic Honesty:

 

Please consult the University Student Rules for information concerning academic honesty policies.  As you will be writing a paper, pay particular attention to the rules and regulations on plagiarism:

 

http://uwf.edu/StudentAffairs/division/publications/ClassDisrup.pdf

http://uwf.edu/StudentAffairs/division/publications/PlagBroch.pdf

 

ADA Statement:

 

 The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discriminatory statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities.  Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities.  If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Student Disability Resource Center :

 

http://uwf.edu/sdrc/

 

Course Schedule:

Week

 

 

 

1

 

Introduction, Basic Concepts, Fundamental issues of scale

Tue. 1/10

 

2

Introduction to Biogeography

Tue. 1/17

 

3

Plant Ecology,  Succession, and the Regeneration Niche

Tue. 1/24

 

4

Landscape elements: patch dynamics

Tue. 1/31

 

5

Landscape elements: corridors and Mosaics

Tue. 2/7

 

6

 

Tue. 2/14

Exam 1
7

Agents of landscape pattern: environmental gradients and abiotic controls

Tue. 2/21

 

8

Agents of landscape pattern: biotic processes, and disturbance. 

Tue. 2/28

 

9

Ecotones and the Effect of landscape pattern on organisms

Tue. 3/7

 

10

 

3/14

Exam 2

 

SPRING BREAK

3/21

 

11

No Class - IALE Meeting

3/28

 

12

Creating landscape pattern: models

4/4

 

13

Quantifying landscape pattern: landscape metrics

4/11

 

14

Quantifying landscape pattern: landscape metrics

4/18

 

15

Paper Presentations

4/25

 

** The course schedule is meant as a guide, the instructor reserves the right to alter the schedule as necessary.