BIO 223: Ecology 
Course description 
BIO 223. ECOLOGY. Modern concepts of ecology. Structure and function at various 
levels of organization in ecosystems will be emphasized. Field and laboratory studies 
utilize local environ- ments. Three 50-minute lectures per week and 3 hours of 
laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BIO 141-142. Offered every spring on St. 
Thomas campus only. 
Objectives 
When the class is completed the student should be able to 
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Think biologically about ecological patterns and problems, think critically 
using ecological concepts, answer questions on standardized tests such as 
the GRE that require thinking biologically 
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Solve mathematical problems in ecology 
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Interpret ecological data, including data presented graphically 
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Generate hypotheses about ecological patterns and design experiments to 
test them 
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Collect ecological data in the field 
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Test hypotheses using statistical tests 
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Write a clear, complete, properly formatted scientific paper 
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Read scientific papers critically 
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Search the ecological literature 
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Apply ecological concepts to the animals, plants, habitats, and ecological 
problems in the Virgin Islands 
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Apply ecological concepts to global environmental problems 
Topics covered 
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Genetics and Ecology 
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Extinction 
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Group Selection & Individual Selection 
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Life History Strategies 
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Physical Environment 
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Population Growth 
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Competition 
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Mutualism 
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Predation 
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Herbivory 
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Parasitism 
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Controls on Population Structure 
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Types of Communities 
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Global Patterns of Species Richness 
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Species Diversity 
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Stability/Equilibrium 
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Succession 
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Island Biogeography 
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Trophic Structure 
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Energy Flow 
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Nutrients