MARINE LAB
Fall 2015
Biology 21
T: 9:45 - 12:55
Room : 7—1115
Mt. San Antonio
College
Course Description and Objectives
Marine biology lab (Biol 21) is
one of my favorite courses to
teach and I hope you enjoy this
course and find it interesting.
Once you have completed this
course you should be able to
identify a number of organisms
that can be seen along the California coast. We have four field
trips in this class which will give
you the opportunity to observe
and photograph a number of
organisms. Our first tip will be
to an estuary called Newport
Back Bay. You will have the opportunity to learn some common plants and animals associated with estuaries and salt
marshes. Later in the semester
we will go to Bolsa Chica Eco-
logical Reserve. Bolsa Chica is
an excellent place to see and
observe shore birds. We also
have two required weekend
field trips. We will be going to
Shaw’s Cove in Laguna Beach to
observe organisms that inhabit
the rocky intertidal. We will
also be taking a boat trip out of
Dana Point. When we are on
campus in the laboratory you
will get a chance to dissect a
variety of organisms such as
sharks and squid to learn the
internal anatomy of the animal
and how it relates to the animal’s lifestyle. You will learn
taxonomy, anatomy, and some
marine ecology.
To succeed in this course you
must get to class on time, attend
all field trips, utilize your time in
lab productively, study often, and
live a life that is conducive to
learning. That includes getting
enough sleep and getting some
exercise, and regularly reviewing
the material.
What’s in This Syllabus
Expectations
2
Cell phones and grading
3
Cheating policy and
important dates
4
Laboratory schedule
5
Website: http://instruction2.mtsac.edu/sschmidt/
Course details
Required Text:
Schmidt, Sherry and J. Kido. Laboratory Manual for Marine Biology – (Available at Day and Nite
Copy in the shopping center on the corner of Temple and Grand)
Optional Text:
Castro, Peter and M. Huber. 2013. Marine Biology, 9th Edition. McGraw Hill. (This is on reserve
in the library. You will only need it a couple of times).
Page 2
Your Instructor: Sherry Schmidt
Office: Bldg 60 Room 2106
Office Hours:
T, Th 7:00 to 8:00 a.m.
M, W 10:30 to11:30 a.m.
Phone: (909) 274- 4764
Email: sschmidt@mtsac.edu
Make up exams and quizzes
The laboratory exams are practical exams. There is no way to make up a
practical exam. If you miss an exam you will have to take a comprehensive
written exam during finals week. I will allow you to take a quiz early but I will
not allow you to take it late. You may replace a low quiz score or a missed
quiz in lab by doing an extra credit activity. You may also replace a homework assignment in lab with an extra credit activity. See my website for extra
credit activities: http://instruction2.mtsac.edu/sschmidt/
Late assignments
I have been having an issue with students coming to class late and students
turning in late work. I have found a need to develop a policy that is consistent
and fair to all my students including those that get to class on time and those
who turn in their work on time. A nonfunctioning printer is not an excuse. Work on your assignment early enough so if problems arise, you have
time to deal with them. See the table below for my policy on assignments that
are turned in after the beginning of the class the assignment is due.
I do not accept late laboratory homework.
“Education seems
to be in America
On Time: Turned in at the beginning of class
100% - missed questions
Turned in 5 minutes after class starts
80% - missed questions
Turned in the day due but after class ends
70%- missed questions
Turned in next class meeting
50% - missed questions
Turned in beyond the next class meeting
0% - no credit given
the only
commodity of
which the
consumer tries to
get as little as he
can for his money”
Max Forman
You will want to be on time!
Field Trips
The bus will depart at the time indicated on
this syllabus. If you show up late you will
miss the bus. It is not fair to students who
arrive on time to wait for late students. Plus
we need to
maximize
the time
we have in
the field.
Coming to class late
I give a quiz at the beginning of every lab
period. If you come in after I have
passed the quiz out you will not be allowed to take the quiz.
Page 3
Cell Phones
Help and Resources
If you are feeling lost or
overwhelmed…
Talk to me
See me during my office hours or
make an appointment to see me if
you cannot come to my office
hours.
Use my website
The use of cell phones when I am talking or giving an introductory lecture in
the lab is disruptive to me and the students that sit near you. You may use
your cell phones on breaks or when we are on the bus but I expect you to
have your cell phones in your backpacks when we are in the field or in the
lab.
You will find handouts and useful
information for the field trips on my
website. I also have links to videos,
practice quizzes, photographs of
dissections, and to other useful
websites. Past students have found
my website very helpful and I hope
you utilize the resources I have
provided for you.
Grading
Visit the Biology Study Room
Grades will be determined by a straight percentage of your total
score.
Total Points in Course = 695
3 Practicums
100 points
300 points
Quizzes
100 points
100 points
Home Work/Drawings
100 points
100 points
Back Bay Report
50 points
50 points
Tide Pool Report
60 points
60 points
Boat Trip Report
60 points
60 points
Bolsa Chica Write up
25 points
25 points
Total Points
695 total
90-100%
A (626 points)
80-89%
B (556 points)
65-79%
C (452 points)
55-64%
D (383 points)
< 54%
F
No make-up quizzes
or homework
are given.
The biology study room is in building 61 room 3318. Check my website for the hours it is open. The
person at the front desk is either a
biology student or professor. Most
of the time he/she would be willing
to answer a few quick questions for
you. The resource room would also
be a great place to meet if you decide to start or join a study group.
Use the Natural Science
Computer Lab
The computer lab is in building 11
room 2115. You can use it to print
assignments. You must have your
student ID and your own flash drive
if you want to use the computers
and printers. Check my website for
the hours it is open.
Laboratory Homework
The laboratory homework includes drawings you complete
during the laboratory period as
well as questions related to the
organisms you have studied during
the lab period. You need to have
detailed thoughtful answers to the
questions. The purpose of the
homework and quizzes is to prepare you for the practical exams.
Accommodations
If you feel that you have a disability
that may prevent you from succeeding in this class please contact the
DSP&S office. The office is located
in the Student Services Building
(9B).
http://www.mtsac.edu/dsps/
Page 4
Some Important Dates
and Holidays
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Policy on Academic Integrity
According to the Mt. SAC policy on academic integrity an instructor who
determines that a student has cheated may give the student a failing grade for
the assignment, for the course, or drop the student from the course. Since
the student has failed to abide by the standards of academic honesty, the
instructor has a right to give an F for the assignment or the course even
though the student may have successfully and, presumably, honestly passed
the remaining portion of the assignment or course. If the instructor issues a
failing grade for the course or drops the student, the actions shall be reported to the Dean, Student Services, and Director, Student Life. An instructor
may also recommend that appropriate action be taken under provisions of
the Administrative Regulations and Procedures on Student Discipline.
August 24 - School Starts
September 7- Holiday
September 4 - Last day to
add a class
September 5 - Last day to
drop with out a “W”
November 6 - Last day to
drop
November 11 - Holiday
November 26, 27- Holiday
DO NOT CHEAT
OR PLAGIARIZE.
IT IS NOT WORTH
GETTING AN “F”
IN THE COURSE
AND A CITATION
ON YOUR ACADEMIC
RECORD!!!!!!
Some examples of cheating include, but are not limited to:
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Plagiarism, which is the use of materials authored by another person or obtained
from a commercial source or the use of passages without proper acknowledgment. This includes using photographs from the internet without giving the photographer credit.
Having or using unauthorized materials during any exam or quiz.
Notes concealed in or written on clothing, hats, or skin (as examples).
Looking at another student’s work during any exam or quiz.
Removing an exam or quiz from the classroom without the professor’s approval.
Taking photos of exams, quizzes, completed ScanTrons®, or exam keys.
Turning in work that was generated by other individuals or by the same individual but in a prior semester, including but not limited to: lab report data, lab report or homework questions, homework assignments, and extra credit assignments.
Allowing another student to look at your exam or quiz, or allowing another
student to copy your homework, lab reports, or other assignments. (If that
work is duplicated you may also receive the same penalties listed above for violation of the Biology Department Policy on Cheating, and the college policy on
cheating and academic dishonesty.)
You are not
allowed to have
a cell phone at
your seat during
an exam. If you
have a cell
phone in your possession I
consider that cheating and
you will receive an “F” on the
exam and you will be
written up for cheating.
Page 5
Laboratory Schedule
Week
Date
Topic
Assignment
1
25 Aug
The microscope, the cell, and plankton
Chapter 1
2
1 Sept
Primary producers: Marine plants and algae
Chapter 2
3
8 Sept
Required Field Trip to Newport Back Bay
Meet at steps in front of Performing Arts Center
Bus departs at 9:45 am and returns between 1:30 and 2:00 pm.
Read Article:
Coastal Wetlands
4
15 Sept
Taxonomy - Porifera (Sponges)
Chapter 3
Newport Back
Bay Report due
5
22 Sept
Practicum
Field Trip to Wildlife Sanctuary
6
29 Sept
Cnidaria ( Jellyfish and Corals) and Annelida (Segmented Worms)
Chapter 4
7
6 Oct
Mollusca (Clams, Mussels, and Squid)
Chapter 5
Sat
10 Oct
(Sat)
Required Boat Trip - Dana Point - Bus departs at 7:15 am and returns 3:00 pm
(Note there is a $45.00 fee for this trip)
8
13 Oct
Arthropoda (Shrimp, Crabs, Lobsters, Horseshoe Crabs, Sea Spiders)
Chapter 6
Boat Trip Report Due
9
20 Oct
Practicum
Chapter 7
10
27 Oct
Urochordates (Tunicates) and Chondrichthyes (Sharks, Skates, Rays)
Chapter 8
11
3 Nov
Osteichthyes (Bony fishes) and Aves (Marine Birds)
3 November—Last day to turn in extra credit
Chapters 9 and 10
12
10 Nov
14 Nov
(Sat)
Read Article:
The Rocky
Intertidal
13
17 Nov
No class due to weekend field trip
Required Tide Pool Field Trip - Shaw’s Cove Laguna Beach
Bus Departs at 2:15. Be at bus pickup area at 2:00 pm or earlier
Low tide 0.0 t 4:57 pm. Sunset at 4:50 pm
Required Field Trip - Bolsa Chica
Bus departs at 9:45 am and returns between 1:30 and 2:00 pm.
14
24 Nov
The Skeleton and Vertebrate Homologies
Chapter 11
15
1 Dec
Final Practicum
16
8 Dec
No formal class meeting.
Comprehensive written final exam for those who need to make-up a missed
practicum or a low practicum score will be given at 10:30 am.
- Echinodermata
Tide Pool Report Due