EES 5305c ~ Ecological & General Systems Fall 2010

Instructor:
Mark T. Brown
mtb@ufl.edu
Textbooks:
Modeling for All Scales PDF handouts from instructor
by Odum, H.T. and E.C. Odum
2001
Academic Press, NY
ISBN# 0-12-524170-4
Course Description:
A unified systems course in fundamental principles of ecological systems that enables students to
quantitatively evaluate relationships between humans and the environment. The course content is
organized using a systems framework to provide ecological principles and system theory. These
principles and theory are applied to questions of environmental management and evaluation
furnishing students with tools for coping with the complex problems stemming from interactions
among populations, resources, economics, and ecology.
Course Objectives:
1. Introduce fundamental systems and ecological concepts and principles
2. Develop diagramming and simulation skills to understand system mechanisms.
3. Develop a systems view of ecosystems and watersheds emphasizing the relationship between
human and environmental systems.
4. Introduce the main types of ecosystems, their special characteristics, sensitivities, and
management problems.
Grading:
The total grade for the class is as follows: Grading Scale:
Simulation Exercise = 10% 95-100 = A
Test 1 = 20% 90-94.9 = B+
Country Project = 10% 80 – 89.9 =B
Test 2 = 20% 75 – 79.9 = C+
Project = 20% 70 – 74.9 = C
Test 3 = 20%
Total 100%

Simulation Exercise
Assignment in Modeling for All Scales (handout)
Country Simulation Project
Instructor will provide students with a simulation model of a Generic Country. Students will select country,
collect data from the literature, and calibrate model. Students will then test management scenarios that will
maximize well-being of the country’s population. Written report is due Wednesday 15 October, 2008
Outline of Country Simulation project report
INTRODUCTION – description of the country its main drivers, resources, people, and issues…
include a complex system diagram of the country
METHODS - brief written methods mentioning: data for calibration, sources of data, table of
flows and storages
RESULTS - Simulation results with a minimum of 3 scenarios to improve population well-
being
DISCUSSION - Integrating results with real world
BIBLIOGRAPHY - include all sources of data for model calibration
Simulation project:
With the help of instructor and Graduate Teaching Assistant, diagram. program, calibrate, and simulate an
aggregated overview model of an environmental/human system using EXCEL. The model should have no
more than 4 tanks and three interactions, even if you may need a more complex model for your personal
research purposes. Simplification must be by whole system aggregation (not by programming a part).
Make duplicate simulations getting families of curves testing the effect (sensitivity) of factors of interest
(what ifs). Give a 10 minute oral presentation to the class and submit a written report.
Schedule
October 6: Systems diagram and equations due
November 5: First draft of project paper due
December 10: Oral presentation [2 transparencies: (1) systems diagram & equations, (2) three
simulation results blown down on one page for comparison]
Outline of project report
INTRODUCTION - the real system and issues include a complex diagram
METHODS - brief written methods mentioning: aggregated systems diagram and equations,
calibration diagram and spreadsheet, BASIC program, EXTEND program
RESULTS - Simulation results with a minimum of 3 what ifs
DISCUSSION - Integrating results with real world
BIBLIOGRAPHY - includes all sources of data for model calibration
Academic Honesty
We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to
the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Violations of the Academic Honesty Guidelines
include: cheating, plagiarism, bribery, misrepresentation, conspiracy and fabrication. Academic
Honesty Guidelines are available from Student Services. Standards for ethical conduct can be viewed
at: http://www.dso.ufl.edu/stg/
Class attendance
Students are expected to attend all classes and examinations. Students who are absent should check
with classmates to obtain the notes and or handouts that were provided in class. In general,
acceptable reasons for absence from class include illness, serious family emergencies, special
curricular requirements (e.g., judging trips, field trips, professional conferences), military obligation,
severe weather conditions, religious holidays and participation in official university activities such as
music performances, athletic competition or debate. Absences from class for court-imposed legal
obligations (e.g., jury duty or subpoena) must be excused. Other sound reasons may be offered.
Exams
Exams are given on non- class days (generally Fridays). On-campus-students take the exams any
time on test day between the hours 9:00am and 3:00pm. Exams are to be taken in Phelps Lab… pick
up from office staff. Distance Education students: Exams are closed book, they must be administered
by a proctor, and students have as much time as necessary to complete the exam (in one sitting).
Exams will be made available to your proctor on the day of exam (FRIDAY morning) and you will
have 3 days from the day the exam is made available to take it. Directions on the exams provide the
information necessary for faxing the completed exam back to the instructor for grading. Grades will
be posted on UF | E-Learning site. Please take the exam as soon as possible but you must complete
and fax to me within three working days (Tuesday of the following week).
Make-up Exams
Make-up exams will only be provided when special circumstances, as determined by the instructor,
warrant them. Students must inform the instructor as soon as possible that they will miss the exam
and the reasons for their absence. The instructor will then determine if and when the make-up exam
will be available.
Students with Disabilities
Every effort will be made to accommodate 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 accommodation.
EES 5305c Ecological and General Systems
Fall 2008 Mark T. Brown
Course Schedule
Date Subject Reading Assignment
Week 1 August 23 – 27
Course introduction, Theory, Principles, Scales,
Aggregation, Systems diagramming EGS - 1; MAS - 1,2
Systems diagramming EGS - 2; MAS - 3
Systems diagramming, Numerical evaluation, Simulation- MAS – 6 , 8
Week 2 August 30 -September 3
Labor Day…No class
Simulation MAS – 6 , 8
Week 3 September 6 - 10
Equations and calibrating models, flows, storages and time EGS - 4; MAS - 6,7
Equations and calibrating models, flows, storages and time EGS - 4; MAS - 6,7
Week 4 September 13 - 17
Simulating in BASIC EGS - 4; MAS - 9
Simulation using VISUAL BASIC/ EXCEL
Assign Simulation Exercise MAS - 9. 8
Week 5 September 20 - 24
Simulating using EXCEL MAS - 4, 5
Review/ Discussion ~ Simulation. Exercise Due
TEST 1(thru 9/24)
Week 6 September 21 - October 1
Complex Models (Ecosystems)
Complex Models (Humanity and Environment)
– Assign Country Project
Week 7 October 4 - 8
Review tests ~ Project: Systems Diagram and Equations Due (presentations)
Classical Energy, entropy, efficiency EGS - 7
Week 8 October 11 - 15
Production, yield ~ EGS -8; MAS - 12
Country Project Due – CLASS PRESENTATIONS
Week 9 October 18 - 22
Production, yield ~ EGS -8; MAS - 12
Autocatalytic Modules EGS -9; MAS -13
Week 10 October 26 – 29
Loops, cycles, Series, control oscillation EGS -10, 11; MAS -15
Parallel designs, competition, Webs EGS - 12, 13; MAS -14, 16
Week 11 November 1 - 5
Self-organization, transformity, emergy PDFs
REVIEW - First draft simulation results - (class
presentations)
 TEST 2 (thru 11/3)
Week 12 November 8 - 12
Hierarchy , spectra, energy distributions, pulsing EGS - 15
Review/Discussion EGS - 14
TEST 2 (thru 11/12)
Week 13 November 15 – 19
Complexity, information, entropy
-Ecosystem Concepts - Diversity /Richness - stability EGS - 17 & 18
Week 14 November 22 – November 26
Ecosystems, World Biomes EGS - 21
No Class
Week 15 November 29 - December 3
Ecosystem concepts, Persistence, Island Biogeography
Ecosystem Concepts, Succession, pulsing EGS - 22; MAS - 16
Week 16 December 6 –10
Economics. Regional & Global systems Macroeconomics MAS - 17, 18, 19, 20
Class presentations of projects
TEST 3 (thru 12/8)
EGS, reading assignments in Ecological and General Systems (PDF)
MAS, reading assignments in Modeling for All Scales