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SPRING 2008 BSC 4303/5305: Biogeography
Prerequisites/Corequisites
ZOO 1010 General Zoology, or BOT 2010 General Botany
Instructor
Dr. C.M. Pomory
Office: Bldg 58, room 007
Phone: 857-6028
E-mail: cpomory@uwf.edu
Office hours: Monday 2-4:00, Tuesday 12:15-2:15, Wednesday 2-4:00
Class time: 4-5:15 Monday & Wednesday
Textbook
MacDonald, G. 2003. Biogeography: Space, Time, and Life. John Wiley & Sons, New York,
518 pp.
Handouts to be downloaded and brought to class (MS-Word documents):
http://uwf.edu/cpomory/BGhandout1.doc
http://uwf.edu/cpomory/BGhandout2.doc
http://uwf.edu/cpomory/BGhandout3.doc
http://uwf.edu/cpomory/BGhandout4.doc
Course Description
This course relates the principles of taxonomy, ecology and evolution to the distribution of
plants and animals on land and in the ocean. The course will consist of a traditional lecture
style portion covering background material and a seminar style portion with discussions of
relevant topics from the primary literature. Test material will come from notes and
discussions held during class. Students taking the course at the 5000 level will be assigned
paper presentations in addition to the readings. Tests at the 5000 level will consist of short
answer questions and demonstration of a higher degree understanding will be expected.
Tests at the 4000 level will consist of multiple choice questions.
Topics Covered
Topics include codes of taxonomic nomenclature and the processes of describing species
and ranges, species concepts and modes of speciation, paradigms of constructing
phylogenies, a review of the geologic ages of the earth with examples of biota and their
relation to continental drift, biodiversity and biogeographic provinces on land and in the
ocean in modern times, and human interactions involving species extinctions and exotic
introductions.
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Student Learning Outcomes
Content: Students will be able to identify the major biomes and their associated
physical characteristics. Students will be able to apply ideas of dispersal and vicariance
to explain the distribution of fossil and living animals and plants. Content will be
assessed by multiple choice tests at the undergraduate level and essay tests at the
graduate level.
Skill Mastery Level
Characteristics of Submitted Student Work and Assignments
Very Good - Excellent Biomes and their characteristics are correctly identified.
Correct order of evolutionary time scales is recognized.
Satisfactory
Biomes and their characteristics are usually correctly
identified. Correct order of evolutionary time scales is
usually recognized.
Unsatisfactory
Biomes and their characteristics are not correctly identified.
Correct order of evolutionary time scales is not recognized.
Critical Thinking & Communication: Students will distinguish the difference between
natural and human activities and how they have changed the distribution of plants and
animals, how distributions have changed over time, and how scientists go about
investigating questions dealing with biogeography.
Critical Thinking & Communication will be assessed by presentations of original
literature by graduate students and summaries of the presentations by undergraduate
students.
Skill Mastery Level
Characteristics of Submitted Student Work and Assignments
Very Good - Excellent Students are able to summarize and present biological data
from the literature using logical arguments and a clearly
organized format.
Satisfactory
Students are able to summarize and present biological data
from the literature, but arguments and format are not
clearly organized or presented.
Unsatisfactory
Students are unable to summarize and present biological
data from the literature using logical arguments and a
clearly organized format.
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Grading System
Lecture tests (3) = 95% of total undergraduate
Critique of presentations (5) = 5% of total undergraduate
Lecture tests (3) = 75% of total graduate
Presentations (5) = 25% of total graduate
A
AB+
B
C+
C
D+
D
F
93-100%
90-92%
85-89%
80-84%
75-79%
70-74%
65-69%
60-64%
<60%
Academic Conduct
Academic misconduct, cheating or plagiarism, will result in a grade of 0 for that
assignment. Repeated misconduct will result in a 0 for the course. See UWF policies at
the following web addresses: http://uwf.edu/academic/policies/acadpol/SEC-08.htm
http://uwf.edu/cas/aasr/plagiarism.doc
http://library.uwf.edu/tutorial/module_plagiarism/default.htm
Students with Special Needs
Students who may need help related to special circumstances should notify the
instructor at the beginning of the semester. A variety of services are available for
students and information may be found at the following web address:
http://uwf.edu/studentaffairs/departments/
Withdraw Policy for the University of West Florida:“The withdraw deadline for
this course is 03/24/2008. Please discuss any academic concerns with me prior to
withdrawing. Withdraws after the deadline will not be approved except for:
1. A death in the immediate family.
2. Serious illness of the student or an immediate family member.
3. A situation deemed similar to categories 1 and 2 by all in the approval process.
4. Withdrawal due to Military Service (Florida Statute 1004.07)
5. National Guard Troops Ordered into Active Service (Florida Statute 250.482)
Students who do not officially withdraw will be assigned a standard letter grade. Late
withdraws must be approved by the students advisor, instructor of the course,
department chairperson, and finally, the University Academic Appeals Committee.
Students who withdraw are not enrolled as of the date the withdrawal is processed. “
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Schedule
Mon. Jan. 7
Wed. Jan. 9
history and taxonomy
physical world - global scale
Mon. Jan. 14
Wed. Jan. 16
physical world - regional scale, bioconcepts
Mon. Jan. 21
Wed. Jan. 23
MLK Holiday
bioconcepts
Mon. Jan. 28
Wed. Jan. 30
bioconcepts
Mon. Feb. 4
Wed. Feb. 6
presentations 2- how & why - measuring the past
Mon. Feb. 11
Wed. Feb. 13
historical biogeography
historical biogeography
Mon. Feb. 18
Wed. Feb. 20
historical biogeography
modern biome concepts
Mon. Feb. 25
Wed. Feb. 27
aquatic biomes
aquatic biomes
Mon. Mar. 3
Wed. Mar. 5
aquatic biomes
Mon. Mar. 10
Wed. Mar. 12
presentations 3- aquatic biomes
presentations 1- species concepts
presentations 2- how & why - measuring the past
TEST 1
presentations 3- aquatic biomes
TEST 2
Monday 17th - Friday 21st March SPRING BREAK
Mon. Mar. 24
Wed. Mar. 26
terrestrial biomes
terrestrial biomes
Mon. Mar. 31
Wed. Apr. 2
terrestrial biomes
Mon. Apr. 7
Wed. Apr. 9
presentations 4- terrestrial biomes
Mon. Apr. 14
Wed. Apr. 16
exotic introductions and habitat fragmentation
presentations 4- terrestrial biomes
exotic introductions and habitat fragmentation
presentations 5- human disturbance
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Mon. Apr. 21
Wed. Apr. 23
presentations 5- human disturbance
Wed. Apr 30
TEST 3 (2:00 - 4:30)
summary & evaluations