HUMAN ECOLOGY - COURSE SCHEDULE (Winter 2004)

 

Week

Date

Topic

Reading

1

January 6

Introduction to HUMAN ECOLOGY.

none

 

January 8

ÒTragedy of the CommonsÓ

Hardin (1968)

2

January 13

Approaches to human ecology

1Chapter 3

 

January 15

Presentations & discussion

assigned

3

January 20

Distribution and abundance

none

 

January 22

Presentations & discussion.

assigned

    4

January 27

Population ecology

1Chapter 4

 

January 29

Presentations & discussion

assigned

5

February 3

The human population

1Chapter 5

 

February 5

Presentations & discussion

assigned

6

February 10

Human niche dimensions

1Chapters 6, 7 & 8

 

February 12

Presentations & discussion

assigned

    7

February 17

Mortality: malnutrition

1Chapter 9

 

February 19

Mid-term exam

none

8

February 24

Mortality: disease

1Chapters 9 & 10

 

February 26

Introduction to modelling

1Chapter 17

 

 

SPRING BREAK

 

10

March 9

Survivorship: resources

1Chapter 11

 

March 11

Model building

Populus software

11

March 16

Survivorship: energy flow

1Chapters 13 & 14

 

March 18

Model predictions

Populus software

12

March 23

Survivorship: resource cycling

1Chapters 15 & 16

 

March 25

Modelling discussion

none

13

March 30

Intraspecific competition & conflict

1Chapter 4

 

April 1

Marvin Harris Ð cows, pigs & war

2Harris

14

April 6

Carrying Capacity

1Chapter 5

 

April 8

Marvin Harris Ð males, potlatch & cargo

2Harris

15

April 13

The abundance Ð catastrophe debate

1Chapter 18

 

April 15

Marvin Harris Ð messiahs & witches

2Harris

16

April 22

FINAL EXAM 2:45-4:45 pm

1106 Wood hall

 

Texts: 1Kormondy, E.J., and D.E. Brown. 1998. Fundamentals of Human Ecology. Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-315177-8.

                2Harris, M. 1974 (1989). Cows, pigs, wars & witches. The riddles of culture. Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-72468-0 (pbk).

 

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