Insect-Plant Interactions BIOL 4970/5970, Sec. 051 Professor: Dr. Philip Morton Office: UOBS, Lake Texoma, Kingston, OK. Phone: (405) 325-7431 (Kingston, OK) Fax: (580) 564-2479 (Kingston, OK) Email: [email protected] Teaching Assistant: TBD Phone: TBD Email: TBD Course Description: This course will provide an introduction to entomology and insect-plant interactions in an “active learning” format. As a dominant ecological force, insect-plant interactions will be evaluated and discussed from the multiple perspectives that these interactions exist. Examples of topics discussed include ecology of insect-plant interactions, plant defenses, insect adaptation to plants, co-evolution, and evolutionary relationships of organisms, and consequences of plant-insect interactions in addition to basic concepts in insect identification and ecology. Topics will be discussed during class meetings and reinforced with field exercises and data collection in a research oriented group project. Time spent in the field will also be used to observe the occurrence and diversity of insect-plant interactions and strengthen and explore discussion topics. Laboratory The course will involve work in the field and laboratory. Fieldwork will typically occur in the morning while laboratory work will follow class meetings in the afternoon or evening. At least one or two late night field outings are also planned. A wide variety of habitats will be visited, depending on time and availability, therefore please be prepared. Some examples of habitats include flooded forest, grasslands, creek wading, “swamp stomping”, and agricultural fields. Textbooks Kaufman field guide to insects of North America. Field Guide to Oklahoma Plants, Commonly Encountered Prairie, Shrubland, and Forest Species. Required Materials Featherweight forceps are required and available at the Biological Station. As a portion of this course will be outside, field clothing and footwear suitable for hiking and wading in Southern Oklahoma is advisable. A head-lamp is also recommended for night work, although any flashlight is acceptable. Advice from other students include "Mosquitoes!" and "Wet feet." Grading Policy Assignment of grades will be based on performance and attendance, broken down as follows: 1. Exam 1 (15%) 2. Final Exam (20%) 3. Group Research Project (15%) 4. Insect Collection (10%) 5. Interaction Collection (10%) 6. Sight ID lab practical (10%) 7. Observation Journal (5%) 8. Nuts & Bolts Project (5%) 9. Essay (5%) 10. Attendance & Participation (within a group and as an individual) (5%)Letter grades will be assigned based on the typical scale of: A = 90-100; B = 80-89; C = 70-79; D = 60-69; F = <60. Graduate students will be required to do an additional research project to be decided with the instructor. Reasonable accommodation: Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from demonstrating his or her abilities should contact Philip Morton, Donna Cobb, (405) 325-7431 and the Disability Resource Center, Goddard Health Center, Rm. 166, (405) 325-3852, as soon as possible so that accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your educational opportunities can be