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Instructor: Jim Dooley
Office: Room 428, BSC
E-Mail: jdooley@muskingum.edu
Phone: 740-826-8227
Location/Time: BSC 441, Tuesdays 12:30-3:20

Meeting Dates: 8/28, 9/4, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30

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Biodiversity is a word we hear used a great deal these days - but often it's used without reference to any kind of definition or explanation.   Most people would say they "kinda, sorta know what it means ...", but it's probably safe to say few people could provide a succinct definition on the street and even fewer could provide an explanation as to why biodiversity might be important.  

We're going to start our study of biodiversity with a simple definition: biodiversity is the total number of all life forms that can be found in some area (in this case SE Ohio).  Ecology is also a term that one is likely to recognize but maybe not define precisely.  Ecology is a biological science: it is the study of interactions between living things as well as interactions between life-forms and non-living components of the earth.   Ecology & evolution provide some of the main underpinnings of modern conservation science: which is an applied science focused on how to diminish or even reverse the unparalleled declines of many plant and animals species on the planet at this time.

In this term, we are going to examine some aspects of SE Ohio's biodiversity and also consider some ecological issues such as how the number of and size of species populations relates to habitat availability and quality.    In addition and more fundamentally, one of the major goals of the class is to develop and enhance your understanding how science works - how do we go from questions to answers in scientific inquiry? Given these underpinning themes then, the laboratory is largely a methods oriented course that will involve field trips, a field exercise, information research, and data analysis.

Course Learning Objectives:  Course Leaning Objectives extend directly from the Biology Department's Learning Goals.   In particular, the learning objectives for this course emphasize Biology Department Learning Goals 1, 3 & 4.   As a result of successfully completing this course, students will:

Some Key Points to Remember:

Exams and Grading:

Classes will generally start with a short quiz covering assigned reading and/or notes from previous classes (not just the immediately preceding class!). Review your notes between class meetings. Final grades will be based on the following:

1.     Quizzes, worksheets, postings, other assignments (70 or 95%)

2.     Discretionary (5%)

3.     Comprehensive Final Exam (25 or 0%)

Take notes on all lectures, exercises, and during all videos - all are fair game as material for quizzes and the final exam.

Participation & Attendance: There are only 9 meetings of this class, therefore you must attend all classes (the only exceptions to this policy will be certified illness or family emergency).   In the case of absences due to College sanctioned activities (field trips for other courses or participation in intercollegiate sports) I will require a weeks advance notice. Because of the nature of the laboratory activities, there can be no make-up of missed sessions (including quizzes).  However, students missing class owing to college sanctioned reasons will have the option of writing a short paper (probably 5 double-spaced pages) on a topic related to the theme for the lab they missed or having their final course grade being lowered by 10% and taking a "0" for the quiz grade (if one occurred).  If attendance is going to be a problem, don't take this course!  The bottom line: missing a class will likely lower your final grade by at least a whole letter grade - take this policy seriously!

Course Schedule