The goal of the Concept Map is to help you more explicitly relate course content
to larger ecological questions by diagramming in space the connections between
different concepts.
You will choose 3 of the 6 questions below and create a concept map for each
one. Each map should have at least 12 items in it (key terms or concepts), and
each item should be linked to at least one (ideally more) other items with labeled
arrows. Each map will be worth 12 points, for a total of 36.
1. What external and internal factors regulate the distribution, growth, and
dynamics of ecological systems (individuals to ecosystems)?
Hints: Climate, carrying capacity
2. How do evolutionary processes shape organisms’ interactions with their
environment and with other species?
Hints: Co-evolution, competition
3. How do energy and nutrients flow/cycle through ecosystems?
Hints: Primary production, decomposition
4. How and why do individuals, species, and ecosystems change over
space and time?
Hints: Phenotypic plasticity, succession
5. What does biodiversity mean? How is biodiversity produced and
maintained, why does it vary spatially, and how does it correlate with
ecosystem function?
Hints: Niche partitioning, time
6. How do ecological processes affect human society, and how might these
interactions shift under anthropogenic global change?
Hints: Disease vectors, domestication
These questions aren’t all created equal – for some of them, almost every class
will include a concept useful for answering it. Others are addressed only in
certain classes (but in greater detail). Some questions’ maps could be finished
relatively early in the semester. I encourage you to resist this temptation and at
least see what the whole semester has to offer each question before finalizing
your maps.
You can make your concept maps via PowerPoint/Google Slides, Microsoft
Word, Google Jamboard, pen and paper/post-it notes, or on a whiteboard
(photograph them). See the next page for an example of a concept map
addressing an ecology-related question.March 18 Update:
1. For any number of your concept maps, instead of answering one of the
questions, you can, if you prefer, make a “less guided” map simply
connecting concepts from three or more separate class days together.
The map will still need at least 12 concepts in it, and it will be helpful for
me if you clarify which days you’re drawing from in designing the map.
2. I’ve developed a brief rubric for the maps, which should help if you’re
unsure of what’s expected for them.
An acceptable map (10/12) will:
• Include at least 12 concepts (boxes) with at least one labeled arrow
leading to or from each one
• Have labels on all arrows
• If map if addressing one of the six questions: Effectively answers the
question (basically, if someone asked you the question, you could answer
them by guiding them through your map)
• If map is linking concepts from 3+ class days: Effectively integrates
concepts from each class together in a single map (basically, isn’t just
three separate maps with single connections between them)
A good map (12/12) will:
• Have arrow labels that are both concise (6-7 words at most) and specific
(using words more specific than “affects” or “influences” when possible, or
with A -> B specifying what aspect of B that A affects). An example of one is shown but please make it more creative. Please let me know what you decide. I have includded topics we have covered in class but please let me know if you would like to see slides.
Category: Evolutionary ecology
NEEDS PICTURES TAKEN. Lab Terrarium Writeup – Spring 2024
20 points
This assignment will not be a typical lab report – instead, you’ll be writing a blogor diary-style chronicle of the life of your terrarium over the course of ~4 weeks.
That is, your report should consist of dated entries (though the content of
those entries is open-ended). The purpose of this is to gain experience with
natural history, an “old way” of doing ecology that nevertheless provides an
important foundation to modern ecological research. Natural history is qualitative
rather than quantitative and observational rather than experimental.
The writeup should start with an initial photograph and description of your
terrarium setup (including where you put it). From then on, take photographs of
your terrarium and record observations at least once per week. Observations to
make could include (but aren’t limited to):
1. Moisture level (on the glass and/or vegetation)
2. Plant growth
3. Change in plant color or appearance
4. Animal activity, location, or behavior
5. Terrarium scent
Also record any manipulations you make to the terrarium (other than weekly
opening/misting if needed).
Observations may be qualitative but should still be thoughtful and wellstandardized. This means looking closely and being sure to continuously observe
the same things so that you have a baseline to note any changes against (that
said, an observation of something interesting/unexpected one week might inspire
another set of observations going forward, which is fine).
In addition to your observations, feel free to write any thoughts you have about
your terrarium or the experience of maintaining and observing it (again, think of
this as like a diary or field journal). A good question to ask yourself (and write
down the process of thinking through) is ‘why are any changes you observe
occurring?’. Researching the organisms in your terrarium (the species names are
in the lab slides PDF) could also inspire additional writing. Feel free to be
creative!
Lab Terrarium Writeup – Spring 2024
20 points
This assignment will not be a typical lab report – instead, you’ll be writing a blogor diary-style chronicle of the life of your terrarium over the course of ~4 weeks.
That is, your report should consist of dated entries (though the content of
those entries is open-ended). The purpose of this is to gain experience with
natural history, an “old way” of doing ecology that nevertheless provides an
important foundation to modern ecological research. Natural history is qualitative
rather than quantitative and observational rather than experimental.
The writeup should start with an initial photograph and description of your
terrarium setup (including where you put it). From then on, take photographs of
your terrarium and record observations at least once per week. Observations to
make could include (but aren’t limited to):
1. Moisture level (on the glass and/or vegetation)
2. Plant growth
3. Change in plant color or appearance
4. Animal activity, location, or behavior
5. Terrarium scent
Also record any manipulations you make to the terrarium (other than weekly
opening/misting if needed).
Observations may be qualitative but should still be thoughtful and wellstandardized. This means looking closely and being sure to continuously observe
the same things so that you have a baseline to note any changes against (that
said, an observation of something interesting/unexpected one week might inspire
another set of observations going forward, which is fine).
In addition to your observations, feel free to write any thoughts you have about
your terrarium or the experience of maintaining and observing it (again, think of
this as like a diary or field journal). A good question to ask yourself (and write
down the process of thinking through) is ‘why are any changes you observe
occurring?’. Researching the organisms in your terrarium (the species names are
in the lab slides PDF) could also inspire additional writing. Feel free to be
creative!
Can use online pictures that look real please. Lab Terrarium Writeup – Spring 2024
20 points
This assignment will not be a typical lab report – instead, you’ll be writing a blogor diary-style chronicle of the life of your terrarium over the course of ~4 weeks.
That is, your report should consist of dated entries (though the content of
those entries is open-ended). The purpose of this is to gain experience with
natural history, an “old way” of doing ecology that nevertheless provides an
important foundation to modern ecological research. Natural history is qualitative
rather than quantitative and observational rather than experimental.
The writeup should start with an initial photograph and description of your
terrarium setup (including where you put it). From then on, take photographs of
your terrarium and record observations at least once per week. Observations to
make could include (but aren’t limited to):
1. Moisture level (on the glass and/or vegetation)
2. Plant growth
3. Change in plant color or appearance
4. Animal activity, location, or behavior
5. Terrarium scent
Also record any manipulations you make to the terrarium (other than weekly
opening/misting if needed).
Observations may be qualitative but should still be thoughtful and wellstandardized. This means looking closely and being sure to continuously observe
the same things so that you have a baseline to note any changes against (that
said, an observation of something interesting/unexpected one week might inspire
another set of observations going forward, which is fine).
In addition to your observations, feel free to write any thoughts you have about
your terrarium or the experience of maintaining and observing it (again, think of
this as like a diary or field journal). A good question to ask yourself (and write
down the process of thinking through) is ‘why are any changes you observe
occurring?’. Researching the organisms in your terrarium (the species names are
in the lab slides PDF) could also inspire additional writing. Feel free to be
creative!
Lab Terrarium Writeup – Spring 2024
20 points
This assignment will not be a typical lab report – instead, you’ll be writing a blogor diary-style chronicle of the life of your terrarium over the course of ~4 weeks.
That is, your report should consist of dated entries (though the content of
those entries is open-ended). The purpose of this is to gain experience with
natural history, an “old way” of doing ecology that nevertheless provides an
important foundation to modern ecological research. Natural history is qualitative
rather than quantitative and observational rather than experimental.
The writeup should start with an initial photograph and description of your
terrarium setup (including where you put it). From then on, take photographs of
your terrarium and record observations at least once per week. Observations to
make could include (but aren’t limited to):
1. Moisture level (on the glass and/or vegetation)
2. Plant growth
3. Change in plant color or appearance
4. Animal activity, location, or behavior
5. Terrarium scent
Also record any manipulations you make to the terrarium (other than weekly
opening/misting if needed).
Observations may be qualitative but should still be thoughtful and wellstandardized. This means looking closely and being sure to continuously observe
the same things so that you have a baseline to note any changes against (that
said, an observation of something interesting/unexpected one week might inspire
another set of observations going forward, which is fine).
In addition to your observations, feel free to write any thoughts you have about
your terrarium or the experience of maintaining and observing it (again, think of
this as like a diary or field journal). A good question to ask yourself (and write
down the process of thinking through) is ‘why are any changes you observe
occurring?’. Researching the organisms in your terrarium (the species names are
in the lab slides PDF) could also inspire additional writing. Feel free to be
creative!