BIO 415 / 599
SPRING 2008
This course is designed for students seeking careers (as field biologists or research scientists) that require the knowledge necessary to identify seed plants. The lectures will present all of the major temperate families and some tropical families in a phylogenetic context (using cladistic methodologies) as well as special topics including origins of major groups, higher level classification, species concepts, speciation, breeding systems, polyploidy, biogeography, etc... During each week, the Tuesday and Thursday (if needed) lecture sessions will cover the families that we will see Thursday in lab. Additional topics will be covered during lecture sessions not occupied by families or an exam. For useful information see the study guides on this website and follow the links to additional resources.
Upon completion of this course students should have a thorough understanding of the diverse morphology of vascular plants and how morphology (and other criteria) are used to group plants in a heirarchical system that reflects evolutionary history. At the end of the semester you should be able to recognize all of the major gymnosperm families and genera, the 11 subclasses of angiosperms, and approximately 108 families, subfamilies, and major genera. You should also be able to identify to species any native or naturalized plant as well as many cultivated plants using keys and descriptions in standard floras.
Simpson, Michael. 2005. Plant Systematics . Academic Press. . ($85 list price; $63 new (free shipping) / $44 used from Amazon.com)
Dissecting equipment, including a millimeter ruler, fine forceps (two pairs recommended), and probes. Rulers, forceps, and probes, will be distributed by teaching assistant during the first lab; basic forceps are available at the specialty art desk (downstairs at end of handicap ramp access to textbooks).
Large three-ring binder with dividers for notes on orders, families; drawing paper; pencils.
Harris, J. G and M. W. 2001. Plant Identification Terminology . Spring Lake Publishing , Spring Lake , UT. (available from many web bookstores--ca $18 from Amazon)
Heywood, V. H., R.K. Brummitt, A. Culham, and O. Seberg. 2007. Flowering Plants of the World . Firefly Books; Revised edition -- any of the older editions by V. H. Heywood only are fine too and they were published by Oxford Univ. Press, New York . (available from many web bookstore—ca $38 from Amazon)
Hand-lens (7x-10x) available at art/drafting stores and knife shops or on line at many places such as ( http://www.kooters.com/handlens.html#select_lens )
Cronquist, A. 1981, 1993. An Integrated System of Classificiation of Flowering Plants . Columbia University Press.
Harris, J. G and M. W. 2001. Plant Identification Terminology . Spring Lake Publishing , Spring Lake , UT.
Heywood, V. H. 2007. Flowering Plants of the World . Mayflower Books, New York .
Hickey, M. and C. King. 2001. Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms. Cambridge Univ. Press.
Soltis, P., P. Endress, M. Chase, and D. Soltis. 2005. Phylogeny and Evolution of Angiosperms . Sinauer Associates.
Takhtajan, A. 1997. Diversity and Classification of Flowering Plants. Columbia Univ. Press, New York .
Lecture : Three preliminary exams (60, 80, and 100 points respectively). Final comprehensive exam Tuesday, May 9th (150 points). [BIO 599 exams will be more rigorous and will require additional reading from the Soltis et al. book listed above.]
Homework: Three homework assignments. (60 points total).
Lab : Thirteen prelab illustrated glossaries of terms designed to prepare students for lab. (40 points total—must be completed at beginning of lab). Three preliminary lab practicals (50 points each), scheduled for Tuesday evenings from 7-9 pm . Ninty percent of the second and third practicals will be on current section, 10 percent will be review for final. Final comprehensive lab practical (100 points), will be given on Thursday, April 29th, during regular lab period. [BIO599 students will be required to act as a secondary TA for one lab period and should be familiar with those families and the plant materials available.]
Collection: A herbarium collection of 10 different species is required. Each species must be identified completely (with authority) and should include complete label data (plant description if appropriate, physical locality including state,county, location, habitiat, lat/long, elevation, associated species, date). Each species will be worth 10 points (100 points total possible for collection graded upon quality and uniqueness of material, number of duplicate specimens collected, identification to lowest possible taxonomic entity, and completeness of label data). Portions of lecture and lab will be dedicated to developing the skills necessary to make collections. All collections should be made during the class field trip in early April. [BIO599 students will be required to turn in 20 different species.]
No makeup exams or practicals will be given unless arrangements are made in advance . Lecture exams will be a combination of fill in the blank, diagrams and short answer/essay. Short answer will be comparative (i.e., distinguish family #1 from #2; draw a cladogram depicting relationships between x, y, z). Lab practicals will be short answer (i.e., the family, genus and/or species of a group of plants on display); some use of keys will be required.
Total possible: 840 points. The course grade will be based on the combined total points from lecture, plant collection, and laboratory. Grades will be assigned on the following percentage basis: 90% or above= A; 80-89%=B; 70-79%=C; 60-69%=D; below 60%=F.
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