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University of Calgary Calendar 2015-2016 COURSES OF INSTRUCTION Course Descriptions E Ecology ECOL
Ecology ECOL

Instruction offered by members of the Department of Biological Sciences in the Faculty of Science.

Department Head – R.M.R. Barclay

†Limited amounts of non-scheduled class time involvement will be required for these courses.

Senior Courses
Ecology 413       Field Course in Ecology
An examination of ecological principles and techniques through field exercises, including studies of terrestrial and aquatic populations, communities and ecosystems. The course is held at the Kananaskis Centre for Environmental Research in the two weeks immediately prior to the commencement of the Fall Term.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(140 hours)
Prerequisite(s):
Biology 313 and 315.
Notes:
Enrolment in this course may be limited. See Program Details in the Faculty of Science section of this Calendar.
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†Ecology 417       Aquatic Communities and Ecosystems
Community composition and dynamics at the various trophic levels of aquatic ecosystems. Temporal and spatial changes in community composition, physical and chemical conditions, and their effects on the ecosystem. There will be a full week-end field trip, normally during the first or second week of the term.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Biology 313 and one of Biology 315 or Environmental Science 401.
Notes:
Enrolment in this course may be limited. See Program Details in the Faculty of Science section of this Calendar.      
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Ecology 419       Terrestrial Communities and Ecosystems
Processes and patterns in above- and below-ground terrestrial communities. Ecosystem level processes in fluxes of carbon and nutrients. Methods for assessing biomass, productivity and biochemical pathways.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Biology 313 and one of Biology 315 or Environmental Science 401.
Notes:
Enrolment in this course may be limited. See Program Details in the Faculty of Science section of this Calendar.       
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Ecology 425       Quantitative Biology II
Quantitative analysis as applicable to ecological research. Methodologies and models will be presented and analysed. Particular emphasis will be placed on experimental design, regression analysis, and the study of spatial dispersion.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Biology 313 and 315.
Notes:
Enrolment in this course may be limited. See Program Details in the Faculty of Science section of this Calendar.     
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Ecology 429       Ecology of Individuals
Ecological and evolutionary perspectives on physiology and behaviour. This course focuses on the influences on resource acquisition, maintenance, growth, and reproduction and their implications for survival and fertility.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Biology 313 and 315.
Notes:
Enrolment in this course may be limited. See Program Details in the Faculty of Science section of this Calendar.    
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Ecology 439       Ecology of Populations
A conceptual and practical treatment of population ecology including: population growth, demography, life histories, population dynamics, competition, predation and mutualism.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Ecology 425 and 429.
Notes:
Enrolment in this course may be limited. See Program Details in the Faculty of Science section of this Calendar.    
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Ecology 501       Ecological and Evolutionary Applications
A class project course in which students apply their understanding of ecological and evolutionary concepts and their analytical skills to investigate selected problems in detail. Project topics vary from year to year and will include fundamental and applied problems. Formal written and oral reports will be presented as a necessary component of the course.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(0-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Ecology 425, 429, and one of 417 or 419; and completion of at least 75 units (12.5 full-course equivalents).
Notes:
Prior or concurrent completion of Biology 401, Ecology 419 and 439 are strongly recommended. Ecology 501 is intended to draw on experience gained throughout the Ecology program, and should be taken by students in the final year of the program.
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Ecology 507       Special Problems in Ecology
Independent research or reading project that may include seminars, lectures, term papers and training in theoretical and/or laboratory methods.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(0-8) or H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s):
Completion of at least 54 units (9.0 full-course equivalents) and consent of the Department.
Notes:
Students completing a typical course sequence in their program would normally be eligible to enrol in their 3rd or 4th year. After consultation with a departmental faculty member who will supervise the chosen problem, a permission form obtained from the department office or website must be signed by the course supervisor before a student can register.
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Ecology 527       Ecology of Fishes
The ecology of fishes with an emphasis on freshwater systems. Fish will be used as models for examining ecological principles and theory at various levels of organization including physiological, behavioural, population and community ecology. Topics covered include: morphology, systematics, foraging, bioenergetics, life history strategies, population dynamics and the role of fish in aquatic food webs.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-1T)
Prerequisite(s):
Biology 313, and one of Ecology 417 or Zoology 477.02.
Notes:
Offered during even-odd dated academic years.
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Ecology 528       Independent Studies in Ecology
Original and independent thought, practical research and the completion of written and oral reports.
Course Hours:
6 units; F(0-8)
Prerequisite(s):
Completion of at least 90 units (15 full-course equivalents) and consent of the Department.
Notes:
After consultation with a departmental faculty member who will supervise the chosen problem, a permission form obtained from the department office or website must be signed by the course supervisor before a student can register.
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Ecology 529       Molecular Ecology and Evolution
Molecular Ecology utilizes population genetics, phylogenetics, and genomics to address questions in ecology, evolution, behaviour and conservation. Topics will include principal and emerging molecular techniques for characterizing and analysing genetic variation to test quantitative predictions from ecological and evolutionary theory.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s):
Biology 311 and 313.
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Ecology 530       Honours Research Project in Ecology
Research project under the direction of one or more faculty members in the Department of Biological Sciences. Formal written and oral reports must be presented on completion of this course. Open only to Honours Ecology students or Honours Biological Sciences students.
Course Hours:
6 units; F(0-8)
Prerequisite(s):
Completion of at least 90 units (15 full-course equivalents) and consent of the Department.
Notes:
After consultation with a departmental faculty member who will supervise the chosen problem, a permission form obtained from the department office or website must be signed by the course supervisor before a student can register.
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Graduate Courses

Enrolment in any graduate course requires consent of the Department.

Only where appropriate to a student's program may graduate credit be received for courses numbered 500-599. 600-level courses are available with permission to undergraduate students in the final year of their programs.

Ecology 603       Advanced Behavioural Ecology
Current problems and recent research in areas of particular significance. Topics will vary from year to year.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
Notes:
Offered during even-odd dated academic years.
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Ecology 607       Limnology and Oceanography
Lectures, seminars and projects in the areas of limnology, aquatic ecology and oceanography.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(0-6)
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Ecology 677       Advanced Population Ecology
The theory and practice of the study of populations, methods of population estimation, factors affecting populations, and systems approaches to the modelling of populations.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(0-6)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Ecology 731       Advanced Plant Ecology
Current problems and recent research in areas of particular significance. Topics will vary from year to year.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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