172 Lecture

BI 172 General Biology III: Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Science

Lectures: Tues and Fri 11:00-12:15 - School of Nursing Auditorium, Room 203

Labs: Students are assigned to a required three-hour laboratory period that meets once per week. You must pass the laboratory section in order to pass the class.

Required Material:
*Biological Science 3rd Edition, Vol. 2 (2008), Scott Freeman (available at the bookstore)
*A marble grid-style notebook (quadrille lined) will be required for the laboratory portion of the course. (available at the bookstore)
*Access to WebCT

Course Description:
BI 172 is the third semester of the three-semester introductory biology course. Two professors will team-teach the course. Dr. Ashley Byun-McKay and Dr. Jim Biardi. We will focus our attention on the unifying themes of biology using a variety of teaching tools including lectures and investigation-based laboratories.

Our goals are as follows:

• To build a knowledge base and acquire the intellectual tools necessary to succeed as a biologist.
• To become comfortable with the scientific process that biologists use (formulating and testing hypotheses) as they attempt to answer questions about the natural world.
• To appreciate why evolution is the “core theme of biology.
• To appreciate the diversity of living organisms.
• To understand how organisms interact with each other and with the non-living environment.

Grading:

• In-class Exams (40%): Four scheduled 75 minute in-class exams. Exam I and III worth 8% each and Exams II and IV worth 12% each.
• Final Exam (25%): A cumulative final exam, prepared jointly by the two professors. The final exam is required to pass the course.
• Laboratory (25%): This portion of your grade includes laboratory notebook, lab quizzes and a final project (see BI 172 Lab for lab grading).
• Homework/quizzes/computer activities (10%): These activities will be given at the discretion of the instructor and may be in or out of class assignments.

Class Cancellation Policy: In case of class cancellation, the lecture material or exam scheduled for the missed day automatically moves to the next class meeting.

* Attendance at each exam is required. There will be NO MAKE-UP EXAMS – INCLUDING THE FINAL! Pay attention to the date and time of the final exam, since no exams will be administered early.*

** If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact: David Ryan-Soderlund at Academic and Disability Support Services (203) 254-4000 ext. 2615 or email drsoderlund@mail.fairfield.edu and notify the course instructor within the first two weeks of the semester. **

*** The Biology department strictly follows the University regulations for giving a grade of incomplete (I). An incomplete will be given only if the final exam cannot be taken for good reason (e.g. illness or conflict with other exam) and only if arrangements are made beforehand with the professor. IN NO CASE WILL AN INCOMPLETE BE GIVEN TO AVOID AN UNSATISFACTORY GRADE.***

****Plagiarism is the appropriation of ideas, data, work, or language of others and submitting them as one's own to satisfy the requirements of a course. Plagiarism constitutes theft and deceit and will not be tolerated. When the ideas or writings of others are presented in assignments, these ideas or witings should be attributed to that source. Special care should be taken, when cutting and pasting materials or when paraphrasing, to cite sources correctly and to use quotation marks around exact words from source materials. When using materials from ANY source, appropriate documentation is always essential. ****

***** The use of cell phones or stereo headphones/music devices in class is disruptive to others. Please turn them OFF while in class.*****

Resources such as the DiMenna-Nyselius Library (Ext. 2178) and the writing center (www.fairfield.edu/writingcenter) are available to assist you in your academic endeavors. You are encouraged to take advantage of these resources.

Fall, 2008 Lecture Syllabus

Schedule for lecture: This schedule may change. We will announce any changes in lecture. You will learn more in lecture if you read the assigned chapters before they are discussed. Reading assignments are from the Freeman text.

Date - Lecture Topic: Reading Assignment

Dr. McKay's Lectures
Lecture outlines on WebCT.

Tues. 9/2 - Introduction to course
Fri. 9/5 - Evolution by Natural Selection: Ch. 24

Tues. 9/9 - Evolutionary Processes: Ch. 25
Fri. 9/12 - Speciation I: Ch. 26

Tues. 9/16 - Speciation II: Ch. 26 cont.
Fri. 9/19 - The History of Life: Ch. 27

Tues. 9/23 - Exam 1
Fri. 9/26 - Bacteria and Archaea: Ch. 28

Tues. 9/30 - Protists: Ch. 29
Fri. 10/3 - Green Plants I: Ch. 30

Tues. 10/7 - Green Plants II: Ch. 30 cont.
Fri. 10/10 - Viruses: Ch. 35

Tues. 10/14 - NO CLASS (Instructional Monday)
Fri. 10/17 - EXAM II

Dr. Biardi's Lectures
Lecture outlines on WebCT

Tues. 10/21 - Fungi: Ch. 31
Fri. 10/24 - Animals I: Ch. 32

Tues. 10/28- Animals II: Ch. 33
Fri. 10/31 - Animals III: Ch. 34

Tues. 11/4 - EXAM III
Fri. 11/7 - Introduction to Ecology: Ch. 50

Tues. 11/11 - Behavior: Ch. 51
Fri. 11/14 - Population Ecology: Ch. 52

Tues. 11/18 - Community Ecology I: Ch. 53
Fri. 11/21 - Community Ecology II: Ch. 53 cont.

Tues. 11/25 - Ecosystems I: Ch. 54
Fri. 11/28 - NO CLASS (Thanksgiving Break)

Tues. 12/2 - Ecosystems II: Ch. 54 cont.
Fri. 12/5 - EXAM IV

Tues. 12/9 - Biodiversity/Conservation: Ch. 55

Tuesday, December 16, 9:00 a.m. - FINAL EXAM

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Fairfield, CT 06824
(203)254-4000
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