Biological Science - BSC 2250C Summer 2017

Instructors: Professor Kelli Stickrath Phone: 727-712-5835 Email: [email protected]

Office Hours: Posted by office doors Office Location: LY 214

Academic Department: Academic Chair: Michael Davis Office Location: LY 206, Tarpon Springs Campus Office Number: 712-5245

Dean: Dr. Natavia Middleton Office Location: Midtown Campus, MT 310 Office Phone Number: 727-398-8288 Email: [email protected]

Course Description: This course emphasizes field-laboratory recognition and environmental relationships of the plants and animals of Florida. Lectures will emphasize basic ecological concepts while the laboratory experience will emphasize identification of representative forms of life of the various biotic communities of the Florida Suncoast. Natural and artificial biological communities will be visited. Extensive time will be spent outdoors. Students may be expected to provide their own transportation to off-campus locations.

Course Goals (Major Learning Outcomes):

1. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the climatic, edaphic, and biotic factors controlling the natural ecosystems of the State of Florida. 2. The student will identify characteristics of common native plants and animals found in Florida. 3. The student will learn to prepare a field notebook, collection, analysis, or other assessment of an existing Florida ecosystem. 4. The student will evaluate the impact of human activities on natural Florida systems.

Course Objectives (Stated in Performance Terms): 1. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the climatic, edaphic, and biotic factors controlling the natural ecosystems of the State of Florida by: a. describing the biogeographical subdivisions referred to as the Biomes of North America, using appropriate terms to explain Succession, Community Dynamics, and the concepts of the vegetation. b. describing the basic geology of Florida with emphasis placed on surface geology and karst topography, particularly as it pertains to major Terrestrial, Aquatic, Estuarine, and Marine features. c. analyzing selected Florida ecosystems and explaining how they develop and are maintained. 2. The student will identify characteristics of common native plants and animals found in Florida by: a. recognizing their distinctive morphological structures and relating these to existing selective pressures. b. describing features of their preferred habitats.

3. The student will learn to prepare a field notebook, collection, analysis, or other assessment of an existing Florida ecosystem by participating and documenting field trips and activities.

4. The student will evaluate the impact of human activities on natural Florida systems by discussing, orally or in writing, historical or modern examples of the benefit or detriment caused by humans to the environment of Florida.

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.

Course Prerequisite or corequisite: Prerequisites: (ENC 0020 and REA 0002 and MAT 0024) or (EAP 1695 and MAT 0024) or satisfactory score on the SPC Placement Test.

Required Textbook and Materials: No textbook required, however, materials will be posted on MyCourses that you will need to print and bring to class. Students will need to bring their field notebook (1 subject composition notebook) to each classroom relocation to document their experiences and the flora/fauna they observed. Students will be required to bring a camera to document habitats visited and species observed for their notebook and presentations. Additionally, students are expected to bring their own meals and drinking water for each trip unless otherwise notified.

Highly recommended material: National Audubon Society Field Guide of Florida. Alden and Cech. 1998. ISBN-13: 978- 0679446774

Library: http://www.spcollege.edu/central/libonline/

Transportation: You are required to provide your own transportation to the field sites. For all of the field sites please make travel arrangements. We highly encourage you to carpool with other students in the class, but it’s not required. For every trip, we will meet on campus and caravan to the field site. Please understand that SPC is not liable for anything that happens on your trip to or leaving the site.

Class Meeting Information: Course location: Tarpon Springs Campus and off site locations (please see course schedule) Meeting Day: Fridays Meeting Time: 9am-4pm Important Dates: May 15 First Day of Classes May 19 Last Day to Drop and Receive Refund May 29 Memorial Day June 23 Withdrawal Date July 4 Independence Day July 14 Final Exam

Financial Aid: http://www.spcollege.edu/central/SSFA/HomePage/calendar.htm

Attendance The college-wide attendance policy is included in the Syllabus Addendum (http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/policies.htm). The policy notes that each instructor is to exercise professional judgment and define “active participation” in class (and therefore “attendance”), and publish that definition in each syllabus. For this class, attendance is mandatory and will be used to determine active participation in the course. Quizzes, classroom relocations and the final exam may not be made up regardless of absences but you are still responsible for the information. Tardiness will not be tolerated. We leave for field trips promptly at varying times (please see the course outline for departure times) and will leave without you; therefore, it will count as an absence. Students will be allowed to complete an alternate assignment to compensate for ONE class absence due to a validated excuse to make up for the participation points. A total of 2 or more excused or unexcused absences prior to the voluntary withdrawal deadline of June 23rd will result in the recording of a non-participating status (WF) being entered into PeopleSoft. Students who violate the attendance policy after the voluntary withdrawal date will be assigned a grade of “F” at the end of the semester. If this is your third attempt (or greater) in this course and you violate the attendance policy at any time you will be assigned an “F.” To qualify as an excused absence, you must have a valid, written document that I can verify. Attendance will be recorded in MyCourses, so you may keep track of your attendance.

Preparation: Quizzes will be given every Friday in class. To prepare, make sure your notes are complete and study them. The quizzes will be in a computer lab and consist of multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blank and short answer. There are no excuses for missing a quiz. Your lowest quiz score will be dropped.

MyCourses: I maintain a website for this class in MyCourses. It contains some lab handouts and objectives in addition to many useful links. It also has an email area where you may communicate with me and with one another, and an announcement page where I will post important announcements. You can also check your grades, attendance and your current class average. Please check the MyCourses website on a regular basis.

Grading/Evaluation: Actively participating in each lab relocation is worth 10 points. This includes participating in all activities, taking pictures, taking notes in your field notebook, and being on your best behavior. Points will be taken off for misconduct and not being prepared (please see classroom environment for further information). The field notebook (11 points each site) will be kept for each classroom relocation documenting all flora/fauna of each ecosystem, onsite activities and ALL information as given by your instructors/guide. The notebook will be checked at the end of each relocation.

The quizzes are worth 10 points each. Each quiz attempt is 20-minutes. You have two attempts to take the quiz and the highest grade is recorded in the gradebook. Late submissions are not accepted. You have almost a week to take the quiz online.

There is a final exam worth 100 points and a final group presentation worth 100 points. There will be a grading rubric to follow for the presentation. Presentation grades are based on individual effort and graded separately. Grades are recorded in MyCourses, so you may keep track of your grades.

Field Notebook (10 relocation sites – 11 pts each) 110 1 Group Presentation 100 10 Labs / Classroom Relocations (10 Points Each) 100 1 Final Exam 100 10 Quizzes (10 Points Each and lowest dropped) 90 Total Points Possible 500

Your grade will be based on the following grading scale: 89.5 – 100% = A 79.5 – 89% = B 69.5 – 79% = C 59.5– 69% = D 0 – 59% = F

Classroom environment and behavior

1. The college has an official policy on academic honesty and proper classroom behavior. It is the student’s responsibility to review the online Academic Honesty Policy or "Academic Honesty and Student Behavior: Expectations of Students at SPC" brochure. College policy states that a first offense (cheating, plagiarism, etc) is given a reduced score of the assignment, a zero for the assignment with no possibility of replacing the score, and/or a failing grade in the class. In addition, on the first offense, the Dean is informed and your name is then placed into the school’s system. This does not go onto the student’s transcript, but should a second offense occur (on this campus or any campus/course), the student is then subject to expulsion from school.

2. All electronic devices (cellular phones, laptops, blackberrys, iPods, etc.) are to be turned off before the class starts. Use of these devices during all scheduled class activities is in violation of College Policy and subject to disciplinary action. It is also considered to me as a mental absence, so it will be counted as an unexcused absence for the day. I also reserve the right to answer all phone calls received. During unscheduled classroom activities or in the vans, you are allowed to use your devices.

3. Be on time. If you are late, we will leave without you and it will count as an unexcused absence. Once class starts, you are required to be there until it is over. There is no leaving early for any reason at all! If you do, you will receive an unexcused absence, a zero for participation, a zero on your notebook and a zero on the quiz.

4. Make sure you have your notebook with you for every field visit and you are actively taking copious amounts of notes. Violation of this rule equates to a zero for participation and notebook check. Using any type of electronic device as a notebook isn’t allowed. You must also make sure that I check your notebook before leaving for the day. If I don’t check it and grade it, you will receive a zero for that site.

5. This is a course where the majority of time is spent outdoors. The weather can be HOT, BUGGY, and wet. You will be on your feet all day and you need to be in good, physical condition to be able to participate in the activities. We walk for many hours sometimes over rough terrain and swim for many hours. You need to make sure you are comfortable in the water. Be aware and agree to these conditions if you wish to participate in this course.

6. Field clothes are expected to be worn on all classroom relocations. This includes closed toed shoes (no sandals), sunscreen, hats, and bug spray (if needed). All points for that day’s participation will be deducted for each relocation that a student is not wearing closed toed shoes. All participants must stay hydrated and bring lots of water. Because each class meeting spans 5 hours or more, it is expected that each student brings a brownbag lunch with them, unless notified otherwise.

7. Please follow your syllabus at all times to know exactly where we are going that week and to prepare for the classroom relocation accordingly including departure times.

8. Since this is an environmental awareness course, please be mindful of your impact on the ecosystem. Put trash in its proper place and recycle when you can!!!! Points will be deducted if littering of trash or cigarette butts occurs.

9. You are representing SPC on every classroom relocation. You must be on your best behavior which includes language used (profanity), not talking while I, another student, or our guide is talking, respecting each other and everyone we come into contact with, wearing appropriate clothing, staying with the group at all times, and abstaining from possession and/or consumption of any type of intoxicants between event departure and return times, and removing yourself from the company of anyone indulging in intoxicants. Violations will result in the following disciplinary action (but not limited to): receiving a zero for classroom participation for the day, leaving the event, and possible removal from the course. (In addition, regardless of which trip, you will be reported to your site Associate Provost for further disciplinary action.)

10. Smoking is only allowed in designated areas and not during scheduled classroom activities. Class Schedule: Date Assignments Introduction and Syllabus – On Campus in SI 102 at 9 AM SPC Tarpon Springs Campus Ecosystems: gopher tortoise survey (Sandhill) and water quality analysis (Retention Ponds) Management of species in an urban area- Guest speaker from 5/19 McGough Nature Park On campus in SI 103A at 9 AM Wall Springs (Spring, Mangroves, Pine Flatwoods) hike 5/26 Anderson Park (Oak Hammock, Salmon Bay) hike Old Tampa Bay (Florida Mangroves) / Philippe Park (Oak Hammocks and Tocabaga Midden- Oldest Park) Classroom Relocation: Kayaking trip at Coopers Bayou 6/2 Meet at Coopers Bayou by 9:30AM On campus in SI 103A at 9AM to carpool to Honeymoon Island Pine flatwoods trail hiking and tidal marsh seine net 6/9 Classroom Relocation: Honeymoon Island State Park Meet on at Weedon Island State Park at 10AM. Upland/Scrub/Pine Flatwoods Kayak marine systems $10 6/16 Classroom Relocation: Weedon Island Preserve On campus in SI 103A at 9AM to carpool to Brooker Creek. 6/23 Classroom Relocation: Brooker Creek Preserve (largest Preserve) On campus in SI 103A at 9AM for the guest speaker Guest speaker- Buzz on Bees 6/30 Classroom Relocation: John Chesnut Sr. On campus in SI 103A at 9AM to carpool to Dunedin Causeway Classroom Relocation: kayak Caladesi Island. $15 per person or 7/7 bring your own. SPC – On Campus in SI 102 at 9AM Field Notebook due by 7/12, Group Presentations and Final 7/14 Exam

*The last day to withdraw with a grade of “W” is June 23rd.

Attention Students: The Syllabus Addendum is an important part of your syllabus and can be easily accessed by using the link below. Do take the time to read this very important information— h ttp://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/policies.htm This syllabus is subject to change. I can add or delete information, policies, trips and locations, etc. at any time.