Author: Dr. Park
Species-area assignment
Please turn in your R code for this assignment to the Dropbox by Tuesday, 13th November.
The assignment:
Required: Add code to the supplied R file to calculate the area and richness of at least 5 regions (at minimum this can be 1 through 5 counties that share boundary)
Optional: Plot these data, fit a linear model (line of best slope) and estimate the intercept and slope
Even more optional: Repeat this exercise for similar areas that are more or less environmentally variable than the original (physiography of county indicated by color of counties in the supplied pdf file) & compare and comment on the slope obtained for both versions
Email Dr Park with any questions/requests for help (attach R file when doing this)
Bats exercise
The in-class exercise on bats (latitudinal diversity gradients) may be turned in here by Thursday, 1st October – for extra credit towards homework.
Dropbox for Tri-trophic lab assignment
Please put your completed word document for this assignment in the Dropbox
Project 2 – Biodiversity: Instructions
Instructions are here. Each group should share a google doc with instructors no later than Thursday, 18 October 2018. This document is to include the names of team members and 3 proposed research questions listed in order of preference. This document will also serve to document group progress. While project 2 is formally assessed by group presentation, this document will help groups and instructors coordinate research progress.
Homework 7 – due Thursday, Oct 11
Answer any 3 of the 4 homework questions in the host-parasite reading and submit them to this Dropbox by 5pm, Thursday, Oct 11. Bonus marks available for the 4th question.
Revised grade calculation
(also updated in syllabus): Project 1 will only require a written report and project 2 will only require a presentation.
| task | original scheme | revised scheme |
| quizzes | 10 | 10 |
| exam 1 | 10 | 10 |
| exam 2 | 10 | 10 |
| final exam | 10 | 15 |
| homework | 10 | 15 |
| participation | 10 | 10 |
| written report(s) | 30 | 15 |
| presentation | 10 | 15 |
Prep for predator-prey lecture
A reminder that PhD candidate Robbie Richards will be running the class on Tuesday, October 2nd. A message from Robbie below on getting a head start on some homework…
“Please make an attempt to complete questions 2 and 3 from the homework section of the predator-prey reading prior to class on Tuesday. You’ll be comparing your work with a classmate and then we’ll discuss them as a group during class. I’m looking forward to meeting you all!”
Homework 6 – due Thursday, 27th September
Complete questions 1-3 from the ‘Host-parasitoid’ reading and submit to the Dropbox by 5pm, Thursday, 27 Sept.
Homework 5 – due Tuesday, 11 Sept.
Complete the 2 worked examples from the ‘Age structure’ lecture slides and submit to the Dropbox by 5pm, Tuesday 11 Sept.
As a bonus question you may additionally submit your calculation of R0, the net reproductive rate, for the life table in worked example 1.