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Biology 301M. Ecology, Evolution, and Society Designed for non-science majors.

Dive into environmental adaptations, species diversity, community organization, and human impact in this non-majors biology course. Learn about population genetics, origin of life, and more through lectures and discussions.

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Biology 301M. Ecology, Evolution, and Society Designed for non-science majors.

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  1. Biology 301M. Ecology, Evolution, and Society Designed for non-science majors. Introduction to environmental adaptations, diversity of organisms, species interactions, organization and processes of communities, population growth and limitations, evolution and population genetics, origin of life, and human impact on the environment. Three lecture hours and one discussion hour a week for one semester. May not be counted toward a degree in biology. Varanus eremius (Varanid) Lecture # 1 29 August 2019

  2. Biology 301M – Ecology, Evolution, & SocietyProfessor: Eric R. PiankaOffice: Patterson 125, Mon., Fri. 1-2 PM (or by appointment)471-7472, email: erp@austin.utexas.eduLectures: Tuesday and Thursday, 11-1230 (Gearing 105) Course Websites:type “bio301-pianka” into browserhttp://www.zo.utexas.edu/courses/bio301/Download Syllabus from above site (Contract)Familiarize yourself with Campus Safety Procedures Ctenophorus isolepis (Agamid)

  3. Teaching Assistants: Kyle Wilhite, Office: Patterson 113 (or by appointment, use email) Email: kwilhite@utexas.edu Discussion Sections (20% of letter grade) (26 readings and Problem Sets) Wednesday 9-10 AM GDC 1.406 Wednesday 10-11 AM GDC 5.302 Wednesday 11-12 AM GDC 6.202 Wednesday 12-1 PM GDC 2.210 Ctenophorus nuchalis (Agamid)

  4. Notice the demanding course requirements placed on this class as part of UT's Core Curriculum, and accordingly, this coursemust meet standards and objectives of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for Natural Science and Technology:oCommunication Skills: effective development, interpretation and 
expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication. 
oCritical Thinking Skills: creative thinking, innovation, inquiry and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information. 
oTeamwork: ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal. 
oEmpirical and Quantitative Skills: manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions. Ctenotus (Skink)

  5. Goals and Philosophy: This course assumes knowledge of High School algebra, geometry, and genetics. You will be expected to be able to understand 3-dimensional graphs and be able to manipulate simple equations. We will attempt to teach you the basic ecology and evolution that everyone should know -- we will also do our utmost to encourage you to think. We hope to make students into better informed citizens of this, our one and only spaceship, planet Earth. Sceloporus (Phrynosomatid)

  6. Please read each of the 26 links on the class website: ___________________________________________________ Scientific Methods Natural Selection On Human Nature Our Hunter-Gatherer Heritage Uncaring Humanoids Global Warming Population Growth Problem Gamblers ___________________________________________________ Agriculture Unburnable Oil Vanishing Book of Life Horsepower The Weakest Link Technology Economics Intelligent Design? ___________________________________________________ Energy Money Corporations Land Food Water Sewage Plastics Solutions Space Travel __________________________________________________ Eight will be covered on the first 2 hour exams, ten and the 3rd ecam and ALL 26 will be included on the Final exam. Nucras (Lacertid)

  7. Pianka, Evolutionary Ecology, 6th ed.Read Chapters 1-7Watch Dance, Monkeys, Danceand Domino Effects (in Videos folder) We will follow this book, more or less in the order of its chapters [Powerpoint presentations can bedownloaded from the course website]Available as an eBook 7th ed. from GoogleAlso you can read it on line at course webpage or Canvas(Use Safari, other browsers may not show figures)UT provides students with 500 megs per week free, if you need more bandwidth, you can buy 10 gigabytes per week for only $3 per semester.

  8. For this generation, who must confront the shortsightedness of their ancestors . . . Moloch horridus (Agamid)

  9. First Exam: 26 September Second Exam: 31 October Third Exam: 5 December Best 2 of above 3 = 40% Discussion Sections 20%Final Exam 12 December40% No “Extra points Anolis carolinensis (Dactyloid)

  10. First Exam: 26 September Second Exam: 31 October Third Exam: 5 December Best 2 of above 3 = 40% Discussion Sections 20%Final Exam 12 December40% No “Extra pointsNo “Make Up” Exams! Anolis carolinensis (Dactyloid)

  11. First Exam: 26 September Second Exam: 31 October Third Exam: 5 December Best 2 of above 3 = 40% Discussion Sections 20%Final Exam 12 December40% No “Extra pointsNo “Make Up” Exams! Anolis carolinensis (Dactyloid)

  12. First Exam: 26 September Second Exam: 31 October Third Exam: 5 December Best 2 of above 3 = 40% Discussion Sections 20%Final Exam 12 December40% No “Extra pointsNo “Make Up” Exams! Anolis carolinensis (Dactyloid)

  13. Politicians and other advertisers equate ecology with “beer cans and pollution” and environment with “clean air and clean water,” in short the human environment. Anthropocentric. All other organisms have environments, too. Environment is defined as all the physical and biotic factors impinging upon a particular organismic unit, as well as everything affected by that organismic unit. Ctenotus pantherinus (Scincid)

  14. An organismic unit could be an individual, a population, or even all of the organisms living together in a particular ecosystem, an entire community. These constitute different levels of organization in the biological hierarchy of life. Ecology is defined as the study of the interactions between organisms and their environments. Phelsuma (Geckonid)

  15. Ecology requires wild organisms in the natural environments within which they evolved and to which they have become adapted.

  16. Ecology requires wild organisms in the natural environments within which they evolved and to which they have become adapted. Once, we were surrounded by wilderness and wild animals, now we surround them.

  17. Ecology requires wild organisms in the natural environments within which they evolved and to which they have become adapted. What good are rattlesnakes?

  18. Snakes in Cages

  19. “Love” inVials

  20. Major Lizard Clades: Agamidae 440 species Gekkota 7 Families 1536 species Iguania 12 Families 1086 species Lacertidae 330 species Scincidae 1600 species Varanidae 75 species Moloch Nucras Ctenophorus (Lacertid) Phelsuma Anolis Sceloporus Ctenotus Ctenotus Varanus

  21. Hierarchical Organization of the Biological Sciences Molecular Biology <—————— Integrative Biology——————————>

  22. Hierarchical Organization of the Biological Sciences Biosphere Molecules Molecular Biology Neurobiology Behavior Evolutionary Ecology <—————— Integrative Biology——————————>

  23. Foot & Mouth Virus

  24. Time and Space Scaling in EcologyDaily movements (home range, territory) Dispersal events (immigration, emigration) Colonization of new areas and habitats Geographic range expansion or contraction Geographical patterns of diversity Daniel R. Brooks

  25. Models may be verbal, graphical, or mathematical Model: mere “caricatures of nature” (all models are imperfect) Trade offs in construction of models precision generality realism

  26. Manipulation

  27. Understanding Manipulation

  28. Knowledge Understanding Manipulation

  29. Wisdom Knowledge Understanding Manipulation

  30. Wisdom Knowledge Understanding Manipulation Profess: “to claim to have knowledge of”

  31. Wisdom Knowledge Understanding Manipulation Profess: “to claim to have knowledge of” Study: “application of the mental faculties to the acquisition of knowledge”

  32. Fossil fuel is our energy slave. It’s too cheap, one gallon will move a one-ton car 30-50 miles (for a measly $2-$3 bucks – just imagine having to push your car that far) Read Horsepower

  33. Watch these videoshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YQ9_2K2_z3Ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM6txLtoaochttp://www.upworthy.com/a-smartypants-scientist-makes-an-easy-analogy-about-our-planet-and-now-im-scared

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