SYLLABUS
Name of
Course:
Field Biology
Course
Instructor:
Gary Phillips, Environmental Studies Program Coordinator
Office phone number - (712) 362-7978 & e-mail address - gphillips@iowalakes.edu
Credits:
Lecture (SC265A) - 4 credits, Laboratory (SC265B) - 0 credits
Catalog
Description:
A basic field study of the various types of ecosystems common to the Iowa
Great Lakes region. Special consideration will be given to identification of the
plants and animals which inhabit these ecosystems. Laboratory work will include specimen collection techniques,
use of taxonomic keys, use of water quality analysis equipment, and ecological
field methods.
Text:
No text is required.
Other
Materials:
Field Biology Laboratory Manual by Gary Phillips
Objective of
Course:
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the concepts of
field ecology, familiarize them with common local plants and animals, and become
aware of the effects of man on the environment.
Course
Content:
Organisms and
their role in the environment.
Structure and
function of ecosystems.
Population
dynamics.
Freshwater
ecosystems.
Method of
Instructional Delivery:
There are three and one-half hours of lecture, demonstrations,
discussions, field trips, and laboratory activities daily.
Lectures will be presented either in the classroom or in the field.
Field trips and laboratory periods will be used for the performance of
experiments, writing of lab reports, observing natural habitats, collecting
specimens, and work on special field projects.
Learning
Objectives/Competencies:
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:
Collect and
record field data.
Collect and
preserve biological specimens.
Use taxonomic
keys to identify organisms.
Perform plant
community and animal community analysis.
Perform standard
ecological tests on various ecosystem types.
Describe the
structure of an ecosystem and the function of the components of that
ecosystem.
Determine the
species diversity of an ecosystem.
Describe the
process of succession.
Conduct field
studies of plant and animal populations.
Conduct
limnological analysis of freshwater ecosystems.
Perform standard
limnological tests to determine the status of water quality in a
body of water.
Recognize the
affects of humans on an ecosystem.
Grading:
Grading is determined by a percentage of total points for the semester.
Sixty percent is required to pass the course, seventy percent for a C,
eighty percent for a B, and ninety percent for an A.
Tests 100 points
Research Paper 100 points
Field journal 200 points
TOTAL POINTS 400