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Sep 07, 2024
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BIO 221 - Nature StudyCredits: 4 Instructional Contact Hours: 5
Designed to introduce students to identification of local flora and fauna. Investigates relationships of these organisms to student's environment.
Prerequisite(s): None Corequisite(s): None Lecture Hours: 45 Lab Hours: 30 Meets MTA Requirement: Natural Science Lab Pass/NoCredit: Yes
Outcomes and Objectives - Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific process and logical reasoning.
- Describe basic assumptions in science.
- Explain why correlation does not imply causation.
- Develop a simple experimental design as a means of investigation and as a way of thinking critically.
- Formulate a clear and testable hypothesis.
- Design an experiment to test the hypothesis (includes experimental groups and control group).
- Identify all variables.
- Collect and analyze data.
- Discuss the results and draw conclusions.
- Share experience gained verbally and in journal form.
- Communicate about biological and environmental topics.
- Successfully read a passage of text to gather and share information.
- Employ writing to communicate ideas appropriate to the discipline.
- Read, write and speak effectively about an environmental topic
- Compile a journal of activities and impressions obtained in outdoor settings while experiencing the flora and fauna of the multiple ecosystems.
- Demonstrate the appropriate use of instruments and technology
- Practice the use of common field instruments and equipment.
- Practice the use of common laboratory instruments and equipment
- Practice appropriate techniques for collecting data and taking measurements in the field.
- Demonstrate appropriate preparation to participate in indoor laboratory exercises and outdoor field activities.
- Participate in indoor laboratory activities
- Use appropriate equipment to conduct exercises.
- Participate in field activities
- Use appropriate equipment to conduct field activities.
- Demonstrate safe and appropriate behavior during indoor and outdoor exercises
- Use keys and resource books to identify organisms during indoor and outdoor exercises.
- Develop accurate observational skills.
- Describe how living and nonliving factors interact in particular ecosystems.
- Identify abiotic and biotic factors in each ecosystem identified.
- Describe the niches and habitat concept
- Distinguish between a population, community and ecosystem
- List index species of all ecosystems studied
- Describe the energy flow through an ecosystem
- Explain the cycling of nutrients, such as nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus through an ecosystem.
- Describe the process of natural selection as it operates to adapt an organism to its habitat
- Recognize the role of all organisms to their environment
- Relate abiotic factors to kinds of organisms found in the community
- Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of ecology and how they relate to the human community.
- Define an ecosystem.
- Describe the structure of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
- Explain how energy drives geochemical cycle of elements in an ecosystem.
- Describe pyramids of energy, biomass and numbers of an ecosystem.
- Explain the effects of human activities on ecosystems.
- Explain why precipitation and temperature and/or altitude can influence the type of biome existing in a given area.
- Identify the characteristics that vary between biomes and provide examples.
- Explain the competitive exclusion principle.
- Describe the process of succession and identify areas in various stages of succession.
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