BOTANY 155 -- Field Botany (Section VA)       

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Ten week Sprint Class running from August 22 - October 31
October 1 = Last Day to Withdraw w/ "W" !!!!!!!!!!!

Meeting Times:      Lectures:          MW 9:05 - 9:55   320 PSN
                                Laboratories:    MW 10:05 - 11:45   320 PSN, Outdoors On Campus and
                                Off Campus field trips to local areas of interest including
                                Hueston Woods, Ecology Research Center, and Bachelor Preserve

Instructor:      Roger D. Meicenheimer
Office:           358 PSN
Phone #:        529-7012
Office Hours:  R, F  1:00 - 3:00, or by appointment
Email:              meicenrd@muohio.edu
Internet Home Page:  http://www.cas.muohio.edu/~meicenrd 

Biographical Information:

     Native of eastern Oregon
     BA (1975) - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
     MS (1978) - Washington State University, Pullman, WA
     Ph.D. (1980) - Washington State University, Pullman, WA
     Postdoctoral Position (1980) - North Central Forest Experiment Station, Rhinelander, WI
     Assistant Professor (1981); Associate Professor (1987); Professor (1992) - Miami University, Oxford, OH

Research Interests:

     Developmental Plant Morphology and Plant Anatomy.
     Emphasis on stem, leaf, and vascular components of the plant.
     Expert Systems.

BOT 155 Objectives:

BOT 155 Grade Information:

Final Grade based on 

Exam/Activity % of 600
Points

Vegetative Characters

1.7 %

 10

Flowers

1.7 %

 10

Fruits

1.7 %

 10

Pollination/Honey

1.7 %

 10

Exam 1 Lecture material

16.7%

100

Exam 2 Plant ID

16.7%

100

Tree presentation

8.3%

  50

Plant Collection A + B 8.3%   50

Exam 3 Plant ID

16.7%

100

Hueston Woods

1.7 %

 10

Conifers

1.7 %

 10

Cycads and Ginkgos

1.7 %

 10

Bachelor Preserve

1.7 %

 10

Releve'  Analysis

2.4%

 20

Final Exam: Plant ID & Written 16.7% 100

Course total

100%

600

  
Tree Presentation:  Early in the semester you will be given the name of a tree growing on campus. You will be responsible for creating a handout and giving a 10 minute presentation to the class on your tree.  Details on how to complete this project will be provided in a separate handout.

Plant Collection:  Each student will be required to make a collection of 50 plant specimens. These specimens must be pressed, dried, mounted and identified.  Alternatively, you can make detailed drawings of your 50 plant specimens.  Details on how to complete this project will be supplied in a separate handout.

Examinations:  Your knowledge and understanding of plant biology and local ecosystems will be evaluated by written examinations (covering abstract concepts and relationships) and evaluation of practical identification skills (sight ID and use of dichotomous keys).

Final Grades will be based on:
Percentage (%)* out of 600 Total Points    
100 - 90    %             A         600 - 540
89 - 80      %             B         539 - 480
79 - 70      %             C         479 - 420
69 - 60      %             D         419 - 360
Less than 60%          F   
        => 359
* % = (Your Cumulative Points)/600)*100 


Ten week Sprint Class running from August 22 - October 31

Meeting Times:

     Lectures:          MW 9:05 - 9:55   320 PSN
     Laboratories:    MW 10:05 - 11:45   320 PSN, Outdoors On Campus and
                                Off Campus field trips to local areas of interest including
                                Hueston Woods, Ecology Research Center, and Bachelor Preserve

Safety:

Much of the course will be spent out-of-doors.  Please be prepared for exposure to sun, rain, and insects.  SENSIBLE SHOES REQUIRED. Check out the weather forcast before class, to enhance your comfort.

Use of cell phones is prohibited during class.

Course Attendance Policy:

Attendance will be taken within the first 10 minutes of each class meeting.  If you arrive after attendance is taken, you will be marked tardy.  Your first 2 tardies will be excused.  After that, each tardy will result in a five point deduction from your course point total.  All absences will result in a 10 point deduction from your course point total unless you have a valid excuse for missing class.  If you miss a quiz or any class assignment due to tardiness or absence, you will loose the points on those assignments.  NO make-ups will be given.  Exams must be taken when scheduled.  Make-ups will be given only in extreme cases.  If you miss more than two class meetings without a valid excuse, you will be dropped from the course.

Each student should become familiar with University policies and procedures with respect to academic dishonesty.   

Students should also familiarize themselves with University deadlines for withdrawal from the course without penalty.

Textbooks:

Grimm, W.C. 2002.  Illustrated Book of Trees.  Stackpole Books.

Newcomb,  L. 1977.  Newcomb's Wildflower Guide.   Little Brown and Co.

Selected articles provided in pdf format.  Educational Videos

WEB SITES OF INTEREST TO THIS CLASS  

Topical Schedule:
Week
Date Lecture Activity
Laboratory Activity
Laboratory Exercises (points)
1
August 20 Introduction
Vegetative Characters
Latinized Names

Grimm Insert
Circular Tree Key
1
August 22 Vegetative Characters - Continued
Tree Presentations Sign Up Sheet
MU Tree Walks Guide
1.  The Great Vegetative Character State Hunt (10)
Student Tree Presentations
2
August 27
How to use Circular and Grimm keys to identify trees Plant Presses
Key out Trees
Plant Collections

    Herbarium
2

August 29

How to use Newcomb keys to identify herbs and vines Flowers and Plant Sex
Key out Wildflowers

2.  Flowers (10)

September 3  LABOR DAY HOLIDAY No White After This Date!
3
September 5
Fruit
Streaming Link for
Secret Life of Flowering Plants
Study Guide

3.  Fruits (10)

4
10 Ecology Research Center Field Trip Street Map to ERC
Hybrid Map to ERC

4.  Pollination/Honey (10)
Streaming Link for Pollen Nation
4
12

Key out Wildflowers

5
17
Lecture Exam 1 - Covering material through week 4 (100 pts)  2012 KEY

Field Practical Plant ID exam (100 pts)
2012 KEY
Field Exam Template
5
19
Tree Presentation Schedule & Turnitin Instructions
Student tree presentations (50 pts)
Tree presentations Rubric
6
24
Student tree presentations (50 pts)
6
26

Student tree presentations (50 pts)
7
October 1

Hueston Woods Field Trip
Last Day to Withdraw w/ "W"
Street Map to Hueston Woods
Hybrid Map to Hueston Woods

5.  Deciduous Forest Biome Worksheet (10)

7
3
Second plant ID exam (100)  2012 Key
Plant Collection A Due (25)
8
8
Gymnosperms I (conifers) Streaming Link for
Secret Life of Pines
Study Guide
6. Conifers (10)
8
10 Gymnosperms II
(non-conifers)
Streaming Link for
Secret Life of Ferns
Study Guide

Cycads, Ginkgo and Gnetophytes Lab
7. Cycads and Ginkgo (10)
9
15
Non-vascular and seedless vascular plants Streaming Link for
Secret Life of  Mosses
Study Guide

Non-vascular and seedless vascular plants laboratory
8.  Non-vascular and Seedless vascular plants of Bachelor Preserve (10)
9
 17 Field trip to Bachelor Preserve of MU Natural Areas
Street Map to Bachelor Preserve
Hybrid Map to Bachelor Preserve
8.  Non-vascular and Seedless vascular plants of Bachelor Preserve + Reconnoiter of Releve' sites
10
22 Field trip to Bachelor Preserve Group Collection of Releve' data Releve' data Sheets
10
24 Old Field Succession
Write Releve' report in class
Return plant presses.
Plant Collection B Due (25)
9.  Releve' of Bachelor Preserve (20)

October
31

Final Exam Plant ID and Written component (100)

No tricks! 
Come in Costume and
I'll give you a treat!



  Last Modified 18 June 2012