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BIO 506 Science by Inquiry: Animal-Plant Interactions

Course Description:
Animal-plant interactions include pollination, seed dispersal, seed predation and herbivory.  Using these as our focus, we will explore food webs and ecological communities, adaptations and natural selection, and the relation between organismal structure and function.  Combining field observations and field and lab experiments, we will examine how insects, birds and mammals affect the distribution, growth and reproductive adaptations of plants; and how the characteristics of plants affect the physiology, behavior and survival of the animals that eat them.

Faculty Instructor
Dr. Linda Fink                                                              
Professor of Biology
Sweet Briar College                           
434 381-6436                                  
lfink@sbc.edu                                  

Class Hours:
Monday 22 June - Wednesday 24 June
Daily 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, with a one hour lunch break

Class Rooms and Labs:
Class will meet in the Guion Science Center Room 018.

Course Materials:
All course materials will be provided.

Appropriate dress:
Participants should be prepared to spend part of each day outdoors.  We will be in the woods, in the community garden, and in landscaped areas.   A hat, sun screen, long pants, socks and sneakers or light hiking boots are recommended.

Course Requirements:
To receive credit for the course, the following must be completed.  Failure to complete all the tasks will result in being withdrawn from the course:
            - Completion of the on-line, pre-course survey
            - Attendance at all class meeting hours
            - Completion of homework assignments that may be assigned
            - Completion of the on-line end of course survey

A pass/credit/no credit option may be available rather than a traditional A-F letter grade.  You would have to discuss with your instructor. 

SCHEDULE
Our schedule is partly dependent on the weather and the developmental stages of some of the animals we will be studying.  The order of these units, therefore, may be modified.  Be prepared to go outside on all three days. 

Assignments and Grade Weighting:

Required Pre-Course On-Line Pre-Test: 10 %
(If completed, full credit; if not completed, automatic failure)

Participation: 15 %
Active, engaged participation in all class activities, discussions, and labs is expected of all teacher-participants;

Homework: 40 %
Assignment 1 due on day 2 and Assignment 2 due on day 3

In-class assignments: 15%
Items completed in class 
                                                                                  
End-of-Course On-Line Exam: 20 %
Instructions and deadline will be given on the last day of class