uwloo

BIOL 350Ecosystem Ecology

Units
0.50
Faculty
Science
Subject
Biology

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 1 lecture section. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

This course provides an overview of the dynamic interactions among microbes, plants, animals, and their physical environment with emphasis on ecosystem structure and function. Topics explored through lectures and tutorial sessions include the hydrological cycle, biogeochemical cycling, ecological energetics, roles of population and community interactions, paleoecology, and current topics in ecosystem science.

Prerequisites

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 0017164117 / 120Online or by arrangement
TUT 101716529 / 30Sep 25 09:30–10:20
Oct 9 09:30–10:20
Oct 30 09:30–10:20
Nov 13 09:30–10:20
Nov 27 09:30–10:20
TUT 102716629 / 30Sep 25 09:30–10:20
Oct 9 09:30–10:20
Oct 30 09:30–10:20
Nov 13 09:30–10:20
Nov 27 09:30–10:20
TUT 103716729 / 30Oct 2 09:30–10:20
Oct 23 09:30–10:20
Nov 6 09:30–10:20
Nov 20 09:30–10:20
Dec 4 09:30–10:20
TUT 104718930 / 30Oct 2 09:30–10:20
Oct 23 09:30–10:20
Nov 6 09:30–10:20
Nov 20 09:30–10:20
Dec 4 09:30–10:20

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00169130 / 55Online or by arrangement

Reviewed on UW Flow

82% liked it69% easy79% useful

From 28 ratings and 5 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • took f23. it was online lecture videos, 3 or 4 assignments that used the simutext simulation, and online midterm and final, and a in person tutorial group presentation. The midterm and final was like he posted questions and you had like a week to prepare your script and then record a video of you talking through the answers. i found the midterm, final and assignments very disconnected from the lecture videos. i watched the lecture videos and took notes but genuinely you can get away with seeing what the test questions are and then skimming through the slides and just watch the relevant content. the assignments were vague and unclear and the mandatory in person tutorials were a time waster.…

    Feb 2025 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Took this course with Dr. Hrycyshyn in Fall 2022. Marking scheme is tutorial assignments (3x10% and 15% group tutorial presentation), midterm is 20% and final is 35%. The midterm is optional so if you do not take it than the final exam is 55%. If you take the midterm but you do better on the final exam than your final exam is 55%. The tutorials are all very easy, and you should be able to get over a 90+ on all. The midterm was fair and easy to do well in. The final exam was a little harder as it had so many short answer questions. The hardest aspect of this course was having to stay awake for lectures at 8:30 AM - 9:20 AM. The material of the course itself is not hard but there is a lot of…

    Jan 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Interesting course. Lots of repeat material from other biology courses though.

    Dec 2016 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Do your own tree walk and create your own flipcards to study. Final exam was challenging but a fair representation of the content

    Nov 2013 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Very practical course for anyone considering field work of any type in Canada. Material is not overly challenging but provides you with practical skills including identification of flora/fauna, map reading skills, and a bit of more theoretical ecology as well. Absolutely worth taking, especially if Dr. Oakes is teaching.

    Nov 2012 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

15 posts and comments in 15 threads mention BIOL 350, July 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Winter 2022

Courses? 1 point, 0 comments

u/Beginning-Ad-822: “Anyone in these courses? If there’s a discord server or group chat? BIOL 165, BIOL 350, BIOL 351, BIOL 373 (debating whether to take BIOL 302 or not) CHEM 237, CHEM 237L, CHEM 267L TIA”

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Spring 2021

biol 354 vs biol 462 0 points, 0 comments

“ive realized im insane to take more than 6 courses so im narrowing it down. biol 354 and biol 462 seem pretty similar so which one is really worth taking?”

u/mari0499: “I've taken both so if you prefer to focus on lecture content without writing lab reports, biol 462 is nice. …”

u/buttercupbeuaty: “… 2) They’re both full and 462 may require biol 350 as a prereq even though it didn’t say on uwflow so I’m hoping to override it, but if i can’t I will try to take geog 181 is this a good replacement given I learn GIS? …”

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Fall 2020

Spring 2020

Fall 2019

What introductory BIOL courses are typically offered during spring term? 3 points, 6 comments

“I want to minor in Biology but I missed my opportunity to take a BIOL course this fall term, and there are virtually no BIOL courses that fit my schedule for winter term (besides one, but there’s …”

u/spicysalmontunaroll: “… You could also take ENVS 200 (which would allow you to take BIOL 350/383 without having BIOL 150. If you'd be interested in the microbiology aspect of ecosystems I'd recommend BIOL 240 (online)/240L since it sets you up for the upper year courses in micro. …”

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Spring 2019

Spring 2018

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar