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. 1
External Features: Shoots & Roots
Lab Exercise 1
Feb. 3
External Features: Shoots & Roots
Twig Characters
Lab Exercise 1
Handout
Feb. 6
Course Organization; Introduction
1
(14-15)
(All)
3
(All)
Lecture Quiz 1
Feb. 8
Cell Structure (emphasis on distinctive plant
organelles)
Feb. 10
Cells (continued); the Somatic Cell Cycle
Feb. 13
Tissues of the Plant Body
Lecture Quiz 2
4
(All)
Feb. 15
Roots and Soils
5
(All)
Feb. 17
Stems
6
(All)
Feb. 20
Leaves
Lecture Quiz 3
Feb. 22
Leaves (continued)
Flowers and Fruits
7
8
(All)
(127-143)
Feb. 24
No Class; Nature Conservancy board meeting, Columbia, SC
Feb. 27
Review for Exam; Cones
Mar. 1
Exam 1 (Does not include material on flowers, fruits, or cones.)
Mar. 3
Seeds, Seed Germination, Seed Dormancy
Mar. 6
Review of Exam 1
Plants and Energy
Basics of C3 photosynthesis
Lecture Quiz 4
22
(412-413)
8
(143-147)
10
(167-177)
Mar. 8
Photorespiration; C4 and CAM photosynthesis
10
(178-180)
Mar. 10
Membrane Structure and Function
Diffusion, Osmosis and Active Transport
3
9
(36-37)
(150-154)
Mar. 13
Movement of Water and Solutes in the Xylem
Lecture Quiz 5
9
(155-158)
Mar. 15
Movement of Solutes in the Phloem
Plant Nutrition
9
9
(158-160)
(160-163)
Mar. 17
Plant Breeding and Propagation
14
(All)
Mar. 20
Review for Exam 2
Plant Hormones: Regulation of Growth and
Development
11
(192-201)
Mar. 22
Exam 2 (Does not include Mar. 20 lecture.)
Mar. 24
Response of Plants to Environmental Stimuli
11
(201-214)
Mar. 27
Review of Exam 2
Plant Names and Classification
16
(All)
Mar. 29
Meiosis and Alt. of Generations; Life Cycles
12
Mar. 31
No Class: Association of Southeastern Biologists meeting in Knoxville
Apr. 4-7
SPRING BREAK
April 10
22
Apr. 12
Seed Plants: Gymnosperms
Lecture Quiz 6
Seed Plants: Angiosperms
23
(All)
Apr. 14
Flowering Plants and Civilization
24
(All)
April 17
Edible, Poisonous and Medicinal Plants
Lecture Quiz 7
Apr. 19
Review for Exam 3
Evolution
12
(412-428)
(All)
Apr. 21
LECTURE EXAM 3 (Does not include May 2 lecture.)
Apr. 24
Evolution (continued)
Review of Exam 3
Apr. 26
Ecology
Apr. 28
Ecology (continued)
Review of Lecture Exam 3
May 1
Ecology (continued)
Lecture Quiz 8
May 3
Practical Ecology: Dr. Rayner’s Research on Deer and Invasive Species
May 5
Review for Final Exam
May 10
May 12
Section A (9:30-10:30) - FINAL EXAM 2:00 - 5:00
Section B (1:00-1:50) - FINAL EXAM 9:00 - 12:00
32
(All)
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.
WEEK
Feb. 6-9
Feb. 13-16
Biology 113 - Laboratory Schedule
Spring 2006
TOPIC
EXERCISE
External Features of Seed Plants
Assessment: Lab Review Questions
1
Twig Characters of Common Campus Trees/Shrubs
2
Assessment: Producing a Twig Key to Common Campus Trees/Shrubs
Feb. 20-23
Cell Structure & Cell Types
Assessment: Lab Review Questions
3
Feb. 27-Mar2
Structure of Leaves
Assignment: Ecological Modification of Leaves
4
Mar. 6-9
Cones, Flowers & Fruits
Assessment: Lab Quiz
5
Mar. 13-16
Photosynthesis
Lab Review Questions
6
Mar. 20-23
Field Trip to Carter and Holmes Greenhouses, Newberry
Assessment: Lab Review Questions
Mar. 27-30
Absorption, Conduction, and Transpiration of Water
Assessment: Lab Review Questions
7
Mar. 28-31
Internal Regulators of Plant Growth
External Factors and Plant Growth
Assessment: Lab Review Questions
8
Apr. 3-7
SPRING BREAK
Apr. 10-13
Field Trip: Plant Adaptations
Assessment: Lab Quiz
9
Apr. 17-20
Evolution/Genetics (To be arranged)
10
Apr. 24-27
Ecology: Mimicry
Assessment: Lab Report
11
May 1-4
Field 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
Lecture Exam 1
Lecture Exam 2
Lecture Exam 3
Final Exam
Total
-
15 percent
11 percent
13 percent
15 percent
16 percent
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 Lab reports/
30 percent
Total
30 percent
SUMMARY OF GRADING
LECTURE 70 percent
LAB 30 percent
Your grade will be determined by the total percentage you accrue according to the
following scale:
90 - 100.0
80 - 89.9
70 - 79.9
60 - 69.9
less than 60
=
=
=
=
=
A
B
C
D
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.