1-200 | 300 | 400 | Graduate Courses | Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

Animal Ecology
Courses Primarily for Undergraduate Students
A Ecl 130. Wildlife and Agriculture. (2-0) Cr. 2. S. Survey of the ecology and management of fish and wildlife resources in areas of intensive agriculture, with emphasis on Iowa. Wildlife conservation and management practices for private agricultural lands. Designed for nonmajors.

A Ecl 211. Careers in Animal Ecology. (2-0) Cr. 1. F.S. Second half semester. Prereq: Sophomore classification. Career planning and opportunities in animal ecology. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

A Ecl 301I. Iowa Natural History. (Same as Ia LL 301I.) See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

A Ecl 303I. Undergraduate Internship. (Same as Ia LL 303I.) See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

A Ecl 310. Vertebrate Biology. (3-2) Cr. 4. F. Prereq: Biol 202, 202L. Evolution, biology, and classification of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Emphasis on a comparative analysis of the structure and function of organ systems. Laboratory exercises concentrate on morphology and identification of orders of vertebrates.

A Ecl 312. Ecology. (Same as Biol 312.) See Biology.

A Ecl 312I. Ecology. (Same as Ia LL 312I.) See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

A Ecl 321. Fish Biology. (Dual-listed with 521.) (2-3) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 310. Anatomy, physiology, behavior, and ecology of fishes.

A Ecl 326I. Ornithology. (Same as Ia LL 326I.) See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

A Ecl 330. Interpretation of Natural Resources. (2-3) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 6 credits in biological sciences. History, objectives, forms, and techniques of natural resources interpretation in the settings of county, state, and national parks.

A Ecl 350. Ecological Methods and Analyses. (2-2) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 312; NREM 120; Stat 101 or 104. Quantitative techniques used in management of natural resources with emphasis on inventory and manipulation of habitat and animal populations. Nonmajor graduate credit.

A Ecl 361. Natural History of Fishes. (0-3) Cr. 1. F. Prereq: 310, 312. Natural history and ecology of Midwest fishes, including identification, survey methods, habitat requirements, foods and feeding, reproduction, communities and other ecologcial factors which affect species well-being.

A Ecl 362. Natural History of Reptiles and Amphibians. (0-3) Cr. 1. S. Prereq: 310, 312. Natural history and ecology of Midwest reptiles and amphibians, including identification, survey methods, habitat requirements, foods and feeding, reproduction, communities and other ecological factors which affect species well-being.

A Ecl 363. Natural History of Birds. (0-3) Cr. 1. S. Prereq: 310, 312. Natural history and ecology of Midwest birds, including identification, habitat requirements, distribution, foods and foraging, and reproduction.

A Ecl 364. Natural History of Mammals. (0-3) Cr. 1. F.S. Prereq: 310, 312. Natural history and ecology of Midwest mammals, including identification, survey methods, habitat requirements, foods and feeding, reproduction, communities and other ecological factors which affect species well-being.

A Ecl 401. Introductory Aquatic Animal Health and Medicine. (Same as VDPAM 401.) See Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine.

A Ecl 404I. Behavioral Ecology. (Same as Ia LL 404I.) See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

A Ecl 410. Aquatic Ecology. (Same as Bot 410, EnSci 410.) (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Biol 312, EnSci 330 or NREM 301. Structure and function of aquatic ecosystems with application to fisheries and pollution problems. Emphasis on lacustrine, riverine, and wetland ecology. Nonmajor graduate credit.

A Ecl 410L. Aquatic Ecology Laboratory. (Same as Bot 401L, EnSci 410L.) (0-3) Cr. 1. F. Prereq: Concurrent enrollment in 410. Field trips and laboratory exercises to accompany 410. Hands-on experience with aquatic research and monitoring techniques and concepts. Nonmajor graduate credit.

A Ecl 411. Identification of Aquatic Organisms. (Same as Bot 411.) (0-3) Cr. 1. F.S. Prereq: Credit or enrollment in 410L. On-line taxonomic and identification exercises to accompany 410. Instruction with aquatic research and monitoring techniques and concepts. Nonmajor graduate credit.

A Ecl 413. Community Ecology and Management. (2-2) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Biol 312. The effect of interspecific interactions on the structure and dynamics of natural and managed communities; including concepts of guild structure and trophic web dynamics and their importance to the productivity, diversity, stability, and sustainability of communities. The implications of interspecific interactions in the management of wild species will be emphasized with illustrative case histories of interactions between plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates. Nonmajor graduate credit.
A Ecl 419I. Vertebrate Ecology and Evolution. (Same as Ia LL 419I.) See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. Nonmajor graduate credit.

A Ecl 420I. Amphibians and Reptiles. (Same as Ia LL 420I.) See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

A Ecl 425. Aquatic Insects. (Dual-listed with 525; same as Ent 425.) See Entomology.

A Ecl 430. Media Techniques in Natural Resources Interpretation. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2003. Prereq: 330. Media techniques used by interpreters for teaching the public about natural resources. Nonmajor graduate credit.

A Ecl 440. Fishery Management. (Dual-listed with 540.) (2-3) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 312; NREM 120; credit or enrollment in 410; Stat 101 or 104. Biological basis of fishery management, fishery problems, and management practices for freshwater, anadromous, and marine fisheries.

A Ecl 442. Aquaculture. (Dual-listed with 542.) (2-3) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 410, 410L, credit or enrollment in 321. Concepts related to the culture of aquatic organisms including culture systems, water quality, nutrition, genetics, and diseases.

A Ecl 451. Wildlife Management. (2-3) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 350. Problems of managing wildlife habitat and populations. Case studies and group projects. Nonmajor graduate credit.

A Ecl 455. International Wildlife Issues. (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 310, 312 or graduate standing; NREM 120. Biological, political, social, and economic factors affecting the management of international wildlife resources. Nonmajor graduate credit.

A Ecl 490I. Undergraduate Independent Study. (Same as Ia LL 490I.) See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

Courses Primarily for Graduate Students, open to qualified undergraduate students
A Ecl 508I. Aquatic Ecology. (Same as Ia LL 508I.) See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

A Ecl 513. Ecological Toxicology. (Same as EnSci 513, Tox 513.) (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2003. Prereq: Biol 312. Effects of contaminants on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and community structure and processes. Environmental flow and fate of contaminants. Ecological risk assessment.

A Ecl 514. Evolutionary Ecology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2003. Prereq: 588; Biol 303; graduate standing. Relationships between animals and their environment, with major emphasis on adaptive strategies and evolutionary mechanisms.

A Ecl 515. Ecology of Freshwater Invertebrates. (Same as Zool 515.) (1-6) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2004. Prereq: Biol 312; Stat 101 or 104. Identification, natural history, and ecological relationships of free-living freshwater invertebrates. Emphasis on community structure, function and sampling techniques.

A Ecl 516. Avian Ecology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2004. Prereq: 310, 312, or graduate standing. Current topics and theories including avian breeding and foraging ecology, community structure, habitat selection, field methodologies, and data interpretation. Strong evolutionary emphasis.

A Ecl 518. Stream Ecology. (Same as EnSci 518.) (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2004. Prereq: 410. Biological, chemical, physical, and geological processes that determine the structure and function of flowing water ecosystems. Current ecological theories as well as applications to stream management for water quality and fisheries.

A Ecl 520. Fish Ecology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2005. Prereq: 312, 321. Relationships of fish with biotic and abiotic components of their environment and the functional role of fish in stream, lake, reservoir and marine ecosytems. Course will focus on current conceptual developments and primary literature.

A Ecl 520I. Fish Ecology. (Same as Ia LL 520I.) See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

A Ecl 521. Fish Biology. (Dual-listed with 321.) (2-3) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 310. Anatomy, physiology, behavior and ecology of fishes.

A Ecl 525. Aquatic Insects. (Dual-listed with 425; same as Ent 525.) See Entomology.

A Ecl 526I. Advanced Field Ornithology. (Same as Ia LL 526I.) See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

A Ecl 531. Conservation Biology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2005. Prereq: 312; Biol 301or graduate standing. Examination of conservation issues from a population and a community perspective. Population-level analysis will focus on the role of genetics, demography, and environment in determining population viability. Community perspectives will focus on topics such as habitat fragmentation, reserve design, biodiversity assessment, and restoration ecology.

A Ecl 531I. Conservation Biology. (Same as Ia LL 531I.) See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

A Ecl 535. Restoration Ecology. (Same as EnSci 535.) (2-3) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Bot 306 or 484 or graduate standing. Theory and practice of restoring animal and plant diversity, structure and function of disturbed ecosystems. Restored freshwater wetlands, forests, prairies and reintroduced species populations will be used as case studies.

A Ecl 535I. Restoration Ecology. (Same as Ia LL 535I.) See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

A Ecl 540. Fishery Management. (Dual-listed with 440.) (2-3) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 120, 312, credit or enrollment in 410; Stat 101 or 104. Biological basis of fishery management, fishery problems, and practices for management of freshwater, anadromous, and marine fisheries.

A Ecl 542. Aquaculture. (Dual-listed with 442.) (2-3) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 410, 410L, credit or enrollment in 321. Concepts related to the culture of aquatic organisms including culture systems, water quality, nutrition, genetics, and diseases.

A Ecl 544. Aquatic Toxicology. (Same as EnSci 544, Tox 544.) (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2004. Prereq: 410. Environmental chemistry and the biochemical, physiological, behavioral and population level effects of contaminants on aquatic organisms.

A Ecl 551. Wildlife Behavioral Ecology. (2-2) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2004. Prereq: 312; a course in wildlife management recommended. Examination and synthesis of social organizational and behavioral concepts important for wildlife conservation. Game and non-hunted wildlife species of the world treated.

A Ecl 560. Ecological Resource Management. (2-3) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2005. Prereq: Biol 202, 202L, 312; Stat 101 or 104 or graduate standing. Ecological and economical management of sustainable biological resources. Unifying current management concepts and models in wildlife, fisheries, water quality, forestry, recreation, and agriculture. Research problems.

A Ecl 570. Landscape Ecology. (Same as Bot 570.) (2-3) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2005. Prereq: 588; permission of instructor; a course in calculus. The study of ecological and evolutionary processes within a spatial context with emphasis on behavior, population, and community dynamics.

A Ecl 573. Techniques for Biology Teaching. (Same as Ia LL 573.) Cr. 1 or 2 each time taken. SS. The development and implementation of laboratory exercises suitable for inclusion in elementary, middle, high school, and community college biology and environmental courses. Exercises will be built around common organisms and ecosystems in Iowa. Field trips.
A. Animal Biology (Same as Ia LL 573A)
G. Limnology (Same as Ia LL 573G)
H. Animal Behavior (Same as Ia LL 573H)
W. Project WET (Same as Ia LL 573W)

A Ecl 580. Research Methods in Ecology. (2-0) Cr. 2. F. Prereq: 20 credits in biological sciences and a course in statistics. Research design, proposal preparation, technical writing, and professional presentations.

A Ecl 588. Population Ecology. (Same as Bot 588.) (2-2) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 312; Stat 401; a course in calculus. Concepts and theories of population dynamics with emphasis on models of growth, predation, competition, and regulation.

A Ecl 590I. Graduate Independent Study. (Same as Ia LL 590I.) See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

A Ecl 599. Creative Component. Cr. arr. Prereq: Nonthesis M.S. option only.

Courses for Graduate Students
A Ecl 600. Seminar. (2-0) Cr. 1 each time taken. May be taken more than once for graduation credit. F.S. Current topics in ecological research, fish and wildlife management, and environmental problems related to fish or wildlife resources.

A Ecl 611. Analysis of Populations. (2-2) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2003. Prereq: 312; Stat 401; a course in calculus. Quantitative techniques for analyzing vertebrate population data to estimate parameters such as density and survival. Emphasis on statistical inference and computing.

A Ecl 698. Animal Ecology Teaching Practicum. Cr. 1 to 3 each time taken F.S.SS. Prereq: Graduate classification in animal ecology and permission of instructor. Graduate student experience in the animal ecology teaching program. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

A Ecl 699. Research.

A Ecl 699I. Research. (Same as Ia LL 699I.) See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

Courses Offered at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL), Ocean Springs, Mississippi
The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory is affiliated with the University of Southern Mississippi. Iowa State students may register for the following University of Southern Mississippi/GCRL courses and transfer them to their ISU degree programs. Written permission of the ISU coordinator for the GCRL, 201 Bessey, is required for this arrangement. Inquire at 201 Bessey for further information.

MAR 405. Marine Ecology. Cr. 3. SS. Prereq: 16 hours of biological sciences including general zoology, general botany, and invertebrate zoology. A consideration of the relationship of marine organisms to their environment, including the effects of temperature, salinity, light, nutrient concentration, currents, and food on their abundance and distribution.

MAR 405L. Marine Ecology Lab. Cr. 2. SS. Lab to accompany MAR 405.

MAR 407. Marine Aquaculture. Cr. 3. SS. Prereq: General zoology or invertebrate zoology. A lecture, laboratory, and field course designed to introduce aquatic and marine biology students to the history, principles, problems, and procedures relating to the culture of commercially important crustaceans, fish, and mollusks along the Gulf Coast.

MAR 407L. Marine Aquaculture Lab. Cr. 3. SS. Lab to accompany MAR 407.