Nonvascular Plants and Fungi

Biology 306

Term: Fall 1999

Instructor: Dr. Bob R. Pohlad

            Office: Garber 118; Phone #: 365-4367

            Email: bpohlad@ferrum.edu

            Web page: www.ferrum.edu/bpohlad

Hours in Office:

     Mon. 9-11  Tues. 10-11 & 2:00-3:30  Wed. None   Thurs. 10-11 &1:30-2:00  Fri. 9-11

Textbooks: Hudler, G. H. 1998. Magical mushrooms, mischievous molds.

                Sze, Philip. 1998. A Biology of the Algae.

                McKnight, K. H, and V. B. McKnight. 1987. Peterson's Guide to Mushrooms.

Class and Lab Meeting Times: T and TH 11-12:15 Lecture and discussion (G 106)

                                                Lab: Thursday 2-5 PM (G 123)

Grade Evaluation: The lecture and lab tests will be worth 100 points each, and the quizzes worth 20 pt. Quizzes will usually be given on Thursdays. Missed quizzes will be averaged as zero.

The following is a tentative list of graded assignments:

                    Assignment

                        Tests (3) (100 pt. ea.)

                        Final Exam (100 pt. ea.)

                        Collection (100 pt.)

                        Lab Midterm and Final (100 pt. ea.)

                        Quizzes (20 pt. ea.)

                        Scientific Article Critique (50 pt.)

Grading Scale: A= 90-100%; B= 80-89%; C= 70-79%; D= 60-69%; F= 0-59%

Tobacco: There will be no tobacco products in the classroom or lab at any time, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco or any other tobacco product.

Honor Code: I expect absolute honesty and will not tolerate cheating, plagiarism of other's work, lying, or disrespect for the other students or the instructor. Any violations will be presented before the Honor Board or Campus Judicial Board.

Each of you will prepare a brief critique on a scientific article. This will be on either fungi or algae. These will be typed. We will learn to find information on the World Wide Web as well as first search available through the library. The article will be due after midterm. Articles must be approved by me and must come from scientific journals.

Collection: You will work on a collection of various algae, fungi, lichens, mosses and liverworts. 30 Total specimens will be collected and identified with the following required:

        3-Macroalgae or Alga Cultures         Points: 1 for each collection

        2-Fungal Pure Cultures                            1 for each correct ID

        9-Macrofungi (like mushrooms)                    1 for each, spec. qual. and field notes

        1-Liverwort                                         10 for overall presentation

        3-Moss                                                 Total: 100 pts.

        2-Lichens

        10-Your Choice

Specimens will be identified to at least genus. Field data will be maintained in a notebook with information on date, site collected, habitat description, and field characteristics. Be careful to start your collection early. Fall is a good time to collect but the end of the semester can be quite cold and fungal specimens can be scarce. Collections can be turned in when preserved or growing and reproducing as in the case of the fungal and alga cultures. We will spend time in lab collecting during the first parts of the semester. We will also use a number of techniques for isolating organisms in the field. More information on this will follow during lab.

Everyone must attend all labs. Please bring you text and field guides to lab. A hand lens would be a useful tool to have on field trips. A field notebook should be maintained for all collections.