Identifying Data 2022/23
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
Rodríguez Roiloa, Sergio
E-mail
sergio.roiloa@udc.es
Lecturers
Rodríguez Roiloa, Sergio
Ruiz De la Rosa, Jose Miguel
E-mail
sergio.roiloa@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 28 56 84
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 8 16
Multiple-choice questions A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 0 1 1
Case study A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 0 14 14
Objective test A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 B4 B6 B7 B8 B12 3 0 3
 
Personalized attention 2 0 2
 
(*)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.
Multiple-choice questions Partial examination of the subject (mid-term) will take place during the course. They will not be eliminatory
Case study Deliverable elements of the activities carried out in Seminars and Practicals
Objective test Written exam on all aspects of the matter: theory, practicals and seminars.

Personalized attention
Methodologies
Case study
Laboratory practice
Seminar
Guest lecture / keynote speech
Objective test
Multiple-choice questions
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 deliverables and exams.

Assessment
Methodologies Competencies Description Qualification
Case study A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 Exercises linked to the activities carried out in Seminars and Labs (see evaluation comments) 20
Objective test A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 B4 B6 B7 B8 B12 Written exam on all aspects of the subject: Theory, Seminars and Labs (see evaluation comments) 50
Multiple-choice questions A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 Partial examination of the subject (mid-term tests) will take place during the course. They will not be eliminatory (see evaluation comments) 30
 
Assessment comments

The final grade will result from the student performance in all the activities under evaluation, which will include the three parts of the subject: Theory, Seminars and Labs, with a contribution to the final grade proportional to its contribution in time planning: 60% Theory, 20% Seminars and 20% Labs. All students will have two opportunities to pass the course:

In the first opportunity, a continuous evaluation will be carried out, including assignments, mid-term tests and a final exam (on a date set by the Faculty Board), with the following relative weighting:

60% Theory (30% mid-term tests + 30% final exam)

20% Seminars (10% assignments + 10% final exam)

20% Labs (10% assignments + 10% final exam)

In the case of the second opportunity, there will be a single final exam (on a date set by the Faculty Board) that will include questions on the three parts of the subject with the following weighting:

60% Theory

20% Seminars

20% Practicals

Both in the first and in the second opportunities it will be necessary to pass each and every one of the three parts simultaneously (Theory, Seminars and Labs) to pass the subject. A failed part may be offset with others if its grade is at least 4/10. The average grade to pass the course must be a 5.0 out of 10. Those students who submit and/or attend any of the continuous evaluation activities will be considered as presented (attended), receiving the corresponding grade for the work submitted and/or tests carried out according to their weighting, and a grade of zero in those works and/or tests in which they have not presented or not attended. In case of not submitting assignments or not taking any of the tests, they will be considered as not presented.

Attendance to Seminars and Labs is not mandatory.

The assignments to be handed in linked to Seminars and Labs will consist on exercises of the activities carried out in Seminars and Labs. Those reports will be prepared and handed in following the indications given by the professor (format, content, deadlines, etc.) and their qualification will be subject to individual oral examination, if necessary. These exercises must collect the individual work and interpretation of each student.

The achievement of the Honours mark (maximum qualification) will require, at least, a final grade of 9.0 or higher, and the execution of all the assignments of the course.

The fraudulent execution of the exam or activities will directly imply the grade of '0' in the subject in the corresponding opportunity. 

For students who can use the early December opportunity, the evaluation will consist of a final global exam with a value of 100%, similar to that described for the second opportunity.

Students with officially recognized academic exemption are able to participate in the proposed or equivalent activities and have support by tutoring (onsite or online).


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
Molles M (2013). Ecology: concepts and applications. McGraw Hill
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 and 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 that was edited as a book in 2001 (EC-505).

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


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.