Weed Ecology
PLS 6623 - Section 1543
 3 hours credit
Syllabus Spring 2006

Format | Instructor | Textbook | Objectives | Course Philosophy
 Student Evaluation | Schedule | Discussion Group 
  Relevant Books | Relevant Journals | Academic Honesty 
UF Counseling | Software Use | Amendments

PREREQUISITES: A basic knowledge of ecological terminology and weed management techniques will be assumed. Students lacking any ecological background or who have not taken Weed Science (PLS 4601/5632) will be assigned supplemental reading.

RELEVANT FIELDS OF STUDY:

This course will be of interest to students specializing in weed science, applied botany, and wildlife management; those wishing to diversify their ecological training; and those wanting to understand more about the non-indigenous plants that are invading Florida.

FORMAT: 
Spring semester, even numbered years. 

Lecture:  Mondays periods 6–7 McCarty B Room 2196

Discussion period:
One additional period a week assigned to small discussion groups, time and location of which is agreed upon at beginning of semester.  A two hour field trip on campus to discuss vegetation sampling will be scheduled for the second half of the semester.

Office hours: Mon. periods 2–5 or by appointment

TEXTBOOK:

“Weed Ecology in Natural and Agricultural Systems" by Booth, Murphy and Swanton (2003) - CABI Publishing, 303pp  will be required reading.  This course will also include reviews of relevant research literature.

WEBSITE: pls6623.ifas.ufl.edu

OBJECTIVES:

• Through the application of general ecological principles evaluate the impacts of weeds in a variety of habitats and to understand the significance of characteristics common to many weedy species.

• To develop "investigative" rather than "recipe-book" approaches to novel weeds and situations based on ecological concepts.

• To improve critical analysis and review of publications.

    NOT weed identification or learning specific techniques of weed control.

COURSE PHILOSOPHY:

• Focus on ecological concepts most relevant to weeds. Rather than a shallow review of a broad range of topics we will concentrate on fewer issues in greater depth.

• Broaden students' experience with a wide range of habitats and species used in examples to emphasize the generality of many ecological principles and the adaptability of methods.

• Encourage "Discussion and thinking" not just "Listening and learning".

STUDENT EVALUATION:

Attendance is not required but students will be responsible for all information presented. Missed notes should be obtained from other students NOT the instructor. Participation during class is greatly encouraged.
First-half-of-course take-home, open book exam  (short answer and one essay)	25%
Three critical reviews of manuscripts or published papers	35%
Take home, sample problems, essay topics, comments on life-history computer model	20%
Participation in discussions	5%
Lowest 10% of scores can be dropped
Second-half-of-course take-home, open book exam  (short answer and one essay)	25%
Predicted absenteeism from any graded assignment or exam must be discussed with the instructor no less two weeks beforehand. Unexpected absence from an exam or late submission of graded assignment will only be excused with a note from a suitable authority (e.g., physician). Late submissions or delay in taking exams will result in automatic deduction of credit at a daily rate of 10% of maximum available grade.
GRADING SCALE:
A          90 - 100%             C +      75 - 79.9%             D         60 - 64.9%
B +      85 - 89.9%            C         70 - 74.9%              E            0 - 59.9%
B          80 - 84.9%            D +      65 - 69.9%

Weed Ecology PLS 6623

Monday 12:50 - 2:45pm in 2196 McCarty Hall.
(Third hour to be assigned for discussion groups at 1st class)

Required reading from textbook listed in table below

Link here for required reading from papers or other books

Date Topic Reading Assignments:     To be read BEFORE the date listed (Optional) January     9  Introduction to course, participants, weeds, and ecology.   16 Martin Luther King Day      23 Strategy theories - Disturbance (natural and management) 1, 3 30 Disturbance - succession. Reproductive mechanisms 12, (4), 5 February   6 Dispersal in time and space; weed distributions - scales 6 13  Weed population dynamics; models and predictions 7 20 Competition; types and mechanisms.  8 27 Methods of studying competition                                  (Take-home first-half-of-course exam) 10 March   6 Competing theories of competition; prediction of competition - 13 Spring break    20 Factors influencing competitive balance: biological control. 9 27 Ecological issues in management - herbicide resistance. Integration of management systems with weed ecology. - April   3 Competitive thresholds and critical periods; relationship to management - 10  Integration of management systems with weed ecology; agricultural and natural habitats 15 17 Invasive species in natural areas (Take-home second-half-of-course exam) 13   24 Community structure and diversity 2, 11, 14 Link here for more detailed Course Summary

Discussion Groups

Course Timetable: Third Period - Always open to discussion of reading assignments. You can choose which 10% of graded material you wish to drop.

Week of:   % of grade January   9 No 3rd period   (cancelled for campus field trip)   16 Martin Luther King Day      (No 3rd period)   23 Discussion about paper reviews.                                     Receive 1st review for bullet-point comments    5% 30 Hand-in 1st review - printed Discuss and receive 1st examples of essay title and problem-set for bullet-point responses   5% February 6 Hand-in 1st essay and problem-set responses - printed Receive 2nd review for on-manuscript comments   10% 13 Hand-in 2nd review – hand-written on manuscript Receive 2nd examples of essay title and problem-set for full responses   5% 20  Hand-in 2nd essay and problem-set responses - printed   Introduce life-history computer model   27 Receive first-half-of-course exam (during lecture) No 3rd period   (cancelled for campus field trip) 25%   March     6 Hand-in first-half-of-course exam – handwritten on exam papers except essay may be printed Discussion of research projects   13 Spring break    20 Discussion of research projects Receive 3rd review for full comments 20% 27 Hand-in and discuss comments on computer model - printed 10% April       3 No 3rd period   (cancelled for campus field trip)   10  Hand-in 3rd review - hand-written on manuscript and printed   17 Discussion of research in current weed science publications Receive second-half-of-course exam   25% 24 Hand-in second-half-of-course exam - handwritten on exam papers except essay may be printed Receive up to 5% overall grade for participation in discussions; Select the 10% of grades to be dropped.   5%

RELEVANT BOOKS:

Highly recommended:

• Perspectives on Plant Competition Ed. by J.B. Grace and D. Tilman. 1990. Academic Press, Inc.

• Weed Ecology: Implications for management - Second Edition By S. Radosevich, J. Holt, and C. Ghersa.  1997.  John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

• Dynamics of Weed Populations by R. Cousens and M. Mortimer. 1995. Cambridge University Press.

Other books on reserve:

• Ecology: individuals, populations, and communities by M. Begon, J.L. Harper, and C.R. Townsend. 1986. Blackwell Sci. Pub. Inc.

• Introduction to Plant Population Biology by J. W. Silvertown and J.L. Doust. 1993. Blackwell Science, Ltd.

• Plant Strategies and Vegetation Processes by J.P. Grime. 1979. John Wiley & Sons. Ltd.

• Weed Science: principles and applications by W.P. Anderson. 1996. West Pub. Co.

Link to course reserve information: http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/ufproxyeres.html

RELEVANT JOURNALS:

Advances in Ecological Research
American Journal of Botany
Annals of Applied Biology
Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics
Aquatic Botany
Biological Invasions
Canadian Journal of Botany
Ecological Monographs
Ecology
Functional Ecology
Journal of Applied Ecology
Journal of Aquatic Plant Management
Journal of Ecology
Oecologia
Oikos
Reviews of Weed Science
Trends in Ecology and Evolution
Weed Research
Weed Science (formerly Weeds)
Weed Technology

CONCERNING ACADEMIC HONESTY:

The University requires all members of its community to be honest in all endeavors.  Cheating, plagiarism, and other acts diminish the process of learning.  When students enroll at UF they commit themselves to honesty and integrity.  Your instructors fully expect you to adhere to the academic honesty guidelines you signed when you were admitted to UF. 

As a result of completing the registration form at the University of Florida, every student has signed the following statement: "I understand that the University of Florida expects its students to be honest in all their academic work.  I agree to adhere to this commitment to academic honesty and understand that my failure to comply with this commitment may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the University."  Furthermore, on work submitted for credit by UF students, the following pledge is either required or implied:  "On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment.@

It is to be assumed that all work will be completed independently unless the assignment is defined as a group project, in writing by the instructors.

This policy will be vigorously upheld at all times in this course.  Students who violate this agreement can expect to receive an AE@ in this course and be referred to Student Judicial Affairs.

Avoid the risk of plagiarism by being sure to re-write material in your own words (do not simply cut and paste from other sources) and being certain that you cite the sources for information or ideas that are not your own.  Do not use the citations of other authors unless you have verified them yourself.  Incorrect and inappropriate citations are a sure sign of sloppy work.

UF COUNSELING SERVICES:

Resources are available on-campus for students having personal problems or lacking clear career and academic goals which interfere with their academic performance. These resources include:

1. University Counseling Center, 301 Peabody Hall, 392-1575
    personal and career counseling

2. Student Mental Health, Student Health Care Center, 392-1171
    personal counseling

3. Center for Sexual Assault/Abuse Recovery and Education (CARE)
    Student Health Care Center, 392-1161
    sexual assault counseling

4. Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601
    career development assistance and counseling.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodations.

SOFTWARE USE:

All faculty, staff, and students of the University of Florida area required and expected to obey the laws and legal agreements governing software use. Failure to do so can lead to monetary damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator. Because such violations are also against University of Florida policies and rules, disciplinary action will also be taken as appropriate.

SYLLABUS AND COURSE AMENDMENTS:

As your instructor I reserve the right to amend this syllabus as appropriate before the semester or if changes are necessary during the semester I will provide adequate notice to all course participants. I will provide appropriate notices of assignment dates and an approximate timetable of lectures and laboratory /discussion periods during the semester.