BIO 386 - FIELD BOTANY
SYLLABUS - SPRING 2009 - SECTION 0001
LECTURE - T,TH (12:30 - 1:45 PM)
LABORATORY - TH (2:00 - 5:00 PM)

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an in-depth survey of vascular plants in the field with an emphasis on identification, diversity of form and function, and ecology. Laboratory will include techniques for identifying members of the local flora, preserving botanical materials, and sampling plant communities.

LECTURE ROOM: Burruss 232

LAB ROOM: Burruss 232

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. C.K. McMullen

OFFICE: Burruss 202

RESEARCH LABS: Burruss 201 and Burruss 260 (Herbarium)

PHONE: 568-3805

E-MAIL: mcmullck@jmu.edu

WEB SITE: http://csm.jmu.edu/biology/mcmullck

JMU's BLACKBOARD COURSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: http://blackboard.jmu.edu/

TEXTBOOKS: Three books will be used extensively during this semester:

Newcomb, L. 1977. Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. Little, Brown and Company
Core, E.L. and N.P. Ammons. 1958. Woody Plants in Winter. West Virginia University Press
Strausbaugh, P.D. and E.L. Core. Flora of West Virginia. Seneca Books, Inc.

The first two are easily obtainable. The latter one might be difficult to find. If so, I will assist with this during the first week of classes. These books are fairly inexpensive, relatively speaking!

LECTURE & LABORATORY OBJECTIVES:
Upon successfully completing this course, the student should:
1) know the outstanding characteristics of several plant families common to Rockingham County.
2) be proficient in the use of taxonomic terminology.
3) effectively use botanical keys for the identification of vascular plants.
4) be familiar with plant collecting techniques and the uses of herbaria.
5) understand the concepts of variation and natural selection in plant populations.

METHODS OF EVALUATION:
2 Lecture Exams: 20%
1 Lecture Final: 20%
2 Laboratory Practicals: 30%
10 Laboratory Quizzes: 10%
1 Class Project: 10%
Participation: 10%

LECTURE EXAMS: These will cover material from the lectures and any readings that may be assigned.

LECTURE FINAL: This will cover material from the entire course, but will concentrate on the topics presented after the second lecture exam.

LABORATORY PRACTICALS: These will cover all information covered in our Thursday afternoon labs, including notes, prepared specimens, and living specimens.

LABORATORY QUIZZES: These will cover lab material from the previous week. At least 12 quizzes will be given. Grades will be based on scores from the top 10 quizzes. Missing a quiz due to an absence counts as a zero.

CLASS PROJECT: A plant project will be included as part of the grade, and will be discussed in detail during the first week or two of the semester.

PARTICIPATION: Participation, cooperation, and attention, especially in the field, will also be a part of your final grade. Near the end of the semester, on a Saturday, we may make one all-day field trip to West Virginia. Attendance will be required. If for some reason you can't attend, you will be assigned a paper to write. Details of the paper assignment will be given if the need arises.

GRADE SCALE:
A = 90-100 %
B = 80-89 %
C = 70-79 %
D = 60-69 %
F = below 60 %

IMPORTANT CLASSROOM POLICIES: Class begins at 12:30 P.M. Please respect your instructor and classmates by being punctual. Students are expected to attend all lecture and lab sessions. Lecture and labs will include material not covered in your PowerPoint notes, so missing these will adversely affect your grade. On Thursdays, we will often combine the "lecture" and "lab" into one continuous period. This will allow for us to make more extensive field trips of 4-5 hours. More than four absences, regardless of the reason, will automatically result in a final grade reduction equivalent to one letter grade. Good attendance may in fact help your grade if, at the end of the semester, you're on the border between two grades. Missed exams can be made-up only at the discretion of the professor and in a manner prescribed by the professor. You must inform me ahead of time, in person, if you are going to miss an exam. It is in your best interest not to miss an exam on the scheduled day. Exam dates will be made final at least a week in advance. The JMU Honor Code should be carefully observed. Please become familiar with "Violations of the Honor Code," found in the JMU Student Handbook. Any evidence of a violation will be immediately turned over to the Honor Council for investigation. Finally, use of cell phones, including text messaging, is NOT allowed during the lecture period. Make sure that you turn your phone off before coming to class!

Students are responsible for registering for classes and for verifying their class schedules on e-campus. Please be aware of the following important deadlines: January 20, 2009 - Last day to drop a first block or full semester course. 'W' applies at midnight. Last day to add a first block or full semester course on e-campus. January 29, 2009 - Last day to add a first block or full semester course with instructor & unit head signatures. January 30, 2009 - Last day to withdraw from JMU with cancellation of tuition charges.

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 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.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE