| Week Number and Module | Subject | Activity | Background Reading Chapters (see below) |
| 1 - Impacts | Scope of introduced species: impact, overview of the problem and modes of exotics spread both historically and currently, and discussion of terminology and political impacts |
Cox: 1 S&K: 1, 2 |
|
| 2 - Impacts | Accidental tourists - Aquatic and terrestrial environments | Student facilitated discussion on PL1* on Thursday | Cox: 2, 3 (also 4-7 9-11) |
| 3 - Impacts | Human associates and other intentional introductions | No Class on Tuesday; Student facilitated discussion on PL2 * on Thursday | Cox: 2 14-16 (also 8 12 13) |
| 4 - Impacts | Epidemics and epizootics | Problem Set Due on 26 Sept; Student facilitated discussion on PL3, PL4* | S&K: 9 10 |
| 5 - Impacts | Characteristics of successful invasive species |
Student facilitated discussion on PL5*;
No Class on Thursday |
|
| 6 - Theory | Community and ecosystem - structure and function |
Student facilitated discussion on PL6, PL7* |
|
| 7 - Theory | Disruption of normal ecosystem function by exotics |
Student facilitated discussion on PL8, PL9* |
Cox: 17-19 |
| 8 - Theory | Patterns and dynamics of spatial spread of exotics I -Diffusion models | Review paper contrasting a successful and unsuccessful invasive species due on 24 Oct; Student facilitated discussion on PL10, PL11* | S&K: 3 |
| 9 - Theory | Patterns and dynamics of spatial spread of exotics II -Traveling wave models |
Student facilitated discussion on PL12, PL13* |
S&K:4 |
| 10 - Theory | Patterns and dynamics of spatial spread of exotics III- Stratified Diffusion Models |
No class on Tuesday; Student facilitated discussion on PL14 |
S&K:5 |
| 11 - Theory | Application and testing of exotic spread models | Student facilitated discussion on PL15, PL16*; | S&K: 8 |
| 12 - Theory | Exotics and evolution |
Introduced Species Summary Project Web Page due on 19 Nov; Student
facilitated discussion on PL17 on Tuesday;
No class on Thursday |
Cox: 19 |
| 13 - Management | Methods of invasive species control | Student facilitated discussion on PL18, PL19* | Cox: 20 |
| 14 - Management | When if ever should we try to control exotic species?: Designing a control strategy | Student facilitated discussion on PL20, PL21*; Take-Home Final Exam Due on last day of classes, 9 Dec | Cox: 21 |
Cox = George W. Cox, 1999, Alien Species in North America and Hawaii: Impacts on Natural Ecosystems , Island Press, Washington, DCS&K = Nanako Shigesada and Kohkichi Kawasaki, 1997, Biological Invasions: Theory and Practice , Oxford University Press, Oxford.
*PL# = Primary Literature, Students will choose a paper that is relevant to that week’s topic and for which they will lead the discussion, after consulting with JDB.
This syllabus is subject
to change.