Course

BIODIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION

Recognize the broad (and local) relevance of biodiversity to everyday life.

Describe the major groups of living organisms, with particular attention to distinguishing characteristics for each of the domains and kingdoms of life.

Recognize traditional levels of classification from domain to species.

Evaluate the evidence that living species share descent from common ancestry and how this fact explains the traits of living species.

Analyze underlying scientific evidence supporting the theory and mechanisms of evolution (natural selection) and the evolution of populations and species.

Discuss historical relationships among the major groups of living organisms.

ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

Investigate abiotic and biotic factors that affect the distribution, dispersal and behaviors or organisms.

Identify strategies to mitigate issues that affect populations of organisms (in the context of conservation).

Summarize general ecological concepts, including major biomes, ecosystems interactions, the carbon cycle, the greenhouse effect, and global climate change.

Identify factors that affect biological diversity and the functioning of ecological systems both locally and globally.

Apply concepts and theories from biology to ecological examples.

PLANT ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

Explain how terrestrial vascular plants acquire and use energy and material resources to complete their life cycle.

Describe relationships between structure and function, and coordination of development, resource acquisition and environmental responses within and across cells, tissues and organs.

LABORATORY

Follow laboratory safety procedures.

Use proper laboratory techniques for microscopy, pipetting, weighing and measuring, quadrat plotting, etc.

Write scientific reports.

Conduct a research or service-based project that is relevant to organismal biology and of personal interest.

Demonstrate field skills.