Mating in chrysomelia beetles
Biology 3475A Links:
- Course Outline
- Lecture Notes
- List of other Biology Courses
Overwintering monarch butterflies [photo: Jeremy McNeil] Biology 3475A Chemical Ecology
Instructor:
Prof. Jeremy N. McNeil
Department of Biology
Room 3066, Biology & Geology
Email: jmcneil2@uwo.ca
Phone: 519–661–3487
Office Hours:
I will be available in my office on Friday from 10:00 to 12:30. Appointments at other times can be arranged by contacting me by email. Please note that I will not answer questions in the 24 h preceding an exam.
I also will be willing to answer questions in the third hour of classes the week prior to exams.
General theme:
We will examine how plants and animals use naturally occurring chemicals as cues to find essential resources, defend against natural enemies, locate suitable mates, and maintain social systems. In addition we will discuss how chemical ecology may be used to elucidate basic ecological problems and to provide more environmentally friendly pest management practices. More details are provided in the course synopsis.
Textbook:
There is no official textbook. However, you will be provided a list of reference books and for each specific section you will be provided with a list of the references used.
Lectures:
PDF files of PowerPoint presentations will be posted on the course website by 8:00 am before each lecture. You should download them and use them to take notes during the lectures, which are on Friday from 13:30–16:20 (with breaks!!).
Exams/marks allocation:
There will be two exams, each consisting of 5 short essay questions. The first exam will cover the material to the end of lectures on October 23rd, and the second all material discussed from November 6th to the end of term.
First exam (30th Oct; 13:30–16:30 …room to be announced): 40% Second exam (TBA): 40%
I will not be on campus on September 18th, so on the first day of class (September 11 th) you will each be assigned a scientific manuscript to evaluate. You are to prepare a written assessment of the scientific content, of no more than one page, and on the 18 th hand in a hard copy (submit by 16:45 to Rm. 301 NCB ) and an electronic copy (submitted to turnitin by 17:00 on WebCT OWL). This is worth 5%.
You also will have to write a 1000 ± 100 word text (not including references: I expect at least 5 from the primary literature) on a topic that will be assigned on the first day of class, September 6th. The deadline for this assignment (worth 15%) is November 13th, 2009. I require a hard copy (submit by 16:45 to Rm. 301 NCB ) and an electronic copy submitted to turnitin (by 17:00 on WebCT OWL). I will grade the paper on your ability to synthesize the work; however marks will be deducted for poor grammar, incorrect spelling and incomplete references. Remember plagiarism, as defined in the academic calendar, is a scholastic offence and will be dealt with accordingly. Note that you may use any acceptable form of referencing, as long as you are consistent throughout. Late assignments will receive 0.
Examination Policy:
Examinations are compulsory.
If you are unable to meet a course requirement due to illness or other serious circumstances, you must provide valid medical or other supporting documentation to the Dean's office as soon as possible and contact me immediately. It is the student's responsibility to make alternative arrangements with me once the accommodation has been approved and I have been informed. In the event of a missed final exam, a "Recommendation of Special Examination" form must be obtained from the Dean's Office immediately. For further information please see:
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/medical.pdf
A student requiring academic accommodation due to illness, should use the Student Medical Certificate when visiting an off-campus medical facility or request a Records Release Form (located in the Dean's Office) for visits to Student Health Services. The form can be found here:
https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/medical_document.pdf
Make-up exams
As part of university policy, students that have been granted permission by the Dean’s Office to write the make-up examination will write the exam at a time scheduled by the professor. There will be one written make-up examination given within two weeks of the originally scheduled exam that was missed. Arrangements may be made for students that have valid reasons for missing this make-up; however the format of any additional make-ups being at the discretion of the professor…and it could be an oral exam.
Academic Accommodations for Religious Holidays
The Faculty of Science strictly adheres to the University policy on accommodation for students based upon conflicts with religious holidays. Accommodation will only be granted for the specified date of the religious holiday. Only holidays appearing on the University-approved list of dates will be accommodated. See the Office of the Dean for the list of approved dates. Students requesting accommodation must do so, in writing, to the Office of the Dean at least a month before the scheduled exams.
Returning Mid-term Exam and assignments
You will be notified in lecture when these has been marked and tabulated.
