Animal Ecology (AECL)

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Courses

Courses primarily for undergraduates:

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.

Prereq: BIOL 2110, BIOL 2120, and NREM 1200
Introduction to the principles of wildlife and fisheries management. Case studies will be explored along with assessment methods used to understand management including conservation of populations, species and communities, as well as habitat preservation and restoration. (Typically Offered: Spring)

(Cross-listed with BIOL 3120/ ENSCI 3120).
Credits: 4. Contact Hours: Lecture 3, Laboratory 3.

Prereq: BIOL 2110; (BIOL 2120 or BIOL 2510)
Fundamental concepts and principles of ecology dealing with organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems. Laboratory and field exercises examine ecological principles and methods as well as illustrate habitats. (Typically Offered: Fall, Summer)

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 3.

Prereq: AECL 3650
Biology, ecology, and evolution of fishes. Emphasis on structure, physiology, and behavior, including a focus on the conservation and management of fishes and their habitats. Laboratory focus on fish morphology, survey methods, identification, distribution, habits, and habitats of fishes. (Typically Offered: Spring)

Credits: 2. Contact Hours: Lecture 1, Laboratory 3.

Prereq: BIOL 2120
Introduction to techniques used in the collection and interpretation of fish population data in the field and in the lab. Course objectives include an understanding of population survey methodology and improving student critical thinking and teamwork skills. Laboratory focuses on field trips and hands-on sampling experience. (Typically Offered: Fall)

(Cross-listed with BIOL 3650).
Credits: 4. Contact Hours: Lecture 3, Laboratory 2.

Prereq: BIOL 2110 and BIOL 2110L
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. (Typically Offered: Fall)

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 3.

Prereq: BIOL 2110 and BIOL 2110L
Vertebrate fauna of Iowa, including fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Species identification, habitat requirements, community structure and assessment, conservation issues that include historical population changes and value of wild animals to the region's ecological and economic health. (Typically Offered: Spring)

(Cross-listed with BIOL 3710).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 3.

Prereq: AECL 3120; STAT 1010 or STAT 1040
Quantitative techniques used in management of natural resources with emphasis on inventory and manipulation of habitat and animal populations. (Typically Offered: Fall)

Credits: 4. Contact Hours: Lecture 1, Laboratory 8.

Prereq: BIOL 3120 or NREM 3110
Field-intensive study of population ecology. Emphasis on hands-on learning of study design and techniques to assess population trends in plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates inhabiting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. (Typically Offered: Summer)

(Cross-listed with BIOL 3750/ ENSCI 3750).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.

Prereq: BIOL 2110
Overview of the ecological processes, ecosystems, and biodiversity in marine environments. Ever-changing dynamics caused by environmental disturbances, internal forces, or by human impacts on species and ecosystems. (Typically Offered: Spring)

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 1, Laboratory 6.

Prereq: BIOL 2110 and Permission of Instructor; restricted to Animal Ecology majors
Introduction to methods and career options in wildlife research and management through field work. Two-week field work experience followed by on-campus reflection, analysis and presentation of field data. (Typically Offered: Fall)

Credits: 2. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 3.

Prereq: AECL 3120
Identification, biology, and ecological requirements of freshwater invertebrates, plants and algae. Additional emphases on community sampling methods and analysis, and use of organisms as tools for aquatic ecosystem health assessment. (Typically Offered: Fall)

(Cross-listed with ENSCI 4180).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 3.

Prereq: AECL 4860
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. Offered odd-numbered years. (Typically Offered: Fall)

(Cross-listed with ENT 4250).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 3.

Prereq: BIOL 3120
Morphology, ecology, diversity, and significance of aquatic insects, with emphasis on the collection, curation and identification of taxa in local streams and lakes. Offered odd-numbered years. (Typically Offered: Spring)

(Cross-listed with ENT 4350).
Credits: 2. Repeatable, maximum of 2 credits.

Prereq: BIOL 3120; Permission of Instructor
Field trip to study insects of major terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Location and duration vary. ENT 3700 or ENT 4250 recommended. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Spring, Summer)

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 3.

Prereq: AECL 3120, AECL 3210, AECL 3330; STAT 1010 or STAT 1040; Credit or Enrollment in AECL 4860
Biological basis of fishery management, fishery problems, and management practices for freshwater, anadromous, and marine fisheries. (Typically Offered: Fall)

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.

Prereq: BIOL 2110 and BIOL 2120
Concepts related to the culture of aquatic organisms including culture systems, water quality, nutrition, genetics, diseases, and marketing. (Typically Offered: Spring)

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 3.

Prereq: AECL 3710
Ecological theory and practice of wildlife management, including, population ecology, habitat management, and current issues in the field. Course involves a series of case studies addressing actual wildlife issues using field and quantitative methods. (Typically Offered: Spring)

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.

Prereq: Junior standing and at least 10 credits in biological sciences at the 3000+ level
Ecological and epidemiological aspects of diseases as they relate to wildlife populations. Topics to be covered include: major classes of disease; detection, description, monitoring, and management of disease; characteristics and interactions between disease agents and wildlife hosts; relationships among wildlife, domestic animal, and human health. (Typically Offered: Spring)

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.

Prereq: AECL 3650, AECL 3120 or Graduate classification and NREM 1200
Biological, political, social, and economic factors affecting the management of international wildlife resources. Meets International Perspectives Requirement. (Typically Offered: Fall)

(Cross-listed with BIOL 4570).
Credits: 2. Contact Hours: Lecture 2.

Prereq: BIOL 3510 or BIOL 3650
Biology, ecology, and evolution of amphibians (salamanders, frogs, caecilians) and reptiles (lizards, snakes, tuatara, turtles, crocodilians). Emphasis on structure, physiological adaptation to different environments, behavior, reproduction, roles of amphibians and reptiles in ecosystems, and conservation. Laboratory focus on survey methods, identification, relationships, distribution, habits, and habitats of amphibians and reptiles. (Typically Offered: Fall)

(Cross-listed with BIOL 4570L).
Credits: 1. Contact Hours: Laboratory 3.

Prereq: BIOL 3510 or BIOL 365 or AECL 3650; enrollment in BIOL 4570 or AECL 4570
Laboratory to accompany Biology/Animal Ecology 4570. Focus on survey methods, identification, relationships, distribution, habits, and habitats of amphibians and reptiles. (Typically Offered: Fall)

(Cross-listed with BIOL 4580).
Credits: 2. Contact Hours: Lecture 2.

Prereq: BIOL 3510 or AECL 3650
Biology, evolution, ecology and taxonomy of birds. Emphasis on structure, physiology, behavior, communication, navigation, reproduction, and conservation. (Typically Offered: Spring)

(Cross-listed with BIOL 4580L).
Credits: 1. Contact Hours: Laboratory 3.

Prereq: BIOL 3510 or AECL 3650/BIOL 3650 and Credit or concurrent enrollment in AECL 4580/BIOL 4580
Laboratory complements lecture topics with emphasis on external anatomy, identification and distribution of Midwest birds, and field trips. (Typically Offered: Spring)

(Dual-listed with EEOB 5590). (Cross-listed with BIOL 4590).
Credits: 2. Contact Hours: Lecture 2.

Prereq: AECL 3650 or BIOL 3510
Biology, ecology, and evolution of mammals. Emphasis on structure, physiological adaptation to different environments, behavior, reproduction, roles of mammals in ecosystems, and conservation. (Typically Offered: Spring)

(Cross-listed with BIOL 4590L).
Credits: 1. Contact Hours: Laboratory 3.

Prereq: BIOL 3510 or BIOL/AECL 3650; concurrent enrollment in BIOL 4590 or AECL 4590 required
Laboratory focus on identification, survey methods, distribution, habits, and habitats of mammals. Several field trips. (Typically Offered: Spring)

(Cross-listed with BIOL 4710).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.

Prereq: BIOL 3120
Examination of conservation issues from a population and community perspective. The role of genetics, demography, and environment in determining population viability, habitat fragmentation, reserve design, biodiversity assessment, and restoration ecology. (Typically Offered: Spring)

Credits: 1-8. Contact Hours: Lecture 8.
Repeatable.

Courses taken at Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and other marine biological stations are transferred to Iowa State University under this number. (Typically Offered: Summer)

(Cross-listed with BIOL 4860/ ENSCI 4860).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.

Prereq: BIOL 3120 or ENSCI 3190 or ENSCI 4020 or NREM 3010
Structure and function of aquatic ecosystems with application to fishery and pollution problems. Emphasis on lacustrine, riverine, and wetland ecology. (Typically Offered: Fall)

(Cross-listed with BIOL 4860L/ ENSCI 4860L).
Credits: 1. Contact Hours: Laboratory 3.

Prereq: Concurrent enrollment in BIOL 4860
Field trips and laboratory exercises to accompany 4860. Hands-on experience with aquatic research and monitoring techniques and concepts. (Typically Offered: Fall)

(Dual-listed with AECL 5890/ EEOB 5890). (Cross-listed with BIOL 4890).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 2.

Prereq: BIOL 3120; (STAT 1010 or STAT 1040); (MATH 1510, 1600, 1650 or Graduate standing)
Concepts and theories of population dynamics with emphasis on models of growth, predation, competition, and regulation. Offered even-numbered years. (Typically Offered: Fall)

Courses primarily for graduate students, open to qualified undergraduates:

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 3.

Prereq: AECL 3120 or graduate standing
Identification, biology, and ecological requirements of freshwater invertebrates, plants and algae. Additional emphases on community sampling methods and analysis, and use of organisms as tools for aquatic ecosystem health assessment. (Typically Offered: Fall)

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.

Prereq: AECL 3650; AECL 3120; or graduate standing
Current topics and theories including avian breeding and foraging ecology, population biology, community structure, habitat selection, field methodologies, and data interpretation. Offered even-numbered years. (Typically Offered: Spring)

(Cross-listed with ENSCI 5180).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 3.

Prereq: AECL 4860; or graduate standing
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. Offered odd-numbered years. (Typically Offered: Fall)

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.

Prereq: AECL 3120; AECL 3210; or graduate standing
Concepts, approaches, and techniques for assessment of recreational and commercial fisheries. Scope will range from individual fish to entire ecosystems, both freshwater and marine. Offered odd-numbered years. (Typically Offered: Spring)

(Cross-listed with ENT 5250).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 3.

Prereq: BIOL 3120 or graduate standing
Morphology, ecology, diversity, and significance of aquatic insects, with emphasis on the collection, curation and identification of taxa in local streams and lakes. Offered odd-numbered years. (Typically Offered: Spring)

(Cross-listed with EEOB 5310).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.

Prereq: BIOL 3120, BIOL 3130; or 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. Offered even-numbered years. (Typically Offered: Spring)

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 3.

Prereq: AECL 3120; AECL 3210; AECL 3330; (STAT 1010 or STAT 1040); credit or enrollment in AECL 4860 or graduate standing
Biological basis of fishery management, fishery problems, and management practices for freshwater, anadromous, and marine fisheries. (Typically Offered: Fall)

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.

Prereq: BIOL 2110; BIOL 2120 or graduate standing
Concepts related to the culture of aquatic organisms including culture systems, water quality, nutrition, genetics, diseases, and marketing. (Typically Offered: Spring)

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 2.

Prereq: (BIOL 3120 or NREM 3110 or BIOL 3540 or ANS 3360 or ANTHR 3170) or graduate classification
The study of how an animal's behavior affects its ability to survive and reproduce in its environment. Course topics, such as foraging behavior, sexual selection, parental care, etc., represent the interface of ecology, evolution, and behavior. Offered odd-numbered years. (Typically Offered: Fall)

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.

Ecological and epidemiological aspects of diseases as they relate to wildlife populations. Topics to be covered include: major classes of disease; detection, description, monitoring, and management of disease; characteristics and interactions between disease agents and wildlife hosts; relationships among wildlife, domestic animal, and human health. (Typically Offered: Spring)

(Cross-listed with EEOB 5860/ ENSCI 5860).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.

Prereq: BIOL 3120 or ENSCI 3810 or ENSCI 4020 or NREM 3010 or graduate classification
Structure and function of aquatic ecosystems with application to fishery and pollution problems. Emphasis on lacustrine, riverine, and wetland ecology. (Typically Offered: Fall)

(Cross-listed with EEOB 5860L/ ENSCI 5860L).
Credits: 1. Contact Hours: Laboratory 3.

Prereq: Concurrent enrollment in BIOL 4860
Field trips and laboratory exercises to accompany 4860. Hands-on experience with aquatic research and monitoring techniques and concepts. (Typically Offered: Fall)

(Dual-listed with EEOB 4890/ AECL 4890). (Cross-listed with EEOB 5890).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.

Prereq: (BIOL 3120, STAT 1010 OR STAT 1040, MATH 1510 OR 1600 OR 1650) or graduate classification
Concepts and theories of population dynamics with emphasis on models of growth, predation, competition, and regulation. Offered even-numbered years. (Typically Offered: Fall)

Credits: 1-30.

Prereq: Instructor Permission for Course
(Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)

Courses for graduate students:

Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 1.

Prereq: (BIOL 3120; STAT 5870; MATH 1510 or 1600 or 1650) or graduate classification
Quantitative techniques for analyzing vertebrate population data to estimate parameters such as density and survival. Emphasis on statistical inference and computing. Offered even-numbered years. (Typically Offered: Fall)

Credits: 1-3. Repeatable.

Prereq: Instructor Permission for Course
Graduate student experience in the animal ecology teaching program. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only. (Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)

Credits: 1-30. Repeatable.

Prereq: Instructor Permission for Course
(Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)

Courses primarily for professional curriculum students:

(Dual-listed with AECL 4010). (Cross-listed with BMS 7401).
Credits: 1.

8-week course. Introductory course with focus on fin fish production, health and medicine. Course content will help define future roles for veterinarians, producers, and service providers. Emphasis will be placed on water-evaluation, anatomy, pathology, infectious diseases, nutrition, regulatory constraints in production, food safety, biosecurity and current research. Field trip to aquaculture facility. (Typically Offered: Spring)