ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE

APPROVED COURSE OUTLINE

BSC 2011L BIOLOGY II LABORATORY __1_

Prefix Number Course Title Cr.Hrs.

A. Course Description:

Prerequisite: BSC 2010 and BSC 2010L. Corequisite: BSC 2011. This is a laboratory experience to accompany Biology II. Laboratory exercises related to organisms and their environment are studied in detail and include: ecology, taxonomy, physiology, reproduction, evolution, and ethology. 45 contact hours.

B. Major Learning Outcomes:

1. The student will understand the hierarchy of organization from organism to ecosystem as well as the schematic of taxonomy from the simplest to the most complex organisms.

2. The student will understand the physiological processes of organisms and the structures that facilitate these processes.

3. The student will understand the principles of ecology and ethology.

4. The student will understand the process of, and evidence for evolution by means of natural selection.

C. Course Objectives Stated in Performance Terms:

1. The student will understand the hierarchy of organization from organism to ecosystem as well as the schematic of taxonomy from the simplest to the most complex organisms by:

a. identifying from observation various organisms within kingdoms/domains.

b. listing the characteristics of the major groups of Monera, Protista, and Fungi.

c. describing the characteristics of the major phyla of plants.

d. explaining the characteristics of the major phyla and classes of animals.

e. defining the species concept.

f. explaining the basis of binomial nomenclature.

g. explaining the differences between diversity and abundance, and taxonomy and systematics.

2. The student will understand the physiological processes of organisms and the structures that facilitate these processes by:

a. identifying from observation or describing the structures that facilitate respiration, photosynthesis, feeding, excretion, and other physiological processes of single-celled organisms.

b. identifying from observation or describing the structures and special tissues of plants that assist in the transport of fluids, exchange of gases, photosynthesis, and support.

c. identifying from observation or describing the special tissues, structures, or organ systems of animals that are involved in homeostasis, communication, support and protection, locomotion, and energy exchange.

d. explaining the reproductive life cycles and development of plants, animals, and other organisms.

e. interpreting the results of physiological experiments with organisms.

3. The student will understand the principles of ecology and ethology by:

a. recognizing examples of symbiotic and free-living organisms.

b. distinguishing predation, parasitism, mutualism, and commensalisms.

c. describing types of interactions among organisms.

d. interpreting the results of experiments on population dynamics.

e. explaining biochemical cycles and energy flow through communities.

f. describing the major biomes of earth.

g. explaining animal behaviors and interpreting or designing behavioral experiments.

4. The student will understand the process of, and evidence for evolution by means of natural selection by:

a. explaining the history of development of life on earth.

b. relating natural selection to microevolution.

c. relating natural selection through to macroevolution.

d. describing punctuated equilibrium.

e. citing and explaining examples of heterochrony including neoteny and paedeogenesis.

f. explaining sympatric and allopatric theories of speciation.

D. Criteria Performance Standard:

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

DBT 11/21/94

Effective Session 19951

C & I 4/14/98; DBT 5/29/98

Effective Session 19981.

C&I 10-7-03, BOT 11-18-03,

Effective 20032.