Revised 20 Jan 2012
Biogeography – BIOL/GEOG 459(G)
Spring 2012
Instructor
Dr. Ken McCravy
Office: 348 Waggoner Hall
Office Hours: 2-4pm M, 2-3pm TU, and 2-3pm TH
Phone: (309) 298-2160
Fax: (309) 298-2270
Email: KW-McCravy@wiu.edu
Text
Cox, C.B., and P.D. Moore. 2010. Biogeography: An Ecological and Evolutionary Approach, 8th ed. John Wiley
& Sons.
Course Goals
Biogeography is the study of spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity. This course is designed to
introduce students to basic geographical patterns of organisms, the historical and ecological processes
underlying these patterns, and the role of biogeography in biological conservation.
Prerequisites
BOT 200 and ZOOL 200
Grading
2 exams @ 100 points each
9 quizzes @ 25 pts. each (lowest one dropped)
Presentation
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS
200
200
100
500
Final grades will be based on the following scale:
Undergraduates
Graduate Students
460 and above = A
460 and above = A
444 – 459 = A410 – 459 = B
428 – 443 = B+
360 – 409 = C
412 – 427 = B
310 – 359 = D
396 – 411 = BBelow 310 = F
380 – 395 = C+
364 – 379 = C
348 – 363 = C332 – 347 = D+
316 – 331 = D
300 – 315 = DBelow 300 = F
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Exams and Quizzes
Exams will consist of a combination of objective and short writing questions. Tentative exam dates are given
in the schedule of class topics. Quizzes will be similar in format to exams, except shorter. No makeup or
other “special arrangement” exams or quizzes are given. The policy regarding missed exams and quizzes is as
follows:
-A missed exam is recorded as a zero unless excused. I will determine if an excuse is acceptable.
-A missed exam that is excused will be replaced by the quiz average (using percent scale).
-No more than one missed exam can be excused. A second missed exam will be assigned a zero, regardless
of the reason.
- A missed quiz will be treated as a dropped grade, so any quizzes missed in excess of one will be assigned a
zero.
Presentations and Evaluations
The presentation will be a 20 minute talk reviewing a biogeographical topic. Each presentation will be
evaluated by your peers, and these evaluations will count as one quiz grade (for the evaluator). Graduate
students are also required to submit a written paper on their presentation topic, which will count 50% of the
presentation grade. More information on presentations, evaluations, and written papers will be provided.
Americans With Disabilities Act/Disability Resource Center
“In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), academic accommodations
may be made for any student who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation. For the instructor
to provide the proper accommodation(s) you must obtain documentation of the need for an accommodation
through Disability Resource Center (DRC) and provide it to the instructor. It is imperative that you take the
initiative to bring such needs to the instructor's attention, as he/she is not legally permitted to inquire about
such particular needs of students. Students who may require special assistance in emergency evacuations (i.e.
fire, tornado, etc.) should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow in such an
emergency. Contact Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 298-2512 for additional services.”
Western Online Website
There is a Western Online website for BIOL/GEOG 459(G). To access it, go to http://westernonline.wiu.edu,
type in your ECOM username and password, and click OK. Once you have logged in, click on the
Biogeography course link. The site will contain the syllabus, grades, answer keys, and so forth. See me if you
have questions or problems, or contact the UCSS helpdesk at ucss@wiu.edu or (309) 298-2704.
Other Information
The Department of Biological Sciences website (http://www.wiu.edu/biology/student/policies.php) has links to
University policies on Student Rights and Responsibilities, Grade Appeals, Final Exams, Plagiarism, and
Academic Integrity. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with this information. Each student should
access and carefully read this information. If you have questions about any of the information, feel free to
ask.
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Tentative Schedule (Thursday, 6 – 8:50 pm)
Date
1/19
Topic
Introduction to Course
Introduction to Biogeography
Text
1/26
A History of Biogeography
Patterns of Distribution
Communities and Ecosystems
Ch. 1
Ch. 2
Ch. 3
2/2
Communities and Ecosystems (cont.)
Patterns of Biodiversity
Ch. 3
Ch. 4
2/9
Patterns of Biodiversity (cont.)
Plate Tectonics
Ch. 4
Ch. 5
2/16
Evolution – The Source of Novelty
From Evolution to Patterns of Life
Ch. 6
Ch. 7
2/23
Lecture Exam #1 (through “From Evolution to Patterns of Life”)
3/1
Life, Death, and Evolution on Islands
Ch. 8
3/8
Drawing Lines in the Water
Ch. 9
3/12-3/16
NO CLASS – Have a nice break!
3/22
Living in the Past
The Geography of Life Today
Ch. 10
Ch. 11
3/29
The Geography of Life Today (cont.)
Ice and Change
Ch. 11
Ch. 12
4/5
The Advent of Humanity
Into the Future
Ch. 13
Ch. 14
4/12
Lecture Exam #2 (through “Into the Future”)
4/19
Student Presentations
4/26
Student Presentations
5/3
Student Presentations
5/10
Student Presentations
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