Syllabus
Tropical Biology (Biol. 480) - Fall 2004
Office: 123 Science B
Telephone: 826-4841
Email: twh5@humboldt.edu
Office hours: 1:30-3:00 pm Tues/Thurs, or by appointment
Meeting times: Mon/Wed 5-6:20 pm , Forestry Bldg. 105
Course description: This course examines the Earth's most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystem - the tropical rain forest. We will take a "plant-centric" approach because trees of the rain forest provide structural complexity and determine habitats for other organisms. The richest type of vegetation in number of species and density is found in the tropics; we'll look at this structural complexity and examine the mechanisms underlying tropical biodiversity.
Textbook: Richards P.W. 1996. The Tropical Rainforest.2 nd Edition. Cambridge University Press.
Blackboard: Regular use of Blackboard is required of all students in Tropical Biology. Blackboard is an indispensable tool for sharing information and documents between the instructor and students. Lecture notes, powerpoint presentations, reading assignments, and other items will be available (sometimes exclusively) through Blackboard.
Readings : Assigned textbook chapters; also articles from the primary literature will be occasionally assigned. Students are expected to read these materials; there will be questions on them on the examinations.
Grades/grading:
Examination |
Date |
Points |
1 |
Sep. 29 |
100 |
2 |
Nov. 3 |
100 |
Final |
Dec. 15 |
150 |
|
Total= |
350 |
Grades are based on percentage of total points as follows:
A: ≥ 93 |
C: 73-77.9 |
A-: 91-92.9 |
C-: 70-72.9 |
B+: 89-90.9 |
D+: 68-69.9 |
B: 84-88.9 |
D: 65-67.9 |
B-: 80-83.9 |
F: ≤ 64.9 |
C+: 78-79.9 |
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Curve: Grades will be scaled at the end of the semester based on the highest score achieved in the class (i.e. the highest score will form the 100% mark).
Schedule:
Date |
Topic |
8-23 |
Introduction to tropical rain forests; current distribution |
8-25 |
Climate |
8-30 |
Structure of primary rain forest I. synusiae, mosaics, tree density |
9-1 |
Structure of primary rain forest II. stratification |
9-6 |
Labor Day - no class |
9-8 |
Regeneration I. tree life span, developmental phases |
9-13 |
Regeneration II. growth and development, dynamic patterns |
9-15 |
Tree vegetative features I. architecture, bark, root systems |
9-20 |
Tree vegetative features II. buttresses, stilt-roots, leaves |
9-22 |
Tree reproduction I. vegetative reproduction, reproduction by seed, pollination |
9-27 |
Tree reproduction II. seed dispersal, dormancy and germination, cauliflory |
9-29 |
Examination #1 |
10-4 |
Climbers I. morphology and floristics, physiology |
10-6 |
Climbers II. development, reproduction, ecological role |
10-11 |
Hemiepiphytes and stranglers |
10-13 |
Epiphytes I. habitats, morphology, physiology |
10-18 |
Epiphytes II. abundance and biomass, vertical distribution, epiphylls |
10-20 |
Fungi I. synusiae, ecology of saprotrophs |
10-25 |
Fungi II. mycorrhizae |
10-27 |
Phenology I. leaf change |
11-1 |
Phenology II. flowering and fruiting |
11-3 |
Examination #2 |
11-8 |
Soils I. characteristics, chemistry, hydrology |
11-10 |
Soils II. nutrient cycling |
11-15 |
Tree species diversity of mixed rain forests |
11-17 |
Single-dominant forests |
11-22/24 |
Thanksgiving break - no classes |
11-29 |
Flooded forests |
12-1 |
Dry forests and savannas |
12-6 |
Amerindian ethnobiology in Guyana |
12-8 |
Conservation, future prospects |
12-15 |
Final Examination ( 3:00-4:50 pm ) |
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