Lecture Text:
Neil Campbell, Biology, 4th ed.
Class Meets:
MWF 9:20-10:10 am
Attendance and Honor Code:
Students are expected to attend both lectures and lab on a regular basis.
Students in this course will comply to the University of Richmond Honor
Code.
Goal of Course:
As the title of this course is Organismal Biology; consequently, it should
be clear to you that the goal of this course is for you to become familiar
with the diversity of living organisms. We will primarily focus on
animal diversity, since you have covered most of plant diversity in Organismal
Biology I.
You will learn some of the basic concepts, essential terms, and kinds of questions that scientists ask when working in organismal biology. While learning the diversity of organismal life, you will learn general ecology, behavior, anatomy, evolution, adaptations, physiology, and behavior of the organisms studied. For most of you, this will be your first opportunity to learn about the wonderful diversity of animal life. Indeed, because of the great diversity of life, the course has a lot of material to cover. As a result, the course will move quickly and sometimes it may be difficult. I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to learn about the diversity of organisms with whom we share the planet. Furthermore, I am optimistic that you will find the content stimulating.
Finally, as an organismal biologist myself, I hope my lectures will transmit to you the excitement and enthusiasm I feel every time I learn about a new adaptation or characteristic of the animals on which I do my research. Hopefully, this may motivate some of you to pursue a life long career of studying organisms.
Class Format:
Grades will be assigned on a 90-80-70-60% basis; there is no "curve".
A+ = 1000-967 | C+ = 799-767 |
A = 966-933 | C = 766-733 |
A- = 932-900 | C- = 732-700 |
B+ = 899-867 | D+ = 699-667 |
B = 866-833 | D = 666-633 |
B- = 832-800 | D- = 632-600 |
DATE | LECTURE |
January 13 | Course introduction |
January 15 | Review of Systematics and Classification |
January 17 | Diversity of Fungi |
January 20 | Plant structure and growth |
January 22 | Plant transportation and nutrition |
January 24 | Animal tissues |
January 27 | Parazoa/Eumetazoa, Radiata/Bilateralia, Acoelomata/Coelomata dichotomies |
January 29 | Parazoa: Porifera (Sponges) |
January 31 | Radiata: Cnidaria (Medusae/Sea Anemones) |
February 3 | Acoelomata: Platyhelmynthes (Flat worms) |
February 5 | Acoelomata: Platyhelmynthes (Flat worms) |
February 7 | Exam I |
February 10 | Pseudocoelomata: Rotifera (Rotifers) |
February 12 | Pseudocoelomata: Nematoda (Roundworms) |
February 14 | Coelomata: Protostomata: Mollusca (Snails) |
February 17 | Protostomata: Mollusca (Snails) |
February 19 | Protostomata: Annelida (Segmented worms) |
February 21 | Protostomata: Annelida (Segmented worms) |
February 24 | Protostomata: Arthropoda: Chelicerata (Spiders) |
February 26 | Protostomata: Arthropoda: Crustacea (Crayfish) |
February 28 | Protostomata: Arthropoda: Crustacea (Crayfish) |
March 3 | Protostomata: Arthropoda: Smaller Groups (e.g. millipedes) |
March 5 | Exam II |
March 7 | Protostomata: Arthropoda: Insecta (insects) |
March 17 | Protostomata: Arthropoda: Insecta (insects) |
March 19 | Smaller Phya/ Lesser Protostomes (tardigrades/onychophores) |
March 21 | Deuterostomata: Echinoderms (sea stars) |
March 24 | Deuterostomata: Echinoderms (sea stars) |
March 26 | Origin of Chordates/Chordate characteristics |
March 28 | Deuterostomata: Protochordaes (amphioxus, sea squirt) |
March 31 | Deuterostomata: Protochordaes (amphioxus, sea squirt) |
April 2 | Exam III |
April 4 | Agnathas/Chondrichthyes (lampreys/sharks and rays) |
April 7 | Osteichthyes (bony fishes) |
April 9 | Amphibia (frogs/salamanders/caecilians) |
April 11 | Amniota: Reptilia: Chelonia (turtles) |
April 14 | Amniota: Reptilia: Lepidosauria (lizards and snakes) |
April 16 | Amniota: Reptilia: Archosauria (crocodiles and birds) |
April 18 | Amniota: Mammalia |
April 21 | Amniota: Mammalia |
April 23 | Principles of Animal Behavior |
April 25 | Principles of Ecology |