Biogeodiversity Laboratory

FALL 2001

INSTRUCTORS: JACK R. HOLT & BENJAMIN HAYES

It appears to me that nothing can be more improving to a young naturalist than a journey in distant countries. -Charles R. Darwin (1845)

BIOGEODIVERSITY LABORATORY (BI:205) provides students with field experiences in Puerto Rico and Pennsylvania. They will explore the biological and geological diversities in those locations. Topics will include: forest analysis (rain forest, dry forest, & temperate forest), and seasonal succession in a small plot. In addition, they will observe and infer geological and anthropogenic influences on karst vegetation, mangrove lagoons, coral reefs, rain forests and rivers. 1 credit Laboratory. A prerequisite for Biogeodiversity Seminar (BI:204).

I. OBJECTIVES:

• Students will discuss issues related to the science of biodiversity and environmental science.
• Students will explore the relationships between physical attributes of the environment (e.g. geology, climate) and the associated species diversity.
• Students will explore anthropogenic influences on sensitive environments.
• Students will observe changes in a small plot through summer and fall.
• Students will compare two forest plots (one in Pennsylvania and the other in Puerto Rico) for species richness in the context of the Theory of Island Biogeography.

II. TEXT:

Kricher, John. 1997. A Neotropical Companion. Princeton University Press. Princeton.

III. SMALL GROUPS AND PEER EVALUATIONS:

A. THE SMALL GROUP:

At the beginning of our first meeting (May 6), the class will organize itself into groups or teams of four students. Each team will name itself and present itself to the rest of the class. The teams will be the units that will work together during the forest analysis project and the discussions. Choose your team carefully; you will not be allowed to change teams throughout the semester.

B. PEER EVALUATIONS:

You will evaluate the performance of your team two times during the semester - once at the end of the Puerto Rico Trip and the second time at the end of the forest analysis project. The evaluation will consider the student's participation and contribution the group as a whole throughout the particular unit. The results of the 2 evaluations will determine 10% of your final grade.

IV. GENERAL POLICIES:

A. FORMAL PAPERS: POLICY ON FORM:

I expect you to use a word processor in producing all four papers. Indeed, I assume (but will not require) that you will use Word 97. Nevertheless, I will not read or acknowledge any paper that is not typed or processed with a word processor. Also, all final papers will be submitted to me in the TNS drive on PLANCK.  Place your papers into the proper folders.  This is where you will place your journal entries as well.  

I demand proper spelling, syntax and grammar in all written work. Follow the proper writing style for all formal work (e.g. no contractions, slang or jargon of your invention). Also, quotes are never allowed in scientific writing. Consult Day (1983) for proper writing style and formats in scientific papers. Proof read your work carefully before you submit it to me.

B. CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Since the class must work together as a team, absence cannot be allowed (see Student Handbook Section II p 5). A student who misses one laboratory will be dropped one letter grade; two absences will drop the final grade by two letters; and more than two absences will drop the final grade to an F. Except for extraordinary circumstances (circumstances over which the student has no control such as extended illness), there are no "excused absences." I will recognize the excused absence only when the Office of Student Affairs confirms the extraordinary circumstance that precipitated the absence.

C. ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY:

I follow the policy as given in the Student Handbook (Section II pp 5-7). Especially note the definition of plagiarism. The penalty for plagiarism will be most severe.

D. POLICY ON LATE WORK:

Late work will not be accepted and will receive a grade of zero.

E. POLICY ON RETURNING GRADED MATERIALS:

Except under unusual circumstances, all graded materials will be returned to you within one week of submission. If you are not present when the materials are returned, you must ask me for your copy. I will not seek you out. Unfortunately, I must retain my copies of your papers.

V. YOUR FINAL GRADE WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE FOLLOWING:

PEER EVALUATIONS 2@5%	10%
JOURNAL	30%
JOURNAL ARTICLES 2@20%	40%
RESPONSE TO READINGS	10%
GRADED DISCUSSIONS 2@5%	10%