ECOLOGY & FIELD BIOLOGY LAB Instructor: Dr. Cindy Shannon
Biology 3Lab Mt. San Antonio College Office: 60-2104
Fall 2014 Phone: (909)274-4551
Office Hours: M & W 10:15-11:15am, M & W 3-4pm Email:
Web::
SYLLABUS
Required lab book: National Audubon Society Field Guide To California, 1998 Author: Peter Alden & Fred Heath Optional:Field Guide to the Birds of North America, published by the National Geographic Society.
Course Objective: Identification and ecological relationships of common local plants and animals. Techniques of collecting and preservation of specimens.
YOU MUST BE ENROLLED IN BOTH THE LECTURE & LAB. This is a 4 unit course. NO BEEPERS (PAGERS) OR CELLULAR PHONES ALLOWED!--Points will be subtracted for violations of this rule!
ATTENDANCE: If you miss three labs, you will be dropped from the course (unless I hear otherwise, directly from you). After November 1st, you cannot officially be dropped from the class. THE LAST DAY TO RECEIVE A "W" (WITHDRAWAL) IS October 31st!!!
After that you must be given a grade in the course, which may entail counting all your remaining work as zeros (F's). If you are late it is your responsibility to report it to the instructor. Poor attendance will reduce your grade!
POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Anyone cheating may receive a failing grade (F) for the assignment, for the course, or the student may be dropped. Additional disciplinary action may be taken--see section on cheating in the Schedule of Classes and Biological Sciences Department Cheating Policy.
Grading: There will be a 100 point practicum during our last lab meeting. This practicum will entail identifying the organisms seen in lab all semester. You will also be required to keep a field notebook concerning all field trips (see separate handout on notebook). You will be required to turn in lab worksheets (25 points)and a field project (30 points). The insect collection and plant collection are worth 30 points each.
STUDENTS IN THIS COURSE ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND (AND WRITE UP IN THEIR NOTEBOOKS) THE OVERNIGHT AND ALL DAY TRIPS. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THIS COURSE!!!!!
Summary of lab points possible:
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Lab Practicum...... 100 points
Field Notebook...... 60 points
Field Project...... 30 points
Insect Collection...... 30 points
Plant Collection...... 30 points
Lab Worksheets & Practice Practicum...... 40 points
Overnight & All day trips...... 80 points
Total possible 370 points
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Lab counts approximately 40% of your grade in the course.
On all off campus field trips it is the student's responsibility to bring:
Notebook, pencil, pen, Audubon Field Guide To California book Jacket, Canteen or water bottle (Full of water),Snacks, Camera, Film (if desired)
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Back Pack to carry these
BIOLOGY 3 TENTATIVE LAB SCHEDULE (Fall 2014)
**The student is responsible for being aware of any changes made in this schedule by the instructor!!
Aug. 25 Sanctuary/Microscope(Sanctuary Pond Water) (lab and lecture switched week 1 but
rooms not switched)
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Sept. 1 Holiday!
8 Mammals—identification
Amphibians & Reptiles—identification
15 Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve
22 AllDay Beach Trip! 10:00am-6:00pm
29 Insects--collection, keys, preservation *Notebook Check
Oct. 6 Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens
12-13 Palms to Pines Trip
20 Birds--identification of common forms
Bones, Feathers, Fur and Scales (Comparative Anatomy)
27 Plants--collection, keys, preservation
Nov. 3 Practice Practicum
Mounting and Preparation of Insects
*Notebook Check
10 Line Transects in Coastal Sage Scrub
17 Evey Canyon (stream & mountain habitats)
24 Review in Museum
*Plant and Insect Collections graded
Dec. 1 Practicum, *Notebooks due!
Dec. 8 Biotrek- lab final time 10:30am-1pm
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Course Student Learning Objectives:
view at
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