Invasion Ecology

BI 458 Winter 20XX

Course Description Whats in this Syllabus?
How do I get help? Page
This 3-credit course provides an Contact info 1
introduction to the ecology of Office hours 1
biological invasions. Invasive species Communication policy 1
have been recognized as one of the Technical assistance 2
primary drivers of global biological What do I need to do?
change and have a myriad of impacts Learning resources 2
on the ecosystems to which they are Learning outcomes 2
introduced. This course will explore Expectations 3
pathways of introduction, the stages of How will I be graded?
invasion, mechanisms behind Grading 3
establishment and spread, traits of Grading Scale 3
invaders, and observed impacts on What are the Course Policies?
native ecosystems. This course Late work 3
combines approximately 90 hours of Discussion participation 4
instruction, online activities, and Netiquette 4
assignments Inclusivity 4
OSU policies 5
Prerequisites: BI 370 or consent of the Whats the plan?
instructor Calendar 6

Instructor Contact Information

Course instructor: Linda Tucker Serniak
Instructor email: tuckerli@oregonstate.edu
Instructor phone: 541-737-7777

Instructor Office Hours and Communication Policy

Your instructor will hold virtual office hours each week on Twiddla. Twiddla is an online
whiteboard and chatroom service. A link to the Twiddla meeting room will be posted to Canvas
each week in the Announcements. A poll will be made available to students during week 1 to
determine the best time for this one hour time slot, and office hours will begin week 2. If you have
questions outside of office hours or cannot attend, please post all course-related questions to the
General Discussion Board so that the whole class may benefit from the discussion. For questions of
a personal nature, please email the instructor using the Canvas email system. The instructor will
reply within 24 hours on weekdays and 48 hours on weekends.

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Technical Assistance

If you experience any errors or problems while in your online course, contact 24-7 Canvas Support
via chat, phone, or e-mail through the Help link within Canvas. If you experience computer
difficulties, need help downloading a browser or plug-in, or need assistance logging into a course,
contact the OSU Help Desk for assistance. You can call (541) 737-3474, email
osuhelpdesk@oregonstate.edu or visit the OSU Computer Helpdesk online.

Textbooks
There is no textbook for this
course. Weekly readings will take
the form of journal articles
supplemented with multimedia
content. Materials will be posted
to Canvas under each weekly
module.
Canvas
This course will be delivered via Canvas where you
will interact with your classmates and with your
instructor. Within the course Canvas site, you will
access the learning materials, such as the syllabus,
class discussions, assignments, projects, and quizzes.
Content will be arranged into weekly modules, which
are accessible by clicking the Modules link on the
left pane of the course Canvas site. To preview how an
online course works, visit the Ecampus Course Demo.
For technical assistance, please visit Ecampus
Technical Help.

Technological Requirements
In order to fully participate in this course, students will
need a computer with Internet access, speakers, and a
microphone. A digital camera capable of recording
video is optional.

Measurable Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Describe the characteristics of successful invasive species.

2. Explain the stages of the biological invasion process and identify the current stage of a
species.
3. Summarize the ecological effects of biological invasions.
4. Create and critique management strategies for invasive species.
5. Describe and critically evaluate the hypotheses which explain biological invasions.
6. Compose and deliver oral presentations to peers about ecological topics
7. Evaluate, synthesize, and write about primary literature.

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Student Expectations Instructor Expectations
1. Bring your enthusiasm for ecology into this 1. Encourage a welcoming and inclusive
class. learning environment for all students.
2. Complete your readings and assignments on 2. Be available to students for help.
time while there is great flexibility in online 3. Respond to student questions in a
courses, this is not a self-paced course. timely manner.
3. Actively engage in weekly discussions and 4. Evaluate student performance in a fair
follow deadlines for participation. and objective manner.
4. Expect to login to Canvas 2 3 times per week
to engage with course materials.
5. Treat everyone with dignity and respect. Be
respectful of others and their opinions, valuing
Grading Scale
diversity in backgrounds, abilities, and
A = 92-100% A- = 90-91.99%
experiences.
B+ = 88-89.99% B = 82-87.99%
5. Follow the Student Conduct Regulations in all
B- = 80-81.99% C+ = 78-79.99
endeavors. See Student Conduct part of syllabus.
C = 72-77.99% C- = 70-71.99%
It is every student's responsibility to know and
D+ = 68-69.99% D = 62-67.99%
follow the regulations.
D- = 60-61.99% F < 60%

Evaluation of Student Performance

Assessment Points How Many Total Points

Quizzes 30 5 150
Discussion Boards 20 10 200
Group Project 80 1 80
Presentations 30 2 60
Writing Assignments 20 3 60
Term Paper 100 1 100
Total: 650

Late Work Policy

Students are expected to turn in assignments and take
quizzes on time. Students are penalized 5% per day for late
assignments and no late assignments are accepted after one
week from the due date. Any missed quizzes will result in a
grade of zero. However, technical issues do sometimes arise
that may prevent submission of materials or quiz answers to
Canvas. In the event that the technology fails and you are
unable to submit by the due date, you should immediately
email the instructor with a description of what went wrong.
For assignments, also include your files with your email.

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Discussion Board Participation
Students are expected to participate in all graded discussions. While there is great flexibility in
online courses, this is not a self-paced course. You will need to participate in our discussions on at
least two different days each week, with your first post due no later than Thursday at 11:59 pm PST,
and your remaining posts by Sunday at 11:59 pm PST. Specific requirements for each discussion
will be included each week. You are also expected to make meaningful contributions to the
discussion. One-line posts such as I agree will not count towards the minimum post requirement.

Netiquette Guidelines
Students are expected to conduct themselves in the course (e.g., on discussion boards, email) in
compliance with the universitys regulations regarding civility. Civility is an essential ingredient for
academic discourse. All communications for this course should be conducted constructively, civilly,
and respectfully. Differences in beliefs, opinions, and approaches are to be expected. In all you say
and do for this course, be professional. Please bring any communications you believe to be in
violation of this class policy to the attention of your instructor.

Active interaction with peers and your instructor is essential to success in this online course, paying
particular attention to the following:
Unless indicated otherwise, please complete the readings and view other instructional
materials for each week before participating in the discussion board.
Read your posts carefully before submitting them.
Be respectful of others and their opinions, valuing diversity in backgrounds, abilities, and
experiences.
Challenging the ideas held by others is an integral aspect of critical thinking and the
academic process. Please word your responses carefully, and recognize that others are
expected to challenge your ideas. A positive atmosphere of healthy debate is encouraged.

Inclusivity in the Classroom

The University, and this course, should be a
safe and comfortable working environment
for all students. The expectation is that no
student should feel awkward, embarrassed,
unwelcome, or uncomfortable engaging in
classroom activities or discussions. Please be
conscious of your own language and
behavior, it should be respectful to the other
students and your instructor. If you are
having any problems or need help, please
bring it to your instructors attention.

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Students with Disabilities

Accommodations for students with disabilities are determined and approved by Disability Access
Services (DAS). If you, as a student, believe you are eligible for accommodations but have not
obtained approval please contact DAS immediately at 541-737-4098 or at http://ds.oregonstate.edu.
DAS notifies students and faculty members of approved academic accommodations and coordinates
implementation of those accommodations. While not required, students and faculty members are
encouraged to discuss details of the implementation of individual accommodations.

Student Conduct and Academic Integrity

Students are expected to conduct themselves in the course (e.g., on discussion boards, email postings)
in compliance with the university's regulations regarding civility. Student conduct is governed by the
universitys policies, as explained in the Student Conduct Code. Students are also expected to comply
with all regulations pertaining to academic honesty. For further information, visit Student Conduct
and Community Standards, or contact the office of Student Conduct and Mediation at 541-737-3656.

OAR 576-015-0020 (2) Academic or Scholarly Dishonesty:

a) Academic or Scholarly Dishonesty is defined as an act of deception in which a Student seeks to
claim credit for the work or effort of another person, or uses unauthorized materials or fabricated
information in any academic work or research, either through the Student's own efforts or the
efforts of another.
b) It includes:
i) CHEATING - use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information or study aids, or an
act of deceit by which a Student attempts to misrepresent mastery of academic effort or
information. This includes but is not limited to unauthorized copying or collaboration on a test
or assignment, using prohibited materials and texts, any misuse of an electronic device, or
using any deceptive means to gain academic credit.
ii) FABRICATION - falsification or invention of any information including but not limited to
falsifying research, inventing or exaggerating data, or listing incorrect or fictitious references.
iii) ASSISTING - helping another commit an act of academic dishonesty. This includes but is not
limited to paying or bribing someone to acquire a test or assignment, changing someone's
grades or academic records, taking a test/doing an assignment for someone else by any means,
including misuse of an electronic device. It is a violation of Oregon state law to create and
offer to sell part or all of an educational assignment to another person (ORS 165.114).
iv) TAMPERING - altering or interfering with evaluation instruments or documents.
v) PLAGIARISM - representing the words or ideas of another person or presenting someone
else's words, ideas, artistry or data as one's own, or using one's own previously submitted
work. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to copying another person's work (including
unpublished material) without appropriate referencing, presenting someone else's opinions and
theories as one's own, or working jointly on a project and then submitting it as one's own.
c) Academic Dishonesty cases are handled initially by the academic units, following the process
outlined in the University's Academic Dishonesty Report Form, and will also be referred to SCCS
for action under these rules.

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 Course Schedule
Week Topic Reading Assignments Learning Activities Due Dates
Initial post: Thurs 11:59 pm
Discussion Board
Replies: Sun 11:59 pm
1 Introduction Mack et al. (2000)
First Impressions
Sun 11:59 pm
Paper
Initial post: Thurs 11:59 pm
Blackburn et al. (2011) Discussion Board
2 Stages and Invasion Curve Replies: Sun 11:59 pm
Grice (2009)
Quiz Sun 11:59 pm
Initial post: Thurs 11:59 pm
Hulme et al. (2008) Discussion Board
Replies: Sun 11:59 pm
3 Pathways of Introduction Wilson et al. (2009)
Species Profile
Humair et al. (2015) Sun 11:59 pm
Presentation 1
Kolar & Lodge (2002) Initial post: Thurs 11:59 pm
Discussion Board
4 Traits of Invasive Species Sutherland (2004) Replies: Sun 11:59 pm
Amiel et al. (2011) Quiz Sun 11:59 pm
Initial post: Thurs 11:59 pm
Discussion Board
Lester (2005) Replies: Sun 11:59 pm
5 Traits continued
Capellini et al. (2015) Species Profile
Sun 11:59 pm
Presentation 2
Smith et al. (2000) Initial post: Thurs 11:59 pm
Discussion Board
6 Climate Change Wolkovitch et al. (2013) Replies: Sun 11:59 pm
Bertelsmeier et al. (2015) Quiz Sun 11:59 pm
Initial post: Thurs 11:59 pm
Zavaleta et al. (2001) Discussion Board
7 Management Replies: Sun 11:59 pm
Seastedt et al. (2008)
Term Paper Draft Sun 11:59 pm

Wilcove et al. (1998) Initial post: Thurs 11:59 pm

Discussion Board
8 Impacts Blackburn et al. (2004) Replies: Sun 11:59 pm
Hejda et al. (2009) Quiz Sun 11:59 pm
Initial post: Thurs 11:59 pm
Kenis et al. (2008) Discussion Board
9 Impacts continued Replies: Sun 11:59 pm
Engeman et al. (2011)
Term Paper Sun 11:59 pm
Initial post: Thurs 11:59 pm
Discussion Board
10 Invasion Hypotheses Catford et al. (2009) Replies: Sun 11:59 pm
Quiz Sun 11:59 pm
Final Impressions
Finals Wed 11:59 pm
Paper

Note: All times listed are PST