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Botany 3100

Survey of Non-Vascular Plants

Fall 2000

 


SYLLABUS

Dr. Steven J. Wolf
Office: Science 145
Phone: 667-3489
Email: swolf@arnica.csustan.edu
Office Hours: MTThF 11:15 am - 12:30 p.m., and by appointment. Dr. Wolf's Calendar.
Course Web Page: http://arnica.csustan.edu/boty3100

Text
: There is no good reasonably priced and up to date text covering "non-vascular plants". Therefore, the lecture notes will be available only via the web. Print them out, including figures, and bring them to each class. This will save a lot of writing for both you and the instructor. Since these notes include copywrited materials they will be in a password protected area available only to members of the class. Do not give the password out to anyone not in the class. If you do then you will lose access to them.

The username is: _________________. The password is:  __________________.

We will follow the classification scheme in Biology of Plants by Raven, Evert & Eichorn 6th Ed. If you have a copy, even an older edition, it is recommended that you bring it to both lecture and lab. The illustrations are excellent. 

Lectures: This course is a comparative study of the structure, development, ecology and evolution of organisms traditionally called nonvascular plants. Since there is no text, perfect attendance is a virtual necessity if you expect to pass the course. Lectures begin promptly at 8:00, please be on time. Quizzes will begin at 8:00 and there are no makeups.

Grading: There will be two (2) exams and a lab book, each worth 100 points. Additional assignments may also be made throughout the term. The instructor reserves the right to give unannounced quizzes if it becomes apparent that students are not keeping up with the material and/or there are an unacceptable number of absences. If you happen to be absent you will receive a grade of 0 for that quiz.

GRADING
Exam 1 Oct. 25 100 Pts.
Exam 2 Dec. 13 100 Pts.
Lab Book Dec. 13 100 Pts.
Assignments   TBA
Quizzes   TBA
Total   300 Pts. + Quizzes & Assignments

Grades: A = 100-90%, B = 89-80%, C= 79-70%, D = 69-60%, F = <60%.

Computers: Computers play and ever increasing role in the biological sciences and there is a wealth of biological information available via the Internet. An email listserve will be set up for the class. The address is boty3100@arnica.csustan.edu. Use it when you wish to contact the entire class. Read your email regularly, you may receive assignments or important notices via it.

Labs: There is no lab book, you are responsible for reading the appropriate lecture notes prior to each lab. The following materials must be brought to every lab period: drawing pencil (4H) and drawing paper, ruler and eraser. In lieu of laboratory exams you will be required to prepare a bound collection of labeled drawings. Drawings should reflect careful observation rather than artistic ability. Your lab book will be graded on accuracy and completeness. Therefore if you miss a lab it will be reflected in your lab book.

PREPARATION OF LAB BOOK

1. Drawings must be made on unruled drawing paper and kept in a quality binder.
2. Drawings must be on only one side of the paper.
3. All labels, titles, dates, names, etc. must be printed.
4. Each object drawn must have a diameter of at least 3 inches (about the size of a petrie dish). Therefore you can fit only two drawings on a page.
5. Number your pages consecutively in the upper right corner.
6. A title must be printed and centered at the top of the page.
7. A two or three line legend should be located beneath each drawing. This should include the name of the object (e.g. Neurospora), type of view (e.g. L.S.), the part being observed (e.g. sporangium) and the magnification (e.g. 10X).
8. A hard drawing pencil (4H) must be used.
9. Label lines must be drawn with a ruler, they must be parallel with the edges of the paper, right justified, and they must never cross.
10. For diagrammatic drawings neat stippling or crosshatching should be used to provide greater contrast between adjacent areas. Do not shade or use colored pencils or ink.
11. Lab book is due at the final exam. Grades will be reduced one letter grade per day late.

 

Lecture Topics

I. The process of science and introduction
II. Systematics

III. Introduction to Prokaryotes

     Phylum Cyanobacteria

     Phylum Prochlorophyta

IV. Introduction to Kingdom Fungi

     Phylum Chytridiomycota

     Phylum Zygomycota

     Phylum Ascomycota

     Phylum Basidiomycota

     Yeasts

     Deuteromycetes

     Lichens

V. Introduction to Kingdom Protista

     Phylum Myxomycota

     Phylum Dictyosteliomycota

     Phylum Oomycota

     Phylum Euglenophyta

     Phylum Cryptophyta

     Phylum Rhodophyta

     Phylum Dinophyta

     Phylum Haptophyta

     Phylum Chrysophyta

     Phylum Bacillariophyta

     Phylum Phaeophyta

     Phylum Chlorophyta

VI. Introduction to Kingdom Plantae

     Phylum Hepatophyta

     Phylum Anthocerophyta

     Phylum Bryophyta

VII. Summary

 
LAB SCHEDULE
DATE

TOPIC

Sept. 13 Scientific writing, basic statistics, graphing
Sept. 20 Spreadsheets, Microscope review, Cyanobacteria
Sept. 27 Chytridiomycota, Zygomycota
Oct. 4 Ascomycota, Yeasts
Oct. 11 Basidiomycota
Oct. 18 Lichens, Deuteromycetes
Oct. 25 Exam I
Nov. 1 Myxomycota, Dictyosteliomycota
Nov. 8 Oomycota, Euglenophyta, Rhodophyta
Nov. 15 Dinophyta, Haptophyta, Chrysophyta, Bacillariophyta, 
Nov. 22 Phaeophyta, Chlorophyta
Nov. 29 Chlorophyta
Dec. 6 Hepatophyta, Anthocerophyta, Bryophyta


The above schedule and procedures in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.

 

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