Textbooks to follow:
Ecology: global insights & investigations, Stiling, P. D., 4th Ed. McGrew-Hill.
Essentials of ecology, G. Tyler Miller, Scott E. Spoolman, Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
The Economy of Nature, Robert Ricklefs, Sixth Ed, 2008. Freeman, W. H. & Company.
Ecology, William D. Bowman, Sally D. Hacker, Michael L. Cain. 2017, Sinauer Assoc.
Class slides will soon be posted on this page.
General guidelines
Please divide yourself into four groups.
Each group will choose and discuss one of the following research papers.
No two groups should have the same papers.
Paper selection is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Preparing a presentation is not necessary; you are welcome to use chalk and board or explain/discuss the concepts using your oratory skills.
Each group will get 20 minutes to explain the concepts and 10 minute to discuss the questions.
Guidelines for the presentation
Prepare upto ten slides per paper.
First slide should include: title of the paper, names and roll numbers of the group members, and date of the presentation. (If you are not using slides, then this information should be conveyed on the board).
Negative markings if you exceed the time and/or number of slides.
Do not use animation; submit the slides in PDF format.
Submit the slides at least one day before the presentation. Last minute changes/submissions will not be entertained and such submissions will be scheduled on the next day/class.
Please email me the slides at saket1028@gmail.com (.pdf) format.
Tilman, D., Wedin, D., & Knops, J. (1996). Productivity and sustainability influenced by biodiversity in grassland ecosystems. Nature, 379(6567), 718-720. (DOI)
Hardin, G. (1960). The competitive exclusion principle: an idea that took a century to be born has implications in ecology, economics, and genetics. Science, 131(3409), 1292-1297. (DOI; pdf)
Pianka, E. R. (1970). On r-and K-selection. The American Naturalist, 104(940), 592-597. (DOI)
Grime, J. P. (1998). Benefits of plant diversity to ecosystems: immediate, filter and founder effects. Journal of Ecology, 86(6), 902-910. (DOI)
Ginzburg, L. R., & Jensen, C. X. (2004). Rules of thumb for judging ecological theories. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 19(3), 121-126. (DOI; pdf)
Grading scheme (20 marks)
8: Conceptual clarity and delivery of the topic.
7: Ability to answer the questions asked (correct answer is not needed, but right approach is a must) and involvement in the discussion.
5: Attendance and classroom involvement.