Biology 103

Assumed pre-requisites:

Previous coursework - Successful completion of Biology 101 or
instructor's permission. It is highly recommended that Biology 102 be
taken following Biology 101.

Reading and Writing - ability to read and understand English language as
presented in college-level texts and delivered by instructor; ability to
write in complete sentences using correct grammar.

Successful completion of this course will be shown by demonstrated
competency in a) effective/cooperative teamwork in laboratory
investigations and b) performance of a score of 70% or better on course
examinations, homework, and laboratory exercises in the following topics:

Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell composition and
discuss the two major hypotheses to explain how eukaryotic organisms
arose from the prokaryotic ancestors.

Discuss the significance of prokaryotic organisms in the history of
life on earth and the fossil evidence; characteristics of the early
atmosphere of earth which helped give rise to the first organic molecules.

Describe what is meant by "alternation of generations."

Describe problems encountered and met by life on land habitats and some
structural and functional adaptations of plants to allowed success in
those habitats.

Recognize and characterize the major features of structure, metabolism,
behavior, life cycle, classification, ecological roles and common
representatives of the major groups of the kingdoms Monera, Protista,
Fungi, and Plantae.

Describe adaptations in pollination, fertilization and seed dispersal
shown by typical conifers and angiosperms. Distinguish between those two
major plant groups and their relative successes in land habitats.

Identify major structural and functional features of the typical
angiosperm plant body. Distinguish between monocots and dicots
structural and growth features.

Recognize the mechanisms responsible for the movement of water,
minerals, and photosynthetic products in plants.

Recognize the major biomes on earth, characteristic biotic and abiotic
features and locations of these biomes. Understand the limiting factors
and corresponding features of the biomes, as their richness of diversity.

Describe different life histories of populations (equilibrium and
opportunistic) and the relationship to limits on natural population
growth or carrying capacity. Discuss how population growth are limited
by the environment, as well as by interactions between and among
different species.

Discuss the major historical trends in the human demographic model,
how the human population has progressed in ways to avoid natural
population growth controls.

Recognize the kinds of interactions which limit an organism's expansion
into a realized niche; competition modes, predation, mutualism.

Describe a typical predator-prey relationship and interactions between
organisms which may develop a cyclic nature. Discuss typical predator
and prey characteristics for attack and defense or escape countermeasures.

Distinguish between primary and secondary succession, and features of
the organisms which may be found in each stage. Recognize the three
community types of primary succession (pioneer-transitional-climax).

Describe the typical patterns of energy flow through ecosystems as
modeled by the pyramids of energy, biomass, and numbers.

Recognize the key components and life-supporting roles of the earth's
major biogeochemical cycles: water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, phosphorus,
oxygen, and sulfur.

Understand and discuss the effect of the increasing human population
upon species richness and species abundance. Relate the vital interaction
and interdependency of all living organisms in our earthly ecosystems.

Discern the scientific method in published reports and be able to
interpret and evaluate written material as an extension of the course of
study.

Interpret and carry out a set of written experimental instructions, and
then convey the experimental results in summative answers or lab report.