Course Description

BIO 353 - 5 cr. hr. - Biology of Lower Plants

A study of the morphology, taxonomy and ecology of algae, fungi and bryophytes. Special emphasis will be given to growth and developmental patterns, modes of reproduction, importance to humans and to ecosystems, diversity and distribution and phylogenetic relationships, and the use of lower plants by humans.

Prerequisite: One year of introductory Biology

Method of Presentation:

The academic work will be presented in three 50-minute lecture sessions weekly. Laboratory consists of a two hour laboratory that meets twice weekly. The laboratory periods are designed for field trips, specimen processing, specimen identification and laboratory demonstrations.

Determination of Grades:

Final grade for the quarter will be based on a cumulative total of 375 points. One project will be worth a total of 50 points. Grades will be assigned on a distribution of the 375 points. The exact distribution will be determined by the class performance as a whole. There will be no make-up examinations given. Absence from examinations must have prior approval of the instructor. This will be explained in more detail in class.

Projects:

As part of the course, you will be required to do a project:

An aquatic field study to collect, analyze and identify changes in time of the major algae groups within a stream in the University Biology Preserve or a special topics paper on "Algae Stories" (50 pts) (see handout).

Textbook:

There is no required text for this class. A combined lecture laboratory manual is to be purchased in the WSU Bookstore. Lecture materials will be supplemented with slides, and laboratory materials will be supplemented with slides and videos. Additional references will be provided in the lab and on reserve in the Dunbar Library. In addition, some web site addresses for certain topics will listed for you as needed.

The following texts are recommended for additional reading--they will be on reserve in the Dunbar Library:

Bold, Alexopoulos and Delevoryas. 1987. Morphology of Plants and Fungi. Harper and Row, 5th edition (on 24 h library reserve).

Pritchard, H.M. and P.T. Bradt. 1984. Biology of Nonvascular Plants. Times Mirror/Mosby. 550 pp. (on 24 h library reserve).

Alexopoulos, C.J. and C.W. Mims. 1979. Introductory Mycology. 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York. (on 24 h library reserve) QK603.A55 1979

Other References (for your pleasure):

1.   Alexopoulos, C.J. and H.C. Bold. 1967. Algae and Fungi. The Macmillan Company, New York.

2.   Bold, H.C. and M.J. Wynne. 1978. Introduction to the Algae Structure and Reproduction. Prentice-Hall, Inc. N.J.

3.   Bold, H.C., C.J. Alexopoulos and T. Delevorgas. 1980. Morphology of Plants and Fungi. 4th Edition. Harper and Row. New York.

4.   Bold, H.C., C.J. Alexopoulos and T. Delevorgas. 1987. Morphology of Plants and Fungi. 5th Edition. Harper and Row. New York. (on 24 h library reserve) QK641.B596 1987

5.   Haynes, J.D. 1975. Botany, An Introductory Survey of the Plant Kingdom. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York.

6.   Largent, D.L. 1977. How to Identify Mushrooms (to genus) Using Only Macroscopic Features. 2nd Edition. Mad River Press, Route 1, Box 151-b, Eureka, CA 95501.

7.   Pickett-Heaps, J.D. 1975. Green Algae. Sinauer Assoc., Inc., Mass. 606 pp.

8.   Prescott, G.W. 1968. The Algae: A Review. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.

9.   Prescott, G.W. 1962. Algae of the Western Great Lakes Area. Wm. C. Brown Company.

10.   Smith, G.M. 1944. Marine Algae of the Monterey Peninsula. Stanford University Press.

 Websites: