Biology 228, Ecology and Evolution

For the Fall 2005 semester, Professor Jane Gallagher is coordinating Biology 228 (including teaching the lecture).  I am teaching the laboratory section.

Lab time: Mondays, 2:00-5:50 p.m.

Office hours: Mondays, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

 

Download laboratory instructions

Download laboratory schedule

 

Schedule for labs (note changes in red):

Lab name	Lab Date	Page #s
1. Community Analysis 1 (map, sampling)	12 Sept.	3–4, 7–9
2. Community Analysis 2 (map, calculations)	19 Sept.	5–6, 10–13
3. Population growth       Simulation 1 (introduction to Excel)       Simulation 2 (exponential/logistic growth)	26 Sept.	14–18 72–73
4. Descriptive statistics       Simulation 3 (sampling, confidence intervals)       Note: class period will end at 4:00 p.m.	3 Oct.	67–69
5. Inferential statistics (t-test)	11 Oct. (Tuesday)	26–28, 70–71
6. Field trip to Van Cortlandt Park (on weekend)  (This field trip will be led by Professor Amy Berkov; meet at 12:00 noon at 242nd Street and Broadway.)	16 Oct. (Sunday)	31–34, 38
7. LAB EXAM 1	24 Oct.
8. Dispersion analysis (Chi-square)	31 Oct.	39–46
9. Allometry and regression analysis (bones)	7 Nov.	78–79
10. Population genetics       Simulation 4 (selection and drift)	14 Nov.	51, 55–56 56
11. AMNH field trip (go on your own during day, but complete before systematics lab!)	21 Nov. (no class)	58–59
12. Systematics	28 Nov.	60–66
13. Field trip to Inwood Hill Park	5 Dec.	31–37
14. LAB FINAL	12 Dec.

 

 

Overview of labs:

Lab 1: Community analysis 1 (map, sampling)

Learn to read topographic maps and conduct random sampling by quadrats.

Lab 2: Community analysis 2 (map, calculations)

Calculate basic indices of plant or animal community composition (with data for tree species), and understand zoning regulations.

Lab 3: Population growth

Become familiar with spreadsheet programs.  Run simulations of exponential and logistic growth.

Lab 4: Descriptive statistics

Learn to calculate and interpret descriptive statistics, including confidence intervals.

Lab 5: Inferential statistics (t-test)

Learn to calculate and interpret inferential statistics (hypothesis testing).

Lab 6: Field trip to Van Cortlandt Park

See and learn to identify local trees and birds in the Bronx. Discuss pollination and dispersal syndromes in plants. Observe and discuss wetlands. (This field trip will be led by Professor Amy Berkov; meet at 12:00 noon at 242nd Street and Broadway.)

LAB EXAM 1 (material from Labs 1-6)

Lab 8: Dispersion analysis (Chi-square)

Randomly sample quadrats of three simulated species; calculate descriptive statistics to characterize their dispersion patterns (random, clumped, uniform); use Chi-square tests to test the null hypothesis of a random distribution (inferential statistical test).

Lab 9: Allometry and regression analysis (bones)

Learn about relationships among two continuous variables (e.g., correlation and regression); introduction to patterns of isometry and allometry and their graphical expectations in arithmetic and logarithmic space; collect and analyze data on bones.

Lab 10: Population genetics

Review gene, locus, allele, genotype, and phenotype. Learn concept of genetic drift; conduct simulations to understand the role of population size, initial allele frequencies, and natural selection (relative fitness coefficients) in the context of genetic drift and neutral evolution.

Lab 11: Self-guided field trip at American Museum of Natural History

Understand the use of systematic theory and cladistic (phylogenetic) methodology to elucidate the evolutionary relationships among organisms (and classify them); learn major events in vertebrate evolution.

Lab 12: Systematics

Conduct sample phylogenetic analyses.

Lab 13: Field trip to Inwood Hill Park

See natural plant communities (in Manhattan!) and their association with human-caused and natural disturbances, geological factors, and climatic factors.

LAB FINAL EXAM (material from Labs 8-13)

 

Download Lab outlines and expectations for lab write-ups

No write-ups are due for the field trips to Van Cortlandt Park or Inwood Hill Park.  In addition to these outlines and the pages assigned in the lab manual, additional handouts/worksheets will be given out in most labs.

Week 1: Community analysis 1

Week 2: Community analysis 2

Week 3: Population growth

Week 4: Descriptive statistics (modified 2 Oct. 2005)

Week 5: Inferential statistics

Week 8: Dispersion analysis

Week 9: Allometry and regression

Week 10: Population genetics

Week 11: AMNH field trip

Week 12: Systematics

 

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R. P. Anderson
Copyright © 2005.

All photographs by RPA

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Last modified: 5 October 2005 (RPA)

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