ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE

APPROVED COURSE OUTLINE

BSC     2011                      BIOLOGY II  - ORGANISMS AND ECOLOGY__                           3__

Prefix      Number                                                              Course Title                                                                                Cr.Hrs.

A.     Course Description:

Prerequisite: BSC 2010 and 2010L. Corequisite: BSC 2011L. The biological topics related to organisms and their environment are studied in detail.  These topics include taxonomy, systematics, physiology, reproduction, ecology, ethology, and evolution. 47 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.   listing the characteristics of the major taxa of living organisms.

               b.   explaining the biological species concept.

               c.   describing binomial nomenclature.

               d.   distinguishing between diversity and abundance, and between taxonomy and systematics.

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

               a.   listing the structures that facilitate respiration, photosynthesis, feeding, excretion, and other physiological processes of single-celled organisms.

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

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

               d.   relating them to reproduction and development of plants, animals, and other organisms.

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

a.   listing the differences between symbiotic and free-living organisms.

               b.   describing the differences among, predation, parasitism, mutualism, and commensalisms.

               c.   illustrating succession and community evolution.

               d.   explaining population dynamics.

               e.   describing the biochemical cycles and energy flow through communities.

               f.    listing and describing the major biomes of earth.

               g.   contrasting instincts and learning.

               h.   describing and analyzing animal communication, orientation, and migration.

               i.    explaining foraging and social behaviors as well as their adaptive significance.

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

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

               b.   comparing and contrasting microevolution and macroevolution.

               c.   explaining the concept of punctuated equilibrium.

               d.   describing the importance of heterochrony including neoteny and paedeogenesis.

               e.   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.