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Advanced Landscape Ecology (BIOL 5330) - Spring 2010

 

Lecture & discussion on M 2:00-4:50 p.m., Biology Room 106

Lab on Th 10:00-10:50 a.m., Experimental Sciences Bldg. Room 125


Dr. Nancy E. McIntyre
Department of Biological Sciences

420 Biology Bldg.
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX  79409-3131
Tel. 806.742.4113 ext. 280
 nancy.mcintyre@ttu.edu

Office hours: by appointment

Landscape ecology is the study of the effect of spatial patterns on ecological processes and how those processes in turn create environmental patterns. This field represents a new awareness among ecologists that spatial patterning can no longer be ignored nor environments assumed to be homogeneous for logistical convenience; rather, spatial patterning is now recognized to be a dynamic force in ecology and not just a statistical nuisance. Fundamental principles of landscape ecology serve as foundations for decision-making and problem-solving in conservation biology, natural resource management, and urban planning and development.  Typically offered in Fall of odd-numbered years. 

"The emergence of landscape ecology as a discipline has catalyzed a shift in paradigms among ecologists…Having now seen the faces of spatial pattern and scale…we can never go back to the old ways of viewing things."

(John Wiens, 1999)

Expected learning outcomes: Upon successful completion of course requirements, students will be able to quantify spatial heterogeneity and its effects on biological processes affecting individuals, populations, and communities (including dispersal, risk of extinction, and diversity), and to discuss why such skills are necessary to conservation and natural resource management (e.g. in terms of reserve design and placement).  There will be a weekly computer lab session, where students will conduct hands-on exercises; after successfully completing this class, students will be able to perform the most common methods of data analysis used in landscape ecology, including Markov and neutral landscape modeling and spatial statistics such as semivariance and autocorrelation analyses, using software packages that are standards in the field, including Fragstats and Rule.  Methods for assessing learning outcomes: (1) student performance on lecture exams, (2) student performance on weekly lab exercises, (3) student performance on cumulative lab exam, (4) change in performance on a pre/post diagnostic test, (5) student performance on cumulative lecture final exam, (6) grad students only: participation in discussion section held outside normal course hours. 

Recommended text:  Turner, M.G., R.H. Gardner, and R.V. O’Neill.  2001.  Landscape Ecology in Theory and Practice: Pattern and Process.  Springer-Verlag, New York, NY.

Landscape Ecology in Theory and Practice

 

List of topics to be covered, exam dates, and references


Grading:

10% on exam I
10% on exam II

10% on exam III
30% on cumulative final lecture exam

40% on lab (details below)

 

I make heavy use of essay questions to gauge your mastery of the concepts presented.  Your mastery should demonstrate factual knowledge as well as the ability to synthesize different topics.  Please consult this guide for examples of A, B, C, D, and F answers to a sample essay question in landscape ecology.

 

Lab:  From its origins, landscape ecology has had a strongly quantitative focus, and so we have a lab portion to this course.  In lab, students will learn how to measure spatial heterogeneity and analyze its effects on plants, animals, and humans.  Students will work through exercises to gain first-hand proficiency with the questions asked in landscape ecology and the methods used to answer those questions.  The lab for this course is designed to minimize overlap with other courses on campus that deal exclusively with aerial photo interpretation, remote sensing, and GIS (which require separate courses to truly learn and master—there are courses in Natural Resources Management, Geography, and Geosciences that cover these topics).  Instead, this course’s lab will focus on spatial statistics, an important way of quantifying and analyzing landscape patterns.  No other class on campus focuses on spatial statistics in an ecological setting, and every landscape ecologist should be well-versed in their use.  Lab will also deal with techniques and software that are used primarily or exclusively by landscape ecologists (including neutral landscape modeling, reserve selection, and pattern quantification).

 

Lab will be held in the Experimental Science Building (ESB), room 125.  Absolutely NO food or drinks of ANY kind (including water) are allowed in this room.  The ESB is a controlled-access facility.  The building is only open during weekdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and room 125 is only accessible via a faculty key (meaning that room 125 will only be accessible when I am there).  Therefore, I have also set up room 405 in the Biology Building (also a computer lab) for your use to do homework, etc., outside of the Thursday lab time slot.  All of the course software has been installed in both ESB 125 and Biology 405.  Biology 405 is available via a door key code.  The key code will be given out in class.  Absolutely NO food or drinks of ANY kind (including water) are allowed in this room, either. 

 

Students must read through the assigned chapter(s) in the lab manual before coming to lab so as to be prepared. Lab counts for 40% of your total course grade.  The lab grade is composed of the following:

            75% on laboratory exercises and worksheets (due weekly) - always show all work!

            25% on cumulative final lab exam

 

Required materials for lab: 

 

Learning Landscape Ecology

 

Useful things for lab:

 

Requirements for graduate students:  Grad students will be expected to exhibit a more thorough and synthetic mastery of the subject; consequently, they will have different tests from undergrads.  Grad students will also be involved in a regular discussion section, during which papers from the recent and classic landscape ecology primary literature will be examined and critiqued.  Click here for a list of papers and discussion dates.

 

Academic honesty:  Any attempt by a student to present as their own work any work not honestly performed is regarded as a serious offense and renders offenders liable to consequences, including possible suspension from the university.  Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic records, misrepresenting facts, and any act designed to give an unfair academic advantage to a student.  A detailed list may be found in the Student Handbook.

 

Absences and missed assignments:  Because there is a causal relationship between attendance and performance, I do take note of attendance.  Make-up assignments will be given only in the event of a satisfactory, written excuse (e.g. doctor’s note or TTU-sanctioned absence).  Students with unexcused absences should not even think of enquiring about how to improve their grade, extra credit, or the like.

Religious observances:  A student who is absent for the observation of a religious holy day shall be allow to take an exam or complete an in‑class assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence if, not later than the 15th day after the 1st day of the semester, the student has notified me of each scheduled class during a holy day that the student would be absent.

Students with disabilities:  Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements in order to meet the course requirements should contact me as soon as possible to make any necessary arrangements.  Students should present appropriate verification from Student Disability Services.  Please note that instructors are not allowed to provide accommodations to a student until appropriate verification from Student Disability Services has been provided.  For additional information, contact the Student Disability Services office at 335 West Hall or at 806-742-2405.

Important notes: 

1.  This course will require quantitative (i.e., math) skills and will involve computer-based exercises. 

2.  Good note-taking during class and lab are the keys to success in this course; the course note outlines provided online are NOT substitutions for attending class and taking notes of your own while there. 

3.  All electronic devices must be turned off and newspapers put away during class time. 

4.  Weekly lab homeworks will not be accepted by email; hardcopies must be turned in at the start of lab.

 

 

Some relevant links:

 

U.S. Chapter of the International Association for Landscape Ecology (US-IALE)

 

Information about the annual meeting of US-IALE, to be held in April 2010 in Athens, Georgia

 

Landscape Ecology (journal)

 

Key papers from the early years of Landscape Ecology (1987-1997)

 

 

Relevant books at the Main Library:

 

1.      Turner, M.G., R.H. Gardner, and R.V. O’Neill.  2001.  Landscape Ecology in Theory and Practice: Pattern and Process.  Springer, New York, NY.

2.      Gergel, S.E., and M.G. Turner.  2002.  Learning Landscape Ecology: A Practical Guide to Concepts and Techniques.  Springer, New York, NY.

3.      Wiens, J.A., M.R. Moss, M.G. Turner, and D.J. Mladenoff.  2006.  Foundation Papers in Landscape Ecology.  Columbia Univ. Press, New York, NY.

4.      Dramsted, W.E., J.D. Olson, and R.T.T. Forman.  1996.  Landscape Ecology Principles in Landscape Architecture and Land-use Planning.  Island Press, Washington, D.C.

5.      Forman, R.T.T., and M. Godron.  1986.  Landscape Ecology.  Wiley, New York, NY.

6.      Klopatek, J.M., and R.H. Gardner, eds.  1999.  Landscape Ecological Analysis: Issues and Applications.  Springer, New York, NY.

7.      Naveh, Z., and A.S. Lieberman.  1990.  Landscape Ecology: Theory and Application.  Springer, New York, NY.

8.      Sanderson, J., and L.D. Harris, eds.  2000.  Landscape Ecology: A Top-down Approach.  Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL. 

9.      Turner, M.G., and R.H. Gardner, eds.  1991.  Quantitative Methods in Landscape Ecology.  Springer, New York, NY.

 

 

Career links for jobs in landscape ecology and other environmental fields:

 

 

Last updated: 12 January 2010