Syllabus: Quantitative Population Ecology

   Instructor: [1]Alexei Sharov Price Hall, 301B, (540) 231-7316; [2]sharov@vt.edu
     * [3]Description
     * [4]Course Objectives
     * [5]Prerequisites
     * [6]Grading Criteria
     * [7]Textbooks

    Description

   Ent-6254. (Index 2368-2369) Population Modeling of Insect Systems (Spring 1997)
   (2H, 3L, 3C). II. Lec: 9:00-9:50am-M W; Lab: 2:00-4:50pm-W; Price 301A
   The lecture course is designed for graduate students specializing in biological
   disciplines with emphasis in ecology. The course includes 2 lectures and 1
   computer lab per week (3 credit hours). I encourage students from various
   departments (Biology, Entomology, Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, and Forestry)
   to take this course because the principles of quantitative population analysis
   are similar in these disciplines.

   Major topics are: structure and dynamics of population systems, population
   demography, sampling, life-tables, temperature-dependent development, predation,
   competition, dispersal, population stability and pest outbreaks. The course
   covers contemporary topics in population ecology such as chaos in population
   dynamics, spatial processes, catastrophe theory, application of geostatistics,
   etc. Also, it gives intensive practice of using computers for solving
   quantitative problems in biology. Computer labs are based on Microsoft Excel
   software. Lab reports should be prepared in Microsoft Word.

    Course Objectives:

   Having successfully completed this course, the student will be able to explain
   the structure and functioning of population systems, to develop simple population
   models using Excel software, to interpret the results of model analysis, to use
   models in applied biology, and to write a scientific report in the area of
   population ecology.

    Prerequisites

   Prerequisites include statistics (or biometry), and general ecology. The students
   should be familiar with descriptive statistics, confidence intervals, linear and
   non-linear regression analysis. From elementary calculus (it is a pre-requisite
   for statistics) students should know matrix operations and differential
   equations. From principles of ecology, it is necessary to know the types of
   interactions between organisms, trophic levels. Besides that, an experience with
   personal computers is required (PC or MAC): word processing, graphics software.
   Scientific calculators are required on lectures and labs

    Grading Criteria

   Mid-term exam (open book) 13%
   Final exam (open book)    15%
   Lab reports (6)           60% (each report = 10%)
   Problem solving           10%
   Total                     100%

   Exam format: combination of 1) multiple-choice questions, 2) problems, and 3)
   questions that require written answers.

    Textbooks

   Textbook:

   Hastings, A. 1997. Population Biology. Concepts and Models. Springer-Verlag, New
   York.

   Optional textbooks:

   Begon M., Mortimer M. 1981. Population ecology: a unified study of animals and
   plants. Blackwell, Oxford.
   Berryman, A.A. 1981. Population Systems: A General Introduction. Plenum Press,
   New York.
   Caughley, G. 1978. Analysis of vertebrate populations. John Wiley, Chichester.
   Goodenough L.J. and McKinion, J.M. 1992. Basics of Insect Modelling. American
   Soc. of Agric. Engineers, St. Joseph (MI).
   Hutchinson, G.E. 1978. An introduction to population ecology. Yale Univ. Press,
   New Haven.
   Jeffers J.N.R. 1978. An introduction to systems analysis: with ecological
   applications. Edward Arnold, London.
   Logan, J.A. and Hain, F.P. (eds.) 1991. Chaos and insect ecology. VPI&SU,
   Blacksburg.
   Maynard Smith J. 1974. Models in ecology. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge.
   Pedigo, L.P. 1989. Entomology and pest management. Macmillan, New York.
   Pielou, E.C. 1976. Population and community ecology. Gordon and Breach Sci. Publ.
   New York.

   Renshaw E. 1991. Modelling populations in space and time. Cambridge Univ. Press,
   Cambridge.
   Royama, T. 1992. Analytical population dynamics. Chapman and Hall, New York.
   Southwood, T.R.E. 1978. Ecological methods with special reference to the study of
   insect populations. Chapman and Hall, New York.
   Varley, G.C., Gradwell, G.R., and Hassell, M.P. 1973. Insect population ecology:
   an analytical approach. Blackwell, Oxford.
     ____________________________________________________________________________

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   [9]Alexei Sharov 9/9/96

References

   1. http://alexei.nfshost.com/~sharov/alexei.html
   2. mailto://sharov@vt.edu/
   3. http://alexei.nfshost.com/PopEcol/syllabus.html#mark1
   4. http://alexei.nfshost.com/PopEcol/syllabus.html#mark2
   5. http://alexei.nfshost.com/PopEcol/syllabus.html#mark3
   6. http://alexei.nfshost.com/PopEcol/syllabus.html#mark4
   7. http://alexei.nfshost.com/PopEcol/syllabus.html#mark5
   8. http://alexei.nfshost.com/PopEcol/popecol.html
   9. http://alexei.nfshost.com/~sharov/alexei.html