BSC 2011, BIO II: BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY – FALL 2010

Dr. Chris Osovitz

Department of Integrative Biology
Office Location: SCA 327
Office Hours: W 12-1 pm
Lecture time and Location: T, R - 11:00 am-12:15 pm, CPR 103
E-mail: osovitz@usf.edu
Phone: 813-974-9109
Fax: 813-974-3263

Course Overview: This course is designed to introduce students to the diversity of life. During your first
semester of general biology you were introduced to the chemistry of life, the cell, and genetics.
During this semester we will look at the tremendous biodiversity that results from the basic building
blocks described during the first semester. We will review evolutionary theory and then conduct an
overview of the major groups of living organisms. We will finish by looking at how organisms
interact with their environment and how populations grow and interact with one another.
Course Objectives: Students should have a better understanding of several major concepts by the end of
this course:
1. mechanisms of evolution and how evolutionary relationships are inferred
2. development of biological diversity, and relationships among the major taxa
3. basic aspects of form and function for representative members of the major taxa
4. general interactions between organisms and the environment

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE - exact dates are subject to change.

Day Date Topic Chapter

T 24-Aug Introduction 1
R 26-Aug Origin and history of life 22
T 31-Aug Introduction to evolution 23
R 2-Sep Introduction to evolution 23
T 7-Sep Population genetics 24
R 9-Sep Population genetics 24
T 14-Sep Origin of Species 25
R 16-Sep Taxonomy and Systematics 26
T 21-Sep Exam I
R 23-Sep Bacteria and Archaea 27
T 28-Sep Protists 28
R 30-Sep Plants and the conquest of land 29
T 5-Oct The diversity of plants 30
R 7-Oct The diversity of plants 30
T 12-Oct Fungi 31
R 14-Oct Introduction to animal diversity 32
T 19-Oct The Invertebrates 33
R 21-Oct The Invertebrates 33
T 26-Oct Exam II
 R 28-Oct The Vertebrates 34
T 2-Nov The Vertebrates 34
R 4-Nov An Introduction to Ecology 54
T 9-Nov Behavioral Ecology 55
R 11-Nov No Class: Veteran’s Day
T 16-Nov Population Ecology 56
R 18-Nov Species Interactions 57
T 23-Nov Community Ecology 58
R 25-Nov No Class: Thanksgiving
T 30-Nov Biodiversity and Conservation 60
R 2-Dec Exam III
T 7-Dec Final exam: 10 am-12 pm, CPR 103

Required Text: Biology. Brooker, Widmaier, Graham and Stiling, 2nd Edition, Part II, 2011. McGraw-
Hill, with access to Connect online software.

Grades: There will be a total of 1000 points available in this course, in the form of exams, lecture
participation (clickers), and weekly homework assignments through Blackboard. There will be four in-
class exams as indicated on the class schedule (three midterms and a cumulative final exam). Each exam
will be worth 250 points, and the lowest exam grade will be dropped. Both in class participation, using
CPS clickers, and homeworks on Blackboard will constitute 125 points of the course, tallying the final
250 points in the course. There is no curve in this course. However, if the exams turn out to be more
difficult than anticipated, the grades will be adjusted upwards. The absence of a curve guarantees that
students who score 90% will receive an ‘A’ regardless of grade adjustment.

Assignment Points Number

Exams 750 Best 3 of 4
Homework 125 Weekly
Clicker 125 Daily
Total 1000

Letter grade assignments:

90-100% A
85-89.99% B+
80-84.99% B
75-79.99% C+
70-74.99% C
65-69.99 D+
60-64.99% D
Below 60% F
 Lecture Exams – 750 points: The three lecture exams are worth 250 points each. There will be four
exams total, and the lowest grade of the four will be dropped. If a single exam is missed, the resulting 0%
will be dropped; any additional exam misses will be averaged into the final grade. Because you may drop
a test, there will be no make-up exams. If you are satisfied with your grade on the first 3 tests, you need
not take the final. Note: I will not let you enter an exam once a student has turned in their exam and left.
In other words, be on time to the exams.

Homework – 125 points: A weekly homework will be assigned through our Connect website, which can
be accessed at http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/c_osovitz_bsc_2011_fall_2010. Homeworks will
begin the second week of classes and must be completed by the posted deadlines. There will be no time
limit on the homework and you will have two chances to answer the questions correct.
Accessing Connect: Go to the following website and click “register now” http://connect.mcgraw-
hill.com/class/c_osovitz_bsc_2011_fall_2010 . If you have purchased the textbook with Connect or
Connect Plus, you have an access code which will allow you to access our course webpage. If you do not
have an access code, you may purchase access (as well as the ebook if you wish) at this webpage.

Attendance – 125 points: Attendance is mandatory in the lecture and the discussion groups. Attendance
and participation in the lecture are required, and will be assessed using the Class Performance System,
CPS RF (www.einstruction.com). CPS uses electronic transmitters in the form of response pads
(clickers). These can be purchased from the bookstore. Attached to this syllabus is a set of instructions
on how to register the clickers and enroll in the class. These clickers will be used to take attendance and
also to record your answers to questions during class. Attendance (worth 3 points) will be taken at
random times during the class period, although most likely at the end of the lecture. Questions will be
asked throughout the lecture: 1) At the beginning of class, there will be a short quiz based on the material
we covered in the previous lecture and/or reading assignment; and 2) During the lecture, there will be
questions aimed at assessing your comprehension of the material just discussed (group work is
encouraged for these mid-lecture questions). A point will be given for a recorded response to each
question and a correct response will earn an additional point.
Occasionally, I may ask questions to get feedback from students on course content/delivery and/or to get
students’ opinions on topics and issues that affect everyday life. Some of these questions may require
“anonymous” participation, and will not be graded. In other cases, ALL students that answer the question
will get 100% of the available points. Your “clicker” score, which is proportional to the number of points
you receive during the semester, will be used as 125 points out of the 1000 total available for the course
(see grades).
You should obtain your clicker & register before the class meeting on Thursday, September 2nd. Since
responses are used in determining grades, please remember to bring the clickers each day and to use your
own clicker. The use of someone else’s clicker is academic dishonesty. If I find anyone doing this, all
students involved will be penalized a course letter grade! I will go over my policy for forgotten/non-
functional clickers in class.
If you miss a class meeting for any reason, you will be held responsible for all material covered and
announcements made in your absence. Electronic slides for most (but not all) lectures will be posted on
Blackboard. It will be your responsibility to consult with students in the class concerning what you
missed since I will not conduct private tutoring sessions to bring you up-to-date.
If you miss a class meeting for a university accepted reason (see below) and deliver the proper
documentation to Dr. Osovitz before or immediately after the missed class, you will receive attendance
points + 1 point for each question missed for that lecture. If the number of missed classes becomes
excessive (> 5), we will work out the make-up points on a case by case basis.
Finally, tardiness is disruptive and unacceptable. Please do not arrive late to either the lecture or
discussion section. Points may be deducted for tardiness to both the lecture and the discussion, and the
student may be asked to leave.

Make-up assignments: Acceptable reasons for requesting a make-up are medical (individual or
immediate family only), legal (accident or court case; individual only), or funerary (immediate family
only). For exams, however, because students have the option to replace an exam score with that of
the final, evidence for acceptable absence would be needed for BOTH a regular exam and the final.
Also, the student must notify Dr. Osovitz by the date of the exam/assignment if they will miss that
coursework. Reasons for requesting a make-up must relate specifically to the time period of the missed
coursework. Reasons for requesting a make-up must be documented in writing by an involved
professional. The instructor retains the right to make additional inquiries concerning the documentation.
The instructor retains the right to give a make-up that is different in exact content and/or style than the
missed coursework.

General instructional guidelines: This course adheres to the instructional guidelines posted on the
webpage of the department of Integrative Biology (http://biology.usf.edu/ib/instructors/2009-
2010InstructionalGuidelinesSVERSION.pdf).
Grade Validation: Students are required to access Blackboard via the USF portal https://my.usf.edu to
check grades. You have ONE WEEK from the post date on Blackboard to validate grads and request
corrections. After one week, grades are final – NO CHANGES WILL BE MADE.
Academic Misconduct: Zero tolerance – any cheating discovered will be reported to the dean, no
exceptions. Any cheating will result in an “F” or “FF” for a semester grade in this class (indicating failure
for cheating) and possible expulsion. University and College procedures will be followed in cases of
academic dishonesty.
Conduct: Cell phones must be turned off in class. Disruptions will not be tolerated. Ringing phones may
be confiscated by the professor. Habitually late students may be barred from attending class. Dangerous
behavior or threatening e-mails among students will be reported to the USF police.
Notes and Tapes: Are permitted for personal use only. Sale of such items is forbidden.
Disability Statement: Any student with a disability statement needing special accommodation, please
inform the instructor within the first week of class.
Continuity in the event of an emergency: In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for
USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of
instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype,
and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor
Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College,
and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.
Right to Change Syllabus: If necessary, I may change one or more components of this syllabus.
However, you will be notified of any changes (via Blackboard announcements, email, and/or lecture
announcement), and you will be responsible for such announced changes.
Enrolling your clicker in the class through CPSOnline
First, you will first need to setup a CPSOnline account.
Create an Account
1. Go to http://www.einstruction.com/.
2. Click on the Students link at the right side of the window.
3. Select University of South Florida from the drop-down menu.
4. Click Choose Site.
5. Enter your serial number in the space provided. You can find your serial number on your LCD
screen when you turn on your pad: if your pad does not have an LCD screen, your serial number
is on the back of the pad, under the battery cover.
6. Click Create Your Account.
7. Create a CPSOnline Username and Password and fill in your contact information. Click Submit
to create your account.

NOTE: Please remember to fill in your contact information. Without your U# (as Student ID) and
name, I will not be able to assign you a grade for class participation.

You’ve now created a CPSOnline account. You can use your CPSOnline username and password to login
anytime to CPSOnline. Now you can enroll your pad in your class.

Enroll in a Class
1. Click Yes to enroll immediately in your class.
2. Enter the Class Key (K62230D759) in the space provided. If you have a Code, enter it in the
Code box. Note that a Code is not required.
3. Click Submit and choose your payment options. Click Continue.
4. Fill in your billing information and click Continue.
5. To join an additional CPSOnline class, click the Enroll in a class button from the main menu.
6. Once you have finished enrolling in all of your classes, click Log Out. So that CPSOnline
properly records your information, log out of CPSOnline.

NOTE: If you enroll in more than one class using CPS, your response pad may have a different assigned
number for each class. Note your assigned response pad number after you enroll for each class, and
use the reminder emails from eInstruction to keep track of your information.