Bio113Syllabus2006

BIOLOGY 113 - Introduction to Plants and the Ecosystem

BIOLOGY 113 - Introduction to Plants and the Ecosystem - Spring Semester - 2006

Section A: MWF - 9:30 - 10:20 A.M. 110 RMSC East

Section B: MWF - 1:00 - 1:50 P.M. 110 RMSC East

Dr. Douglas A. Rayner, Professor of Biology

Office 203G Roger Milliken Science Center West, Phone 4624

Office Hours: M & W 10:30-11-30; T 9:30 11:00; Th by appointment

TEXT: Introductory Plant Biology Stern, 10th Edition, 2006

LAB MANUAL: No Formal Lab Manual Weekly Handouts

LECTURE, READING, AND TESTING SCHEDULE

QUIZ EVERY THREE LECTURES

_______________________________________________________DATE LECTURE TOPIC CHAPTER PAGES

__________________________________________________Stern_ _______________

Jan. 30 Syllabus; Assignment of Lab

External Features: Shoots & Roots Lab Exercise 1

Feb. 1External Features: Shoots & Roots Lab Exercise 1

Feb. 3External Features: Shoots & Roots Lab Exercise 1

Twig CharactersHandout

Feb. 6Course Organization; Introduction 1 (All)

(14-15)

Lecture Quiz 1

Feb. 8 Cell Structure (emphasis on distinctive plant 3 (All)

organelles)

Feb. 10Cells (continued); the Somatic Cell Cycle

Feb. 13Tissues of the Plant Body 4 (All)

Lecture Quiz 2

Feb. 15Roots and Soils 5 (All)

Feb. 17Stems 6 (All)

Feb. 20Leaves 7 (All)

Lecture Quiz 3

Feb. 22Leaves (continued)

Flowers and Fruits 8(127-143)

Feb. 24No Class; Nature Conservancy board meeting, Columbia, SC

Feb. 27Review for Exam; Cones 22 (412-413)

Mar. 1Exam 1 (Does not include material on flowers, fruits, or cones.)

Mar. 3Seeds, Seed Germination, Seed Dormancy 8 (143-147)

Mar. 6Review of Exam 1

Plants and Energy10(167-177)

Basics of C3 photosynthesis

Lecture Quiz 4

Mar. 8Photorespiration; C4 and CAM photosynthesis 10(178-180)

Mar. 10Membrane Structure and Function 3 (36-37)

Diffusion, Osmosis and Active Transport 9 (150-154)

Mar. 13Movement of Water and Solutes in the Xylem 9 (155-158)

Lecture Quiz 5

Mar. 15Movement of Solutes in the Phloem 9(158-160)

Plant Nutrition 9(160-163)

Mar. 17Plant Breeding and Propagation 14 (All)

Mar. 20Review for Exam 2

Plant Hormones: Regulation of Growth and 11(192-201)

Development

Mar. 22 Exam 2 (Does not include Mar. 20 lecture.)

Mar. 24Response of Plants to Environmental Stimuli 11(201-214)

Mar. 27Review of Exam 2

Plant Names and Classification 16 (All)

Mar. 29Meiosis and Alt. of Generations; Life Cycles 12

Mar. 31No Class: Association of Southeastern Biologists meeting in Knoxville

Apr. 4-7SPRING BREAK

April 10Seed Plants: Gymnosperms 22 (412-428)

Lecture Quiz 6

Apr. 12Seed Plants: Angiosperms 23 (All)

Apr. 14Flowering Plants and Civilization 24 (All)

April 17Edible, Poisonous and Medicinal Plants

Lecture Quiz 7

Apr. 19Review for Exam 3

Evolution12 (All)

Apr. 21 LECTURE EXAM 3 (Does not include May 2 lecture.)

Apr. 24Evolution (continued)

Review of Exam 3

Apr. 26Ecology32 (All)

Apr. 28Ecology (continued)

Review of Lecture Exam 3

May 1Ecology (continued)

Lecture Quiz 8

May 3Practical Ecology: Dr. Rayners Research on Deer and Invasive Species

May 5Review for Final Exam

May 10 Section A (9:30-10:30) - FINAL EXAM 2:00 - 5:00

May 12Section B (1:00-1:50) - FINAL EXAM 9:00 - 12:00

COURSE GOALS

- To obtain a detailed understanding of the structure and function of vascular plants, with

an emphasis on flowering plants.

- To obtain knowledge about, understanding of, and appreciation for plants and the vital

role they play in everyday life and in functional ecosystems.

- To obtain an understanding of basic ecological and evolutionary principles and the role

of professional ecologists in assessing and understanding complex environmental

problems.

- To gain an appreciation for the complexity of ecosystems and the need for basing

environmental policy on ecological principles, as interpreted by practicing

scientists.

- To learn to think critically, to distinguish fact from theory, and to distinguish personal

opinion from scientific fact.

Biology 113 - Laboratory Schedule

Spring 2006

WEEK TOPIC EXERCISE

Feb. 6-9External Features of Seed Plants1

Assessment: Lab Review Questions

Feb. 13-16Twig Characters of Common Campus Trees/Shrubs2

Assessment: Producing a Twig Key to Common Campus Trees/Shrubs

Feb. 20-23Cell Structure & Cell Types3


Feb. 27-Mar2Structure of Leaves4

Assignment: Ecological Modification of Leaves

Mar. 6-9Cones, Flowers & Fruits5

Assessment: Lab Quiz

Mar. 13-16Photosynthesis6

Lab Review Questions

Mar. 20-23Field Trip to Carter and Holmes Greenhouses, Newberry


Mar. 27-30Absorption, Conduction, and Transpiration of Water7


Mar. 28-31Internal Regulators of Plant Growth 8

External Factors and Plant Growth


Apr. 3-7 SPRING BREAK

Apr. 10-13Field Trip: Plant Adaptations 9

Assessment: Lab Quiz

Apr. 17-20Evolution/Genetics (To be arranged)10

Apr. 24-27 Ecology: Mimicry11

Assessment: Lab Report

May 1-4Field Trip: Deer Exclosure at Croft State Park

Invasive Species Project at the Cottonwood Trail

CLASS OPERATING PROCEDURES

I.ATTENDANCE

1. You are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting and every lab

exercise. You will have an assigned seat and attendance will be taken. Your final average will be lowered one point for each unexcused absence in excess of one (1). Students with no unexcused absences (0) for the entire semester will have 1.5 points added to their final average. If you enter the classroom after the lecture has begun, your tardiness will count as 1/2 of an unexcused absence. Students who have just one unexcused tardiness are still eligible to have 1.5 points added to their final average. If you have a valid excuse for your tardiness, please give me a note as to why you should be excused.

2. No make-up tests will be given except in the case of CLEAR CAUSE (i.e.

very unusual circumstances which lead to clearly unavoidable absence).

Arrangements for make-up tests must be made in advance. Labs missed for CLEAR CAUSE can only be made-up later in the same week.

3. If you are to be given extra time on exam for medical reasons, you must make

arrangements with me in advance.

II.GRADING SYSTEM

This course is not graded on a curve. It is graded based on standards that I have defined. EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN AN A!

This course is graded on a typical 100 points (percent) grading system. Components of your grade are as follows:

LECTURE

Lecture Quizzes-15 percent

Lecture Exam 1-11 percent



Final Exam-16 percent

Total- 70 percent

The Final Exam consists of: Ecology/Evolution = 6 percent; Cumulative Multiple Choice (CMC) = 10 percent. If the grade on your Cumulative Multiple Choice is higher than one of your exam grades, you may count the CMC grade 10 percent more and the lower exam grade 10 percent less.

Each exam will be composed of both multiple choice and short answer questions.

Exams will emphasize material covered in class, but material covered in assigned readings, even if not covered in lecture or class discussions, may be included on exams.

LAB

Lab Review Questions/Lab Quizzes- 30 percentLab reports/

Total 30 percent

SUMMARY OF GRADING

LECTURE 70 percent

LAB30 percent

Your grade will be determined by the total percentage you accrue according to the following scale:

90 - 100.0 = A

80 - 89.9 = B

70 - 79.9 = C

60 - 69.9 = D

less than 60 = F

Plusses and minuses will be awarded at appropriate point intervals for A, B, and C grades, e.g., 80-83.3 = B-, 83.4-86.6 = B.Your participation in class and lab will be noted, as will your general attitude. If your final average is on the borderline between a B and a B+, for example, your grade in class/lab participation will be used to determine whether or not you are bumped up to the higher grade.

Documents

Bio113Syllabus2006