TISHK INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF EDUCATION
Department of BIOLOGY EDUCATION,
2022-2023 Fall
Course Information for BIO 304 ECOLOGY
Course Name: ECOLOGY
Code Regular Semester Theoretical Practical Credits ECTS
BIO 304 6 2 2 3 4
Name of Lecturer(s): Saber Wasman
Teaching Assistant: Gahseen
Course Language: English
Course Type: Main
Office Hours 4
Contact Email: [email protected]

Tel:07504601381
Teacher’s academic profile: BSc Plant Production MSc Plant Allelopathy PhD Plant Physiology
Course Objectives: Ecology is considered to be a study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment at the population, community, and ecosystem levels. Through the lectures, exercises, field trips, reports and readings you will: 1. Gain an appreciation for the broad biological significance of ecological knowledge and theory. 2. Gain an understanding of the questions that ecologists’ study, the methods used, and the questions that remain unanswered. 3. Develop your ability to apply quantitative skills to collect, analyze and interpret ecological data.
Course Description (Course overview): Ecology is the study of interrelationships between organisms and their biotic and abiotic environments. As a basic science, ecology informs us about the processes governing the patterns we observe in nature. From an applied perspective, it is critical that we understand ecology as it provides insights and solutions to many of the environmental issues we are confronted with in our daily lives. In this course we will focus specifically on the ecology of plants. Within plant ecology there are many sub-disciplines; these sub-disciplines vary in the level of organization on which they are focused (e.g. physiological ecology, population biology, community and ecosystem ecology). We will touch on many of these areas over the course of the semester.
COURSE CONTENT

Week Hour               Date Topic
1 2 2-6/10/2022 Introduction to Ecology
2 2 9-13/10/2022 Subdivisions of Ecology
3 2 16-20/10/2022 Synecology
4 2 23-27/10/2022 Ecosystem
5 2 30/10-3/11/2022 Energy Ecosystem
6 2 6-10/11/2022 Natural Ecosystem
7 2 13-17/11/2022 Midterm Exam
8 2 20-24/11/2022 Major Kinds of Ecology
9 2 27/11-1/12/2022 Major Kinds of Ecology
10 2 4-8/12/2022 Biogeochemical cycle
11 2 11-15/12/2022 Nitrogen Cycle
12 2 18-22/12/2022 Carbon Cycle
13 2 25-29/12/2022 Population Ecology
14 2 1-5/1/2023 Population interactions
15 2 8-12/1/2023 Final Exam
16 2 15-19/1/2023 Final Exam
COURSE/STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

1 Demonstrate an understanding of ecological relationships between organisms and their environment
2 Describe factors that affect the outcome of competitive interactions between individuals of different species and outline other types of interactions that may occur between organisms.
3 Demonstrate an understanding of key ecological interactions and processes: the distribution and abundance of organisms, the interactions among organisms, the interaction between organisms and their environment, and the structure and function of ecosystems
4 Demonstrate an understanding of key concepts in evolutionary biology, the history of life on Earth, and phylogenetic relationships between organisms.
5 Explain scales and patterns in ecology and biodiversity (e.g. individual to biosphere, landscape ecology, geographic and global ecology)
COURSE’S CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM OUTCOMES
(Blank : no contribution, I: Introduction, P: Profecient, A: Advanced )

Program Learning Outcomes Cont.
1 Write accurately and clearly about biology topics that conform to the scientific conventions of that field. I
2 Describe the molecular components of living things, their heredity transformations and the main concerns in these biological process I
3 Identify and analyze the microorganisms including bacteria, fungi and virus and their roles in nature. A
4 Characterize the features of plant organs/tissues/cells/organelles involved in cellular respiration, photosynthesis, reproduction and growth. P
5 Describe the micro and macro anatomy of the living systems and recognize the relationship between structure and function at all biological systems and levels. P
6 Apply safety and proper techniques in the laboratory, and report the results of conducted experiments. I
7 Use appropriate methods and techniques to improve their students’ critical thinking, creative thinking and problem-solving skills. P
8 Effectively organize and manage classrooms. P
9 Use required methods and techniques for student-centered teaching by considering individual and cultural differences of students. P
10 Develop research studies that applies quantitative or qualitative research methods that address research questions in the field. P
Prerequisites (Course Reading List and References): The National Academies Press.Ecological Impacts of Climate Change. Washington D.C. •Elements of Ecology. Smith, R.L. and Smith, T.M. (2003). Etc……….. •Lampert W. & Sommer U. (2007). Limnoecology. 2nd Edition. Published in the United States by Oxford University Press Inc., New York. 324pp •Odum E. P. (1971). Fundamental of Ecology. 3rd. Ed. W.B. Saunders Co., London. 312pp. •Jørgensen et.al. (2007). A New Ecology Systems Perspective. Etc…. •Ecological Understanding: The Nature of Theory and the Theory of Nature. Pickett et.al
Student’s obligation (Special Requirements): Students are obliged to attend their classes 80% as minimum. Also, the must take midterm and final exams as well as being able to expect themselves to take quizzes.
Weekly Laboratory/Practice Plan:
Week Hour               Date Topics
1 2 2-6/10/2022 Introduction to ecology
2 2 9-13/10/2022 Introduction to ecology
3 2 16-20/10/2022 Sampling methods and stratigies
4 2 23-27/10/2022 Environmental Pollution 1
5 2 30/10-3/11/2022 Environmental Pollution 1
6 2 6-10/11/2022 scientific trip
7 2 13-17/11/2022 Midterm Exam
8 2 20-24/11/2022 Midterm Exam
9 2 27/11-1/12/2022 ecosystem and Food chains
10 2 4-8/12/2022 Biodiversity
11 2 11-15/12/2022 Laboratory work
12 2 18-22/12/2022 Water and Soil PH
13 2 25-29/12/2022 Global Warming
14 2 1-5/1/2023 Climate Change.
15 2 8-12/1/2023 Emerging Diseases
16 2 15-19/1/2023 Final Exams
Course Book/Textbook: 1. Discovering Evolutionary Ecology 2. The Ecology of Phytoplankton (Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation) 3. Foundations of Restoration Ecology: The Science and Practice of Ecological Restoration (Science Practice Ecological Restoration)
Other Course Materials/References: The National Academies Press.Ecological Impacts of Climate Change. Washington D.C. •Elements of Ecology. Smith, R.L. and Smith, T.M. (2003). Etc……….. •Lampert W. & Sommer U. (2007). Limnoecology. 2nd Edition. Published in the United States by Oxford University Press Inc., New York. 324pp •Odum E. P. (1971). Fundamental of Ecology. 3rd. Ed. W.B. Saunders Co., London. 312pp. •Jørgensen et.al. (2007). A New Ecology Systems Perspective. Etc…. •Ecological Understanding: The Nature of Theory and the Theory of Nature. Pickett et.al
Teaching Methods (Forms of Teaching): Lectures, Practical sessions, Presentation, Seminar, , ,
COURSE EVALUATION CRITERIA

Method Quantity Percentage (%)
Participation 1 5
Quiz 2 5
Midterm Exam 1 20
Laboratory 1 12
Practical Exam 1 13
Final Exam 1 40
Total 100
Examinations: True-False, Fill in the Blanks, Multiple Choices, Short Answers, , ,
Extra Notes:
ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT) WORKLOAD

Activities Quantity Workload Hours for 1 quantity* Total Workload
Theoretical Hours 16 2 32
Practical Hours 16 2 16
Final Exam 1 10 10
Participation 1 5 5
Quiz 2 3 6
Midterm Exam 1 8 8
Laboratory 1 10 10
Practical Exam 1 7 7
Total Workload 94
ECTS Credit (Total workload/25) 4

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