Identifying Data 2018/19
Subject (*) Ecology II: Populations and Communities Code 610G02040
Study programme
Grao en Bioloxía
Descriptors Cycle Period Year Type Credits
Graduate 2nd four-month period
 Third Obligatory 6
Language
Spanish
Teaching method Face-to-face
Prerequisites
Department Bioloxía
Coordinador
Ruiz De la Rosa, Jose Miguel
 E-mail
jose.miguel.ruiz.delarosa@udc.es
Lecturers
Martínez Abraín, Alejandro
Ruiz De la Rosa, Jose Miguel
 E-mail
a.abrain@udc.es
jose.miguel.ruiz.delarosa@udc.es
Web
General description Ecoloxía de poboacións. Interacións entre especies. Comunidades.

Study programme competencies
Code Study programme competences
A1 Recoñecer distintos niveis de organización nos sistemas vivos.
A17 Realizar bioensaios e diagnósticos biolóxicos.
A20 Muestrear, caracterizar e manexar poboacións e comunidades.
A21 Deseñar modelos de procesos biolóxicos.
A24 Xestionar, conservar e restaurar poboacións e ecosistemas.
A26 Deseñar experimentos, obter información e interpretar os resultados.
A30 Manexar adecuadamente instrumentación científica.
B4 Traballar de forma autónoma con iniciativa.
B6 Organizar e planificar o traballo.
B7 Comunicarse de maneira efectiva nunha contorna de traballo.
B8 Sintetizar a información.
B12 Adaptarse a novas situacións.

Learning aims
Learning outcomes Study programme competences
Describe ecological concepts at individual, population, community and ecosystem level. A1
A24
Analytical discussion of ecological concepts. B8
Managing scientific literature. A30
Using basic techniques in ecology. A17
A20
A21
A26
A30
 B4
B6
B7
B12

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
Section 1. Populations Unit 1. Size, structure and life cycles.
Unit 2. Population growth models.
Unit 3. Growth in natural populations.
Unit 4. Metapopulations.
Section 2. Species interactions Unit 5. Competition.
Unit 6. Predation.
Unit 7. Mutualism.
Section 3. Communities Unit 8. Community structure.
Unit 9. Patterns in species richness.
Unit 10. Ecological succession, trophic structure and stability.

Planning
Methodologies / tests Competencies Ordinary class hours Student’s personal work hours Total hours
Guest lecture / keynote speech A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 B4 B6 B7 B8 B12 24 62.4 86.4
Laboratory practice A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 B4 B6 B7 B8 B12 15 15 30
Seminar A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 B4 B6 B7 B8 B12 8 20.8 28.8
Objective test A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 B4 B6 B7 B8 B12 3 0 3
 
Personalized attention 1.8 0 1.8
 
(*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies Description
Guest lecture / keynote speech Oral presentations to transfer knowledge and ease learning. Most of the graphical support of presentations is available in the virtual campus (Moodle).
Laboratory practice For the students to learn effectively through the completion of practical activities in the field and/or in the laboratory.
Seminar Demonstration and study of numerical models for a better understanding and resolution of ecological problems. Most models will be worked with Faculty PCs if students have no portables.
Objective test Written exam on all aspects of the matter: theory, practicals and seminars.

Personalized attention
Methodologies
Laboratory practice
Seminar
Guest lecture / keynote speech
Objective test
Description
Elucidation of possible doubts emerging as the matter is developed.

Orientation and tuition to make the most of practicals.

Orientation and tuition to make the most of seminars.

Preparation, explanation and revision of exams.

Assessment
Methodologies Competencies Description Qualification
Objective test A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 B4 B6 B7 B8 B12 Written exam on all aspects of the matter: theory, practicals and seminars (see Assessment comments).
By means of this global exam all the degree's specific competencies included in this matter will be evaluated (A1, A17, A20, A21, A24, A26, A27, A29, A30, A31, A32). 		100
 
Assessment comments

Written exam on all aspects of the matter: theory,
practicals and seminars (see Assessment comments).

By means of this global exam all the degree's specific
competencies included in this matter will be evaluated.

Objective test. Written exam on all aspects of the
matter: theory, practicals and seminars (see Assessment comments).

One and only exam (but 2 opportunities) on all and
every part: theory, practicals (P) and seminars (S). Weight proportional to
contribution to time planning: 60%, 20% y 20% (respectively). All 3 parts are
to be passed simultaneously, but compensation possible if one part > 4/10.
Attendance not compulsory, but for P and S it’ll be recorded. Students can
voluntarily present at the exam a paper personal copybook on the work developed
in all 8 S and/or all 3 P classes; main text must be manuscript (by hand) and
the whole should be easily readable. Guides will be available in Moodle and the
marks on these workbooks may help overcome insufficiencies in the corresponding
exam. Copybooks can be drafted in pairs or groups, but the final result is not
to be cloned: they must reflect individual work and interpretation. Both
copybooks are needed to get the top mark (Honours).

Sources of information
Basic Alstad DN (2001). Basic Populus models of ecology. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall
Smith RL, Smith TM (2000). Ecología. Madrid: Pearson
Piñol J, Martínez-Vilalta J (2006). Ecología con números. Barcelona: Lynx
Molles M (2006). Ecología: Conceptos y Aplicaciones. Madrid: McGraw - Hill
Krebs CJ (1986). Ecología: el análisis experimental de la distribución y la abundancia. Madrid: Pirámide
Begon M, Harper JL, Townsend CR (1999). Ecología: individuos, poblaciones y comunidades. Barcelona: Omega
Smith TM, Smith RL (2012). Elements of Ecology. USA: Pearson
Begon M, Howarth RW, Townsend CR (2014). Essentials of Ecology. USA: Wiley
Ricklefs RE (1998). Invitación a la ecología: la economía de la naturaleza. Madrid: Panamericana
Alstad DN (). www.cbs.umn.edu/populus.
Piñol J, Martínez-Vilalta J (). www.ecologiaconnumeros.uab.es.

One of the basic references for seminars is Piñol & Martínez-Vilalta (EC-650). The models in the CD included in this book are also available in its web page. From Alstad’s link the program “Populus” can be freely downloaded, containing models on general biology and also others for some particular seminars. It includes a PopulusHelp.PDF (mostly in English) that was edited as a book in 2001 (EC-505). For most of these basic references there are more recent editions and also English versions.
Complementary Gotelli NJ (1995). A primer of ecology. Sunderland: Sinauer
Margalef R (1974). Ecología. Barcelona: Omega
Odum EP, Barret GW (2006). Fundamentos de ecología. Mexico: Thomson

There are more recent editions of these complementary references, and also English versions.

Recommendations
Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before
Chemistry/610G02001
Mathematics/610G02003
Statistics/610G02005
Physical Geography/610G02006
Ecology I: Individuals and Ecosystems/610G02039

Subjects that are recommended to be taken simultaneously
Population Genetics and Evolution/610G02021
Animal Physiology II/610G02036

Subjects that continue the syllabus
Human Ecology/610G02041
Ecotoxicology/610G02042
Data Analysis in Biology/610G02044

Other comments

Understanding rather than memorization is favored


(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.