Botanical Diversity (BIOL 110), Spring 2002SYLLABUSInstructors: David Hibbett, [email protected] Sackler N300A. Office hours: Tuesday 1:00-2:00, or by appointment.TA: Zheng Wang (TA), [email protected] Sackler N310.Text: Biology of Plants, Sixth Edition, Raven, Evert, and Eichorn, W. H. Freeman and Company, ISBN1-57259-041-61999Meeting times: Lectures: Tues./Thurs., 10:25-11:40, N-218.Laboratories TBAClass format: Lectures will be integrated with examination of demonstration materials. An optionalfield trip will be held late in the semester, tentatively Saturday, May 4.Why a course in botanical diversity? I believe that it is important for all biologists (actually, all humans,but especially biologists) to appreciate the diversity of life that has evolved on Earth. Biodiversity isan invaluable resource, providing food, shelter, medicine, environmental detoxification, fuel, labor,genes, oxygen, and clothing. Biodiversity has also served humanity as a source of spiritual andaesthetic inspiration. Regrettably, we are swiftly and irrevocably destroying biodiversity. Purelypractical concerns dictate that we should make every effort to document, understand, and protectthe diversity of life on Earth. Many of the organisms treated in this course are microscopic orotherwise obscure and are therefore poorly understood. Nevertheless, they play pivotal ecologicalroles and have figured prominently in the evolution of the biosphere. After taking this course, youwill possess knowledge about a large and important fraction of biodiversity, about which even mostbiologists know very little.Grading:hour exams 4 x 100 points 400oral quizzes 4 x 50 points 200Final exam 100 points 100total 700Hour exams will include written questions in mini-essay format (a short paragraph should besufficient to answer each question) and practical questions based on specimens. Hour exams are notcumulative and will be given during the regular class period (i.e., there will be no lecture on the daysof the exams).Oral quizzes will cover the same material as the hour exams. I will prepare several questions thatwill provide a framework for the quiz. However, the oral quiz can take any direction, and at bestwill become a conversation regarding the subject matter of the course. We will make twenty-minuteappointments for the oral quizzes, which will take place outside of the regular class time.Why oral quizzes? There are several reasons why I decided to include oral quizzes in this course: 1) Ibelieve that this will be a very effective way to determine your level of comprehension of thematerial; 2) some people have a hard time expressing their ideas in writing—the oral quizzes willgive those people a chance to demonstrate how well they understand the material; 3) I believe that itis very important for scientists to develop strong communication skills, including the ability toparticipate in a scientific discussion; 4) Oral exams are a standard practice in graduateprograms—the oral quizzes will give you experience with this kind of examination.Final exam will be cumulative and will include only written questions.Tentative lecture schedule (subject to change):Date Subject Readings* Exams/QuizzesJan 15 T Course policies, organization, andphilosophy—why "Botanical Diversity"?Ch. 117 R Overview of the history of life from a botanicalperspective/Phylogenetics 1Ch. 1322 T Phylogenetics 2; Rooting the tree of life/The majordomains of lifeCh. 1324 R Prokaryote diversity—Mechanisms ofphotosynthesisCh. 7, p. 133-139;Ch. 13, p. 270-271;Ch.14, p. 282-29629 T Morphology and ecology of photosyntheticeubacteriaCh. 14, p. 287-292Ch. 16, p. 348-350Ch. 30, p. 74131 R (Multiple) Origins of chloroplasts Ch. 13, p. 272-279Ch. 14, p. 287-292Ch. 16, p. 356-357Quiz 1Feb. 5 T --- ---Exam 17 R Glaucophytes, Cryptophytes, Chlorachniophytes,and Rhodophytes (and ancestral statereconstruction with parsimony)Ch. 16, p. 356-36112 T Rhodophytes 2, Dinoflagellates 1 Ch. 16, p. 349-352,357-362, 361-36614 R Dinoflagellates 2, Euglenoids, Stramenopiles 1 Ch. 16, p. 349-352,361-366, Ch. 17 p.370-38319 T Stramenopiles 2 Ch. 17, p. 370-38321 R Stramenopiles 3, Haptophytes, Fungi 1 Ch. 16, p. 366-367,Ch. 17, p. 370-383,Ch. 15, p. 306-34426 T Fungi 2 Ch. 15, p. 306-344 Quiz 228 R --- --- Exam 2Mar. 4-8 Spring break ---12 T Fungi 3 Ch. 15, p. 306-34414 R Fungi 4, Mycetozoa Ch. 15, p. 306-344,Ch. 16, p. 352-35619 T Chlorophytes 1: Green “algae” Ch. 1721 R Chlorophytes 2: Green algae/bryophytes Ch. 17-1826 T Chlorophytes 3: bryophytes/seedless vasc.plants 1 Ch. 18-1928 R Chlorophytes 4: seedless vasc.plants 2 Ch. 19 Quiz 3Apr. 2 T --- --- Exam 34 R Chlorophytes 5: seedless vasc.plants 3 Ch. 199 T Chlorophytes 6: introduction to seed plants Ch. 20, 2111 R Chlorophytes 7: diversity of gymnosperm groups Ch. 2016 T Chlorophytes 8: angiosperms 1vegetative and floral anatomyCh. 21, 2418 R Chlorophytes 9: angiosperms 2overview of angiosperm diversity—paleoherbsand basal angiospermsCh. 2123 T Chlorophytes 10: angiosperms 3Monocots/EudicotsCh. 22, 23 Quiz 425 R --- --- Exam 4*specific page ranges and supplemental readings will be assigned throughout the