BIO120H1F – Adaptation & Biodiversity
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of
Toronto
Course Syllabus – Fall 2023
The BIO120 Team
Lecturers:
Prof. Megan Frederickson
(Lectures 1-12)
Prof. Stephen Wright
(Lectures 13-24)
Jill Wheeler, Course and Laboratory Coordinator
Laura Heslin Piper, Course Administrator
Veronica Chong, Course Administrator
Chris Carlson and Jill Sanderson, Lecture TAs + many Lab TAs
Dongling Zhao, Jack Hu, Laboratory Technicians
BIO120 Office – bio120@utoronto.ca
• Please direct all course enquiries to the BIO120 Office; the office will re-direct enquiries as appropriate.
• Email: bio120@utoronto.ca. Phone: 416-978-7588
• Please include your full name and student number when emailing the BIO120 Office
• Location: RW 105 Office suite (Ramsay Wright Labs, 25 Harbord St., see Quercus for details)
• Office hours: Monday and Wednesdays from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm in RW105; you can schedule
an appointment for a virtual meeting (over Zoom) by emailing bio120@utoronto.ca
Course description
Principles and concepts of evolution and ecology related to origins of adaptation and biodiversity.
Mechanisms and processes driving biological diversification illustrated from various perspectives using
empirical and theoretical approaches. Topics include: genetic diversity; natural selection; speciation;
physiological, population and community ecology; maintenance of species diversity; global environmental change; conservation, species extinction, and invasion biology. Prerequisite: Grade 12 Biology
or equivalent. Exclusion: BIO150Y1Y.
Course objectives
1. A goal of this course is to provide you with a solid foundation in evolutionary and ecological principles and concepts—as related to the origins of adaptation and biodiversity—so that you can make
informed decisions on pressing societal issues, such as population growth, global environmental
change, and the conservation of biodiversity, and be prepared for advanced study in the biological
sciences.
2. Darwinian evolution is the unifying concept in biology and explains biodiversity on earth and why
species differ. You will learn that the traits of organisms are the product of a complex interplay
between natural selection, genetic variation, and evolutionary history.
3. You will learn that adaptive evolution is a process that results from selection pressures imposed
by the physical and biotic environment on individuals within populations. The ecological challenges
of capturing resources for growth, successful reproduction, and avoiding enemies largely determine the ways organisms function.
4. Required readings will extend and reinforce lecture material on how natural systems work and
how diverse organisms respond to the challenges of the natural world. From reading Evolution: a
very short introduction for Prof. Wright’s lectures, you will learn how various independent lines of
evidence demonstrate the fact of evolution and give insight into its mechanisms, particularly adaptation by natural selection. Required readings for Prof. Frederickson’s lectures will extend and
reinforce lecture material on how natural systems work and how diverse organisms respond to the
challenges of the natural world.
5. In the laboratories you will learn to make observations, devise hypotheses, and conduct experiments in ecology and evolutionary biology, including critically evaluating and communicating (both
orally and in writing) hypotheses and experimental designs.
Page 1
Required course materials
1. BIO120 Laboratory Manual Fall 2023. It is available for purchase at the UofT Bookstore. Note:
You cannot use a lab manual from a previous year since it is revised each year.
2. Evolution: a very short introduction by Brian and Deborah Charlesworth (Oxford University
Press). It is available as a free eBook through the UofT Library website.
3. SimUText: Population Growth, an interactive chapter/module available online (produced
by Simbio.com) and downloaded to your computer. You will need to pay for and download
the SimUText learning software onto your computer. Detailed information will be posted on
Quercus in mid-to-late September.
4. There will be other required and recommended readings, such as journal articles; these will
be available from the course site on Quercus.
Course Site on Quercus
The BIO120 course website will be available on Quercus (q.utoronto.ca) for the Fall. Quercus is
the learning management system for U of T. For information on using Quercus, please see the
“Help” button on Quercus, or the links we post on the course site. The BIO120 site on Quercus
contains: a copy of this course syllabus, announcements, lecture slides and audio recordings,
lab-related content, discussion boards, grades, quizzes and sample test questions. Some assignments will also be submitted through Quercus. Only students who are enrolled in BIO120 on
ACORN have access to this site (within 24-48 hours after enrolling). It is mandatory that you
check the announcements at least once a week. We strongly recommend turning on
announcements in your Notifications setting so that you receive them as emails.
Lectures
• Day sections (LEC0101, LEC2000, and LEC2002): Monday and Wednesday 10:10-11:00 a.m. in
Convocation Hall (CH)
• Evening section (LEC5101): Wednesday 5:10-7:00 p.m. in Convocation Hall (CH)
• Due to space restrictions and safety considerations, students who are enrolled in the evening lecture section (LEC5101) cannot attend the day lectures.
• See page 6 of this syllabus for the lecture schedule.
• You can find the following under “Lectures Module” on Quercus:
o Videos: We record the day lecture and post the audio recording to Quercus. We aim to
post these audio recordings for all students no later than 48 hours after the lecture.
o Lecture slides: These will be available on Friday afternoon for Monday lectures,
and on Tuesday afternoon for Wednesday lectures. To conserve paper and ink, we
request that you print only if necessary; please print six slides per page, on both
sides of a page and use previously used paper and only black ink.
o Required readings: The pages that you are required to read before each lecture
will be posted on Quercus.
Copyright
Lectures and course materials prepared by the instructors are considered by the University to be an
instructor’s intellectual property covered by the Copyright Act, RSC 1985, c C-42. Course materials
such as the lab manual, PowerPoint slides, and lecture recordings are made available to you for your
own study purposes. These materials cannot be shared outside of the class or “published” in any way.
Posting the lab manual, lecture recordings or slides to other websites without the express permission
of the instructor will constitute copyright infringement.
Lecture tutorials
This is your chance to ask the professor questions about lecture content. These are held Wednesdays
at 9:10 - 10:00 am in room 1105 of the Sandford Fleming Building (10 King’s College Rd).
Attendance is optional and open to students from all lecture sections. Format is “question and answer.”
Page 2
Reading quizzes
• Reading quizzes will be available on Quercus to help you assess your understanding of the
required readings, and to motivate you to do the readings before each lecture.
• Detailed information on the reading quizzes is available on Quercus under Modules  Reading
Quizzes.
• You must obtain a perfect score (100%) on Reading Quiz 1 to be eligible to receive a mark
for any of the subsequent quizzes (although Reading Quiz 1 is not worth any marks itself).
• You must obtain a perfect score on a Reading Quiz to receive a mark for it.
• Reading Quizzes can be attempted multiple times (until you obtain a perfect score)
Laboratories (also read the BIO120 Laboratory Manual for detailed information)
• Check the “Grades” link on Quercus after 5:00 pm on Monday, Sept. 11; there will be a
code, which corresponds to the week, day, time, and room number of your lab.
• Labs are held in alternate weeks (bi-weekly); see the detailed lab schedule on page v in
your BIO120 Laboratory Manual.
• Week 1 (P**01) labs begin the week of Sept. 18; Week 2 (P**02) labs begin the week
of Sept. 25
• All labs are held on the first floor of the Ramsay Wright (RW) building, 25 Harbord St.
• Labs are 3 hours in length. Tues., Wed., and Thur. afternoon labs begin at 1:30 p.m.; Tues.
evening labs begin at 6:10 p.m.; and Fri. morning labs begin at 11:10 a.m. (There are no
BIO120 labs on Mondays.)
• A lab coat is required for Labs 2, 3 and 4.
• Preparation for Lab 1: Read Chapter 1 and Appendix A in the BIO120 Laboratory Manual Fall 2023 as well as Reading Research Article #1; complete Lab Quiz 1 on Quercus
BEFORE Lab 1.
• Beginning on Sept. 12, if you are not enrolled in a practical section on ACORN, please
contact the BIO120 Office at bio120@utoronto.ca.
• Procedures for requesting a temporary lab change (e.g., due to illness) are discussed in
the “Important Policies and Procedures” section on page 5 of this syllabus.
Where to ask questions about course content
• As it is impractical for Lecturers to offer office hours for a course of this size, any questions
on lecture content can be (1) asked during the weekly Lecture Tutorials conducted by the
professors (see page 2), or (2) posted under “Discussions” on Quercus, which is monitored
by the BIO120 Lecture TAs (Teaching Assistants who attend lectures).
• Any questions on laboratory content can be (1) directed to your TA during regular lab time,
(2) asked during the Course and Lab Coordinator’s office hours, or (3) posted on the BIO120
Discussions page on Quercus.
• The Discussions page on Quercus has been created for students to post their questions
regarding course material. It is expected that students will respond to their classmates’ questions. Course staff will respond to posts where appropriate (and within 48 hours, weekdays
only).
Page 3
Support Services
If any student has concerns about the course or is having a hard time in general, we encourage
you to contact us (bio120@utoronto.ca). Below are additional services available to U of T students:
• The Academic Success Centre provides workshops and one-on-one learning strategy sessions
for students who want to improve their study habits.
• If you feel there is a medical/accessibility concern impacting your ability to study or complete academic work to the best of your ability, you may find it helpful to contact Accessibility
Services. They are responsible for arranging ongoing accommodations for students where
appropriate.
• Health & Wellness through Student Life offers mental health care.
• If you are having a hard time overall and you are not sure what kind of support would help,
you may find it helpful to contact your College Registrar's office. The Registrars are a central
resource at U of T, and they have excellent advisors who can provide degree-planning advice and connect you to other resources on campus
Evaluation
Lecture material, including required readings
Lab material, including required readings
70%
30%
Evaluation details:
Test 1: Friday, October 13, 5:40-6:30 p.m. (50 minutes)
• Content: Multiple-choice questions covering Lectures 1 to 8 (Prof. Frederickson), including associated required readings and SimUText. (Lab material will not be evaluated on
Test 1.)
Test 2: Friday, November 17, 5:30-6:30 p.m. (60 minutes)
• Content: Multiple-choice questions covering Prof. Frederickson’s Lectures 9 to 12, Prof.
Wright’s Lectures 13 to 15, and Lab Chapters 1 to 3, Appendix B, including associated
required readings.
Final Exam: (during Dec. 9-20 exam period, exact date TBD), TBD minutes
• Content: Multiple-choice questions covering Prof. Frederickson’s Lectures 1 to 12,
Prof. Wright’s Lectures 13 to 24, Lab Chapters 4 and 5, and Appendix C and D, including associated required readings for lecture and lab content. Note that only the
lecture content on this exam is “cumulative” (i.e., it covers all lecture material but
not all lab material).
Laboratory quizzes and assignments
• Lab Quizzes (5%), Lab 5 Assignment (1%), and “Reading Research” assignments
(20%)
• See page vi in the BIO120 Laboratory Manual for detailed information.
Reading Quizzes
• Quizzes on required readings for the lecture content (e.g., required readings) (4%)
• SimUText Population Growth online module (2%)
15%
17%
33%
26%
6%
TeamUp! questions during lecture
2%
(see Quercus for detailed information)
Course Survey
1%
We conduct our own survey at the end of term to receive feedback about students’ learning
experience in the course. This evaluation is not associated with the course evaluation administered by the Faculty of Arts and Science.
Canadian Consortium of Science Equity Scholars (CCSES) Survey
As part of the efforts of the Canadian Consortium of Science Equity Scholars (CCSES) to improve
equity and inclusion in science courses, researchers in universities across Canada are trying to
better understand the student population with respect to students’ academic identities, self-efficacy, sense of belonging, perceptions of classroom climate, as it relates to learning. The student
experience in first year science classrooms will be studied at the start, middle and end of the
term through online surveys as part of this research project.
For completing all three CCSES surveys, you will earn a bonus 1% towards your final course
grade (i.e., if you complete all 3 surveys we will add 1% to your course grade but your course
grade will not be affected if you choose not to complete all 3 surveys).
Page 4
Important course policies and procedures (please read these carefully!)
1. Your quiz, assignment, and test grades for BIO120 will be visible to you on Quercus. It is
your responsibility to check your grades regularly and report any inconsistencies to
the BIO120 Office as soon as possible.
2. It is also your responsibility to check your U of T email account on a frequent basis, as
any urgent communications will be sent that way. Failure to see an email will not be
accepted as an excuse.
3. Please send all course-related email to bio120@utoronto.ca; your email will be forwarded to
the appropriate team member. Use only your U of T email address and include your full name
and student number in the body of the message.
4. You must complete and submit a minimum of 6 laboratory assessments (i.e., assignments
and quizzes) to pass the course. If you do not complete and submit at least six of the
laboratory assessments, you will receive a maximum final grade of 49% for the course.
5. Test 1, Test 2, and the Final Exam consist of multiple-choice questions; marks are not
deducted for incorrect responses. Test locations will be posted on Quercus. Bring an HB
pencil, eraser, and your T- Card to all tests/exams; no aids are permitted (no cell phones,
calculators, dictionaries, etc.).
6. If you miss Test 1 or Test 2 you must contact the BIO120 Office within 24 hours of the
missed test. The make- up tests are typically written the week following the test.
7. If you miss the Final Exam you must contact your college registrar and initiate a
petition to write a deferred exam (do not contact the BIO120 Office). If your petition is
granted, the exam is typically written during the next Faculty Examination Period.
8. Test conflict with a scheduled class: If you have a scheduled class at a time when Test
1 or Test 2 is being written, your class takes precedence (i.e., attend your lecture and write
the alternate sitting for BIO120). Contact the BIO120 Office no later than one week prior to
the test date to arrange to write the alternate sitting. If you do not notify the BIO120 Office
before this deadline, we may not be able to arrange an alternate sitting of the test for you.
Please provide a copy of your timetable as proof of the conflict.
9. If you miss your scheduled lab period, contact the BIO120 Office within three days of the
missed lab to find out if space is available to attend another lab during the two-week period
that each lab is offered. If it is not possible for you to attend a make-up lab, you will be assigned
a make-up assignment if you miss an in-lab assignment. The due date and time of lab quizzes
do not change, regardless of whether you miss a lab or attend a make-up lab. It is important
to note that you are permitted to make up only one missed lab without documentation or
disclosing a reason. If you miss multiple labs, please contact the BIO120 Office to discuss
further accommodations. Note that you are responsible for submitting any online assignments that are due for the lab you missed; if you require an extension, see #12
below.
10. Labs begin at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; at 11:10 a.m. on Fridays;
and at 6:10p.m. on Tuesday evenings. If you arrive late to lab, the teaching assistant will
send you to see the Course and Lab Coordinator. She will decide if you have missed too much
of the lab and therefore cannot remain to complete it.
11. The lab quizzes are completed on Quercus. They are available for seven days preceding the
start of lab. Lab quizzes are due by the start date and time of the associated lab. No extensions or exemptions are allowed. Detailed information on the quizzes is available on Quercus.
12. Extension Policy: If you require an extension for an assignment due to illness or exceptional
circumstances, contact bio120@utoronto.ca before the assignment deadline. Requests
will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
13. The University of Toronto is committed to accessibility. If you require accommodations for
Page 5
a disability, or have any accessibility concerns about the course, the classroom or course
materials, contact Accessibility Services as soon as possible: accessibility.services@utoronto.ca
14. Plagiarism Detection Tool: Students will submit their “Reading Research” assignment to
a plagiarism detection tool. Normally, students will be required to submit their course essays
to the University’s plagiarism detection tool for a review of textual similarity and detection
of possible plagiarism. In doing so, students will allow their essays to be included as source
documents in the tool’s reference database, where they will be used solely for the purpose
of detecting plagiarism. The terms that apply to the University’s use of this tool are described
on the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation web site (https://uoft.me/pdt-faq). You
can choose to not submit your assignment to the plagiarism detection tool; please contact
the Course Coordinator before Tuesday, Oct. 17th to make alternate arrangements.
15. The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is strictly prohibited in all
course assessments in BIO120. This includes, but is not limited to, ChatGPT, GitHub
Copilot, and open-source models that you have trained and/or deployed yourself. You may
not interact with, nor copy, paraphrase, or adapt any content from any generative AI for
the purpose of completing assignments in this course. Use of generative AI will be considered use of an unauthorized aid, which is a form of academic misconduct under the Code
of Behavior on Academic Matters.
Schedule for Lectures, Tutorials, Labs, and Tests
Wednesday
Week
Monday
Date
Labs
1
Sept 7-8
No labs
2
Sept 11-15
No labs
1 (MF)
yes
2 (MF)
1 + 2 (MF)
3
Sept 18-22
1-1*
3 (MF)
yes
4 (MF)
3 + 4 (MF)
4
Sept 25-29
1-2
No lecture *
yes
6 (MF)
5 + 6 (MF)
5
Oct 2-6
2-1
7 (MF)
yes
8 (MF)
7 + 8 (MF)
6
Oct 9-13
2-2
U of T closed
yes
9 (MF)
9 + 10 (MF)
7
Oct 16-20
3-1
10 (MF)
yes
11 (MF)
11 + 12 (MF)
8
Oct 23-27
3-2
12 (MF)
yes
13 (SW)
13 + 14 (SW)
9
Oct 30-Nov 3
4-1
14 (SW)
yes
15 (SW)
15 + 16 (SW)
10
Nov 6-10
No labs
11
Nov 13-17
4-2
12
Nov 20-24
5-1
18 (SW)
yes
19 (SW)
19 + 20 (SW)
13
Nov 27-Dec 1
5-2
20 (SW)
yes
21 (SW)
21 + 22 (SW)
14
Dec 4-7
No labs
22 (SW)
yes
23 (SW)
23 + 24 (SW)
Day Lecture
10-11am
Tutorial
9-10am
Day Lecture
10-11am
Eve Lecture
5-7pm
No lectures
Test 1: Fri Oct 13 5:40-6:30 p.m. (Lectures 1 to 8)
Fall Reading Week
16 (SW)
yes
17 (SW)
17 + 18 (SW)
Test 2: Fri Nov 17 5:30-6:30 p.m. (Lectures 9 to 15; Labs 13, App. B)
Lecture 24 for the day sections will be 10-11 a.m. on
Thurs Dec 7
* There will be no in-person lecture on September 25. We will post a recording of Lecture 5 to
Quercus.
Page 6