Biology 124, section H -- Ecology and Evolution -- Spring, 2012

Instructor: Dr. Reid Harris, Professor
Faculty web page

Office: Burruss Hall Room 209; Phone/voice mail: 568-6665

Email: harrisRN@jmu.edu

Office Hours:  Tues 11-12, Wed 1:00-3:25, Thur 11-12, or by appt.; also, many questions can be handled by email.

Goals and objectives:

1. Introduce fundamental concepts and processes that comprise the broad-based fields of ecology and evolution.

2. Reflect upon the relationship between these sciences and society.

3. Indicate how the history of science is important in developing the continuously changing ideas of how living systems work and evolve.

4. Contribute to global thinking by demonstrating how these sciences require a global perspective.

5. Contribute to critical thinking by illustrating how the methods and procedures for generating ideas substantiated by experimentation are the very foundation of these science.

6. Practice the design and implementation of surveys and experiments in ecology and evolution using the scientific method as a basis.


Nature of the course content:

    Prerequisite:

Biology 114 with a grade of C- or better or permission of your freshman adviser and the course instructor.
    Catalog description:

        In this course students will learn about variation within populations, the mechanisms of evolution, phylogeny and classification, population and community ecology, animal behavior and ecosystems dynamics.  Labs will include investigations in laboratory and field settings.  The laboratory syllabus will be provided by your laboratory instructor. 4 credit hours.


Requirements of the lecture part of the course:

       Do not rely on Blackboard for assignment dates.  Use the following link and announcements made in class for assignment dates.
       Course outline with test dates:
http://csm.jmu.edu/biology/harrisrn/syllabusSpring2012.html

    Required Textbook:
Raven, P.H., G.B. Johnson, K.A. Mason, J.B. Losos, S. R. Singer. 2011. Biology. Volume 2, Ninth Edition. McGraw Hill, Boston, MA.

    McGraw Hill Connect is required:

To register for connect, you need the code that came with your textbook.  If you bought a used textbook, you can purchase connect online.

In either case, go to this website:

http://mpss.mhhe.com/connectlinks.php

Click on the green triangle that says "students click here".

Click on the appropriate blue box depending on whether you have an access code or need to buy access online.

The course web address that you need to register is:

http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/r_harris_930_tth_2

The course is called Harris Spring 2012 Ecol Evol.  The section is 930 TTh.

Your homework assignments involve reading the sections in the textbook listed on the syllabus and taking the online quiz using Connect before 8 am on the day of the class.  These online homework assignments occur for every day that there is a reading assignment.

For example, the homework assignment due by 8 am on January 12 is to read section 20.1 in the textbook and then take the online quiz in Connect.

    Reference Textbook:

        Your Bio 114 textbook

    Attendance policy for lecture:

Attendance is highly recommended as material will be presented that is not contained in the textbooks.  Three percent of your final course grade is based on attendance quizzes, which will be given each class.

           

Methods of evaluation for lecture:

The lecture part of the course comprises 70% of your grade.  In lecture, there will be three tests and a final. Each of the three tests is worth 14 points; the final exam is worth 20 points. Tests will include objective and short questions. The format may vary from test to test. Questions will cover material from lectures and reading assignments in the textbook.

To encourage good study habits, I do not answer questions on test material the day of the test.

There can be no make-up of a missed test. Those who miss one test will have their final exam grade used in its place. All students who do not miss a test can have one lower test grade replaced by a higher final exam grade. The final exam will be cumulative.

You can ask for one or more questions on a test to be regraded if you provide a typed argument for why the question should be regraded. All regrade requests must be turned in within one week from the time the tests are returned to you.

Your grade in this course will be based solely on your performance on the exams, homework, attendance, and on laboratory exercises; there will be no extra credit.

You must take the final examination at the time assigned by JMU.

Connect homework assignments are worth a total of 5 points or 5% of your course grade.

Attendance quizzes are worth a total of 3 points or 3% of your course grade.

Your lab grade comprises 30% of your grade and will be discussed by your lab instructor.


Laboratory

Assignments and Due Dates

Lab schedule :

Week 1: Introduction, Hypothesis testing exercise, Begin stomata survey

Week 2: Stomata survey data collection and analysis

Week 3: Complete stomata survey, Setup plant competition experiment

Week 4: Population genetics exercise

Week 5: Fish schooling

Week 6: Ecobeaker

Week 7: Information literacy, Plant competition completion and data collection

Week 8: Plant competition data collection and analysis, Antibiotic evolution experiment setup

Week 9: SPRING BREAK

Week 10: Identification keys, Continue antibiotic evolution experiment

Week 11: Cladistics/phylogenies, Continue antibiotic evolution experiment

Week 12: Species Diversity, Continue antibiotic evolution experiment

Week 13: Complete antibiotic evolution experiment, Estimating population size

Week 14: 20 questions lab in JMU arboretum

Week 15: Evobeaker

Week 16: Lab Test

* Classes will not meet Monday, January 16th for Martin Luther King Day and classes will not meet from 8am – 4pm on Tuesday, February 14th for Student Assessment. 

 

 

Methods of Evaluation for the laboratory:

 


Lab grade is 30% of final course grade.  The lab grade will consist of the following components:

Final lab test – 30%

Written papers – 40%

Lab assignments and participation – 30%

 

 

Requirements and Policies for the laboratory:

 

Required Texts


·      BIO124 Laboratory Manual, Spring 2012 version, which must be purchased from the JMU bookstore.

·      A Short Guide to Writing about Biology. By Jan A. Pechenik.  You are required to buy this book if you have not already done so for another class. 

·      Safety glasses – not a text but required and also available at the JMU bookstore

 

 

 

Attendance



Attendance is mandatory.  The first unexcused absence from lab will result in a 5% deduction from your final lab grade.  Two unexcused absences will result in a 15% deduction from your final lab grade.  Three unexcused absences will result in a final grade of 0 for lab.  If you know that you have to miss lab, please let your lab instructor know as soon as possible so that accommodations can be made. 

 

Participation



Students will receive a grade and/or penalty based on their participation (i.e. being attentive, engaged and contributing) in lab (10%). 


In the honors section, I expect a high level of participation and discussion.  

 

Requirements and Policies for the lecture and the laboratory:


JMU Honor Code:

You will be asked to pledge the JMU honor code on tests and examinations. Some activities will be designated "group activities" and collaboration will be part of the assignment and therefore strongly encouraged.

     Professional Behavior:

           All cell phones must be off during class, so no texting during class is allowed.  If you are expecting a critical phone call, please see me before class to discuss a reasonable accommodation.

           It may appear when sitting in class that making a causal remark to the person sitting next to you is not disruptive to the instructor.  This is not true.  Therefore, please do not talk to your classmates during a lecture.

    Snow day policy:

If lecture or lab is canceled because of bad weather, the make-up day will be on the following Saturday at your regularly scheduled time.  Your instructor will send you an e-mail to your JMU account with more details.

    Regulations regarding registration deadlines:

Students are responsible for registering for classes and for verifying their class schedules on e-campus. 

The deadline for adding a Fall Semester class without instructor and academic unit head signatures is January 17, 2012.  Between January 18  and January 26, 2012, instructor and academic unit head signatures are required to add a class for Fall Semester 2011.  The deadline for freshman is 5 PM on these dates.

No student will be allowed to register for a Fall Semester class after  January 26, 2012.  No exceptions will be made to these deadlines.


    Policy for students with disabilities:

Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities and/or meet course requirements must register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS) and also contact me to discuss access issues. ODS will provide you with an Access Plan Letter that will verify your need for services and make recommendations for accommodations to be used in my classroom.  ODS is located in the Wilson Learning Center, Room 107; Phone: 568-6705.

    Religious observation accommodations:

        Students can request accommodations on grounds of religious observation.  I determine what accommodations are appropriate for this course.  Please notify me no later than the end of the Drop-Add period (January 17) of potential scheduled absences.  We will determine if mutually acceptable alternative methods exist for completing the missed classroom time or activity.


        Determination of Final Course Grade:

Activity

Course Points Possible

3 tests

42 (total)
Connect homework
 5

Final exam

20

Attendance quizzes 

3

Laboratory grade

30

Total

100

 Final grades will be awarded according to the following scale:

93+

A

90-92

A-

87-89

B+

83-86

B

80-82

B-

77-79

C+

73-76

C

70-72

C-

67-69

D+

60-66

D

<60

F

 

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