BI 101 General Biology: Ecology and Diversity

Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 3
Credits: 4

Introductory biology course designed for students not majoring in biology or a biology-related field. Investigates the diversity of life including bacteria, archaea, protists, plants, fungi and animals. Explores the basic principles of ecology and the consequences of ecosystem alteration by human beings (emphasizing issues relevant to living in the Pacific Northwest). Includes two mandatory field trips. (BI 101, BI 102, and BI 103 may be taken in any order.)

Prerequisite: Placement into WR 115 (or higher), or completion of WR 090 (or higher) with a grade of C or better; or consent of instructor.
Student Learning Outcomes:

Use a dichotomous key to identify local flora in a field setting.
List the characteristics of the domains and kingdoms of living things and diagram their evolutionary relationships.
Cite examples that illustrate the impact of human activity on the environment, especially biodiversity.
Explain and interpret data related to the composition and growth characteristics of human and non-human populations..
Describe basic community ecology principles using examples drawn from the local region through directed field experience.
Relate characteristics and species composition of communities, ecoregions and biomes to physical environment and climate patterns.
Diagram and explain the movement of energy and matter in ecosystems.
Relate human activities, including one’s own, to impacts on populations, communities, ecosystems and the biosphere.
Identify a local environmental issue, plan a service learning experience to help mitigate the problem and present about the experience as a volunteer.

Additional General Education Outcomes:

Gather, comprehend, and communicate scientific and technical information in order to explore ideas, models, and solutions and generate further questions.

Apply scientific and technical modes of inquiry, individually, and collaboratively, to critically evaluate existing or alternative explanations, solve problems, and make evidence-based decisions in an ethical manner.

Assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge on human society and the environment.

Content Outline

Nature of Science
- Methods of scientific inquiry
- Examples of the development of particular scientific theories
Biodiversity
- Basics of evolution with regard to organism classification
- Characteristics of Bacteria, Archaea, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia
- Impact of humans on biodiversity
Ecology
- Populations demographics and dynamics, including human populations
- Community interactions and succession
- Biogeochemical cycles in Ecosystems, including water, carbon, nitrogen
- Biosphere and Biomes
Environmental Issues
- Human impact on populations, communities, and ecosystems
- Global climate change
- Biodiversity loss
- Relevant current issues in the Pacific Northwest
Field Trips
- Use of dichotomous keys to identify vegetation in a variety of local communities
- Environmental conditions (precipitation, light, temperature, soils) in a variety of local communities
- Relate organism diversity, distribution, and density to environmental conditions
Labs
- Dichotomous keys and woody plants
- County park field trip
- Cascade field trip
- World populations
- Community interactions
- Biogeochemical cycles
- Microscopy and aquatic diversity
- Animal diversity
- Service learning project and presentation