Welcome!
This page is the public face of the course. Enrolled students should use the BlackBoard course portal.
BlackBoard will be the Internet home of the course where I will share course materials, etc., because TTUNet currently blocks all Weebly domain pages. This page is only accessible off-campus.
This page therefore mostly hosts links to videos, and a subpage of ecology career-related links (in progress as I migrate over from BlackBoard). And oh yeah-- the syllabus lives here, too!
This site is best viewed using the web (not mobile) version.
BlackBoard will be the Internet home of the course where I will share course materials, etc., because TTUNet currently blocks all Weebly domain pages. This page is only accessible off-campus.
This page therefore mostly hosts links to videos, and a subpage of ecology career-related links (in progress as I migrate over from BlackBoard). And oh yeah-- the syllabus lives here, too!
This site is best viewed using the web (not mobile) version.
Syllabus
eaf_ecol3309_syllabus.pdf | |
File Size: | 168 kb |
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I am excited to have the opportunity to teach this course this summer. I am an ecologist myself, specifically focusing on avian ecology. My research includes aspects of behavioral ecology, landscape ecology, and predator-prey interactions. In this class, you will learn about the different levels of the ecological hierarchy these subdisciplines are a part of.
While my research focus and experience is mainly with birds, I have always found all organisms and aspects of natural history and ecology fascinating, and have worked with a variety of taxa in various ecosystems in several states. I am not a native Texan, but have lived and worked in various regions (and ecoregions) in Texas for the last 10 years. Texas has fascinating natural history, ecoregions, and biodiversity, and I've tried to explore as much of it as possible (I love to travel). The class necessarily has a lot of global focus, but I plan to relate many of our topics to things that may be familiar to you. And if they aren't familiar to you now, they will be when you're done with this class!
I hope to share some of my enthusiasm for ecology with you, and help you gain a better appreciation for the natural world around us, how we influence it, and vice versa.
While my research focus and experience is mainly with birds, I have always found all organisms and aspects of natural history and ecology fascinating, and have worked with a variety of taxa in various ecosystems in several states. I am not a native Texan, but have lived and worked in various regions (and ecoregions) in Texas for the last 10 years. Texas has fascinating natural history, ecoregions, and biodiversity, and I've tried to explore as much of it as possible (I love to travel). The class necessarily has a lot of global focus, but I plan to relate many of our topics to things that may be familiar to you. And if they aren't familiar to you now, they will be when you're done with this class!
I hope to share some of my enthusiasm for ecology with you, and help you gain a better appreciation for the natural world around us, how we influence it, and vice versa.
Video & Website Links
Supplemental websites have links embedded in the title and clicking the title opens a new window.
YouTube videos have a brief description above explaining why I included them (some were not shown in class).
View embedded videos full screen! I have made them tiny here for space & page design reasons.
Not all lecture topics have videos or other supplemental materials.
YouTube videos have a brief description above explaining why I included them (some were not shown in class).
View embedded videos full screen! I have made them tiny here for space & page design reasons.
Not all lecture topics have videos or other supplemental materials.
Lecture 1 -- Introduction
Bats on Radar! (click for link)
Scroll down the linked page and click on the GIF of "bat clouds".
This is a weather radar image loop showing bats leaving caves to go foraging for the night in the Austin, TX area.
This is an example of how technology designed for other purposes can be used in ecology.
Bats on Radar! (click for link)
Scroll down the linked page and click on the GIF of "bat clouds".
This is a weather radar image loop showing bats leaving caves to go foraging for the night in the Austin, TX area.
This is an example of how technology designed for other purposes can be used in ecology.
Lecture 2 -- Climate, Land, and Biomes
1. Global Wind Patterns: This was too long to show in class, so I am including it here. This is a nice, clear way of explaining how wind moves around the planet. Yes, its long, but worth a watch, especially if you find the topic confusing.
2. Global Circulation: A cool visualization of global wind patterns. No explanations or sound.
3. Soils Permeability: Visualization of how quickly water percolates through different soil types. No sound.
2. Global Circulation: A cool visualization of global wind patterns. No explanations or sound.
3. Soils Permeability: Visualization of how quickly water percolates through different soil types. No sound.
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Lecture 3 -- Water
A slideshow version of a video about ocean currents. Use the slide show; it has comments below it.
(For some reason the hyperlinks on their page direct you to "plate tectonics" instead, so don't use them).
(For some reason the hyperlinks on their page direct you to "plate tectonics" instead, so don't use them).
If you do nothing else, check out the maps.
"The goal of this project is to provide scientifically sound data and knowledge to water planners and policymakers to support the decision making that will ultimately affect the longevity of Ogallala Aquifer."
"The goal of this project is to provide scientifically sound data and knowledge to water planners and policymakers to support the decision making that will ultimately affect the longevity of Ogallala Aquifer."
1. The Ogallala Aquifer: Describes the major aquifer underlying the Llano Estacado region of TX & 8 other states.
2. How the Edwards Aquifer Works: A good summary of how many aquifers works, especially those made of limestone, and how pollutants can affect the whole system by using a 3D model. From the Edwards Aquifer Authority.
3. What are Playas?: Introduction to these unusual lakes of the Llano Estacado from the Playa Lakes Joint Venture.
4. Playas & the Ogallala Aquifer: The Playa Lakes Joint Venture explains the connection between the above-ground lakes and the underlying aquifer.
2. How the Edwards Aquifer Works: A good summary of how many aquifers works, especially those made of limestone, and how pollutants can affect the whole system by using a 3D model. From the Edwards Aquifer Authority.
3. What are Playas?: Introduction to these unusual lakes of the Llano Estacado from the Playa Lakes Joint Venture.
4. Playas & the Ogallala Aquifer: The Playa Lakes Joint Venture explains the connection between the above-ground lakes and the underlying aquifer.
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Lecture 4 -- Genetic Variation, Natural Selection, etc.
A web-based simulation program where you can change population size, allele frequencies, mutation rates, and allow / disallow migration (closed vs. open population) or create bottlenecks, etc. You can save the images produced by right-clicking. Click the big green "?" at the bottom to go the explanation page to learn how to use it. By Dr. Robert Sheehy at Radford University.
Lecture 5 -- Temperature & Water Relations
1. Sphinx Moth Warming Flight Muscles: A moth vibrates it flight muscles to warm them enough so it can fly when the air temperature is cool.
2. NASA Global Precipitation Measurement Mission: Global precipitation information measured by 12 satellites at 30-min intervals over the course of a year are compiled into this time-compressed video. Notice the wind patterns.
2. NASA Global Precipitation Measurement Mission: Global precipitation information measured by 12 satellites at 30-min intervals over the course of a year are compiled into this time-compressed video. Notice the wind patterns.
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Lecture 6 -- Energy & Nutrient Relations
Think stinging nettles are bad? This article discusses the responses people had to one of the worst stinging trees in the world.
News release of research conducted in North Carolina, where coral snakes went locally extinct 40 years ago. Contrary to their hypothesis, kingsnakes actually look more like coral snakes than they did before coral snakes were no longer in the ecosystem.
View the figure of the phylogenetic tree. The red-black banding pattern common to many venomous snakes evolved many times in snakes. Similarly, the same pattern emerges in multiple lineages of non-venomous snakes independently -- and generally occurs after that lineage comes into contact with a venomous, aposematically colored snake species.
This site looks at the periodic cicada, and shows maps roughly of when and where each brood (each region has its own) will emerge. People can submit reports of activity of these cicadas, too.
Lecture 7 -- Sociality
Birds of Paradise Project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Information on the page above would not be for extra credit -- this is for those interested in learning more about the project.
1. Black Mambas -- Male Competition
Male black mambas (snakes) competing with one another. Thanks to John Marquez for finding this video to share with the class!
2. Birds of Paradise Project Intro
An introduction to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Birds of Paradise Project.
3. Parody Birds of Paradise Hookup
Just for laughs.
Information on the page above would not be for extra credit -- this is for those interested in learning more about the project.
1. Black Mambas -- Male Competition
Male black mambas (snakes) competing with one another. Thanks to John Marquez for finding this video to share with the class!
2. Birds of Paradise Project Intro
An introduction to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Birds of Paradise Project.
3. Parody Birds of Paradise Hookup
Just for laughs.
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Lecture 8 -- Population Distribution and Abundance
Breeding Bird Survey
Home page of the North American Breeding Bird Survey. It is a partnership with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Environment Canada & Canadian Wildlife Service, and Mexico's CONABIO (Comision Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad)
Christmas Bird Count
Home page of the Christmas Bird Count, administered by the National Audubon Society (a non-government, non-profit organization). The longest-running citizen science initiative -- over 100 years! (Since 1900) Wow!
eBird
Like Pokemon GO? Then try birding! Birding is basically a bird scavenger hunt, and this citizen science site compiles the data so scientists can use it to better understand avian ecology. So far, it has produced >100 publications.
Use a related smartphone app, and it's Pokemon GO for birds, but it's been around a lot longer. You'll even meet other people gathering at birding "hotspots" looking for a species-- sometimes in the oddest places. If you're the competitive type, there are even leaderboards. Seriously!
Not into birds? There are some other citizen science apps for recording sightings of other wildlife and even plants, such as iNaturalist.
eBirds' "Explore a Region" feature for Lubbock County
Submitted eBird data for all bird species sighted in Lubbock County. I might even still be on the county leaderboard!
Home page of the North American Breeding Bird Survey. It is a partnership with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Environment Canada & Canadian Wildlife Service, and Mexico's CONABIO (Comision Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad)
Christmas Bird Count
Home page of the Christmas Bird Count, administered by the National Audubon Society (a non-government, non-profit organization). The longest-running citizen science initiative -- over 100 years! (Since 1900) Wow!
eBird
Like Pokemon GO? Then try birding! Birding is basically a bird scavenger hunt, and this citizen science site compiles the data so scientists can use it to better understand avian ecology. So far, it has produced >100 publications.
Use a related smartphone app, and it's Pokemon GO for birds, but it's been around a lot longer. You'll even meet other people gathering at birding "hotspots" looking for a species-- sometimes in the oddest places. If you're the competitive type, there are even leaderboards. Seriously!
Not into birds? There are some other citizen science apps for recording sightings of other wildlife and even plants, such as iNaturalist.
eBirds' "Explore a Region" feature for Lubbock County
Submitted eBird data for all bird species sighted in Lubbock County. I might even still be on the county leaderboard!
Lecture 9 -- Population Dynamics & Growth
Breeding Bird Survey Data Page
This page is where you can download data from the Breeding Bird Survey, including trends in bird populations over many decades.
The Swainson's Hawk population trend example came from this site.
Interactive Timeline of Recent Ice Ages in North America
An Interactive Timeline of recent ice ages, published by the National Park Service (this site is within the Rocky Mountain National Park website).
Rio Grande Bosque Article (National Geographic)
A short article by National Geographic on the Rio Grande Bosque in New Mexico.
1. Crash Course -- Population Ecology
This page is where you can download data from the Breeding Bird Survey, including trends in bird populations over many decades.
The Swainson's Hawk population trend example came from this site.
Interactive Timeline of Recent Ice Ages in North America
An Interactive Timeline of recent ice ages, published by the National Park Service (this site is within the Rocky Mountain National Park website).
Rio Grande Bosque Article (National Geographic)
A short article by National Geographic on the Rio Grande Bosque in New Mexico.
1. Crash Course -- Population Ecology
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Lecture 10 -- Life Histories
Laysan Albatross on Midway Atoll
Information about the Laysan Albatross, 99% of which nest in the far northwestern Hawai'ian Islands, of which Midway Atoll is a part.
Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial are within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. These federal lands and waters are administered by the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Dance Your PhD -- Scatterhoarding
The scientific journal Science has sponsored a scholarship program for the past several years called "Dance Your PhD", encouraging graduate students to interpret their research in a fun way--by dancing. Here's one ecology-related entry.
Information about the Laysan Albatross, 99% of which nest in the far northwestern Hawai'ian Islands, of which Midway Atoll is a part.
Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial are within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. These federal lands and waters are administered by the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Dance Your PhD -- Scatterhoarding
The scientific journal Science has sponsored a scholarship program for the past several years called "Dance Your PhD", encouraging graduate students to interpret their research in a fun way--by dancing. Here's one ecology-related entry.
Lecture 11 -- Competition
1. Lotka-Volterra Competition An explanation of the Lotka-Volterra Interspecific Competition model. Start at ~5min in.
(Neither Khan Academy nor Crash Course have videos explaining these equations and graphs).
2. Lotka-Volterra Competition 2
From a Yale University Open Course. (There are videos and materials for every part of this course freely available online).
This video is very long (40 min), as it is a standard lecture class length.
(Neither Khan Academy nor Crash Course have videos explaining these equations and graphs).
2. Lotka-Volterra Competition 2
From a Yale University Open Course. (There are videos and materials for every part of this course freely available online).
This video is very long (40 min), as it is a standard lecture class length.
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Lecture 12 -- Exploitation & Mutualism
Mutualism in Lichens
Recent Science News article on the newly-discovered 3rd partner in the mutualism in lichens -- yeast.
Mutualism between Humans and Honeyguides
1. Cordyceps Fungal Parasite -- BBC Planet Earth
These fungi turn insects into "zombies"!
Recent Science News article on the newly-discovered 3rd partner in the mutualism in lichens -- yeast.
Mutualism between Humans and Honeyguides
1. Cordyceps Fungal Parasite -- BBC Planet Earth
These fungi turn insects into "zombies"!
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Lecture 14 -- Species Interactions & Community Structure
Knapp AK. 1999. Are Bison Keystone Species? Bioscience.
See Blackboard course page for PDF
See Blackboard course page for PDF
Lecture 17 --Landscape Ecology
Path of The Pronghorn (Video)
Pronghorn are one of the few large mammals that still have a long-distance migration every year. This video discusses how the government, with the help of scientists from universities and non-government non-profit organizations are working together to conserve the pronghorn migration route and reduce wildlife-human conflict in the process.
Trapper's Point Wildlife Overpass Live Webcam (Wyoming)
Live webcam placed on the Trapper's Point Wildlife Overpass in Wyoming on the "Path of the Pronghorn" migration route (see video below). Heaviest pronghorn activity occurs in the spring, but other animals use the wildlife crossings, too.
Download a PDF of the Wyoming Department of Transportation study results below.
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (Texas)
Home page for the refuge (near Brownsville, TX) with info on the endangered Ocelot.
High Ocelot roadkills recently have prompted the TXDOT to build wildlife crossing on key highways, and will benefit all regional wildlife.
Update, 2018: if more miles of border wall are built than currently exist in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, (yes, there are already many miles of it), Ocelot populations, and those of many other species, will be severely impacted due to severe loss of already rare native habitat (due to agriculture & other human development) and lack of population flow with Mexico (see: metapopulation dynamics). It will also devastate the local economy, as ecotourism is a large segment and has been highly promoted in recent years by local municipalities (see World Birding Center, National Butterfly Center, etc.). The National Butterfly Center Facebook page stays updated with developments.
1. Metapopulation Simulation (no extinction)
Silent, no explanation or transcript
2. Metapopulation Simulation 2
With verbal explanation
Pronghorn are one of the few large mammals that still have a long-distance migration every year. This video discusses how the government, with the help of scientists from universities and non-government non-profit organizations are working together to conserve the pronghorn migration route and reduce wildlife-human conflict in the process.
Trapper's Point Wildlife Overpass Live Webcam (Wyoming)
Live webcam placed on the Trapper's Point Wildlife Overpass in Wyoming on the "Path of the Pronghorn" migration route (see video below). Heaviest pronghorn activity occurs in the spring, but other animals use the wildlife crossings, too.
Download a PDF of the Wyoming Department of Transportation study results below.
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (Texas)
Home page for the refuge (near Brownsville, TX) with info on the endangered Ocelot.
High Ocelot roadkills recently have prompted the TXDOT to build wildlife crossing on key highways, and will benefit all regional wildlife.
Update, 2018: if more miles of border wall are built than currently exist in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, (yes, there are already many miles of it), Ocelot populations, and those of many other species, will be severely impacted due to severe loss of already rare native habitat (due to agriculture & other human development) and lack of population flow with Mexico (see: metapopulation dynamics). It will also devastate the local economy, as ecotourism is a large segment and has been highly promoted in recent years by local municipalities (see World Birding Center, National Butterfly Center, etc.). The National Butterfly Center Facebook page stays updated with developments.
1. Metapopulation Simulation (no extinction)
Silent, no explanation or transcript
2. Metapopulation Simulation 2
With verbal explanation
Wyoming DOT Wildlife Crossing Report | |
File Size: | 8370 kb |
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