BIOL 3340 · 4 credits · Tom Bragg · ARTSCI 438

Ecology — Fall 2026

Interrelationships of organisms with their biotic + abiotic environments. From the physical climate up through populations, communities, ecosystems, biomes, and conservation — with a Bragg-style emphasis on tallgrass prairie + fire ecology.

Quick start

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Study Guide

14-unit semester walkthrough.
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Flashcards

~250 vocab + concept cards.
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Mastery

Spaced-repetition drill.
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Practice Exam

50 MC + 5 SA · open-note style.
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Cheat Sheet

One-page printable for open-note exams.
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Books

Anna's Archive PDFs + chapter ↔ unit maps.

Bragg's exam style

Open-note exams. Drops lowest exam grade. Lecture slides + Canvas recordings posted. Quiet speaker — sit up front. Photo-rich lectures from his prairie/fire field research. Use the cheat sheet for exam day.

Semester roadmap (Aug 24 → Dec 18)

WksUnitTopics
1–2U1 — Nature of EcologyLevels of organization, scientific method in ecology, evolution review.
3U2 — ClimateEarth's energy budget, seasonality, precipitation patterns, microclimate.
4U3 — Aquatic EnvironmentStratification, thermocline, salinity, ocean carbonate chem, lakes vs streams.
5U4 — Terrestrial EnvironmentSoil formation, horizons, biogeochemistry of land.
6U5 — Plant + Animal AdaptationsPlant water use, C3/C4/CAM, ectotherm vs endotherm, dormancy.
7U6 — Population Properties + GrowthDensity, dispersion, life tables, exponential vs logistic, r/K selection.
8U7 — Population Regulation + Life HistoryDD vs DI, metapopulations, semelparity vs iteroparity.
9U8 — Intraspecific + Interspecific CompetitionLotka-Volterra, competitive exclusion, niche.
10U9 — Predation, Herbivory, ParasitismFunctional response, optimal foraging, plant defenses.
11U10 — Mutualism + CoevolutionPollination syndromes, mycorrhizae, gut symbionts.
12U11 — Community Structure + Diversityα/β/γ diversity, food webs, keystone species.
13U12 — Succession + DisturbancePrimary/secondary, IDH, fire ecology (Bragg specialty).
14U13 — Ecosystem Energy + NutrientsTrophic levels, productivity, N/P/C cycles.
15U14 — Biomes + Biogeography + ConservationTallgrass prairie focus, Loess Hills, fragmentation, restoration.

Reference materials