Biology 204: Introduction to Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity

Pre or co-requisite: Chem 121 or 125

Introduction to evolutionary and ecological processes involved in the generation of our planet's biodiversity, including review of patterns and processes that influence the origin, evolution, distribution, and abundance of living things.

Learning Resources:

• Please complete this brief Introductory Student Assessment, which will help me get to know you better (as a class) and to create the best possible learning experience.
• You are welcome to use this Self-Assessment form to periodically reflect on your performance in the class and to evaluate possible strategies to improve you understanding of course material. This tool is designed primarily for your personal use, but you can click the "submit" button to send your comments to me. (There are no course points awarded for completing this form.)
• Hints for Success in this (and all!) College Classes
• Hints on taking good lecture notes
• How do you learn best? Click here to help find out!
• Western Libraries and the Writing Center have produced a FREE Assignment Planner . This tool is especially helpful for planning your writing assignments that require library research, plus the site has several links to other valuable resources on campus.
• View the resources and schedule of tutors available from the Tutorial Center

Course Announcements:

• This page was current in Winter 2005, when I last taught the class. I've left some materials posted so that you can see some of my teaching tools and other course information. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this Bio 204 class. Thanks.
• Lab Notebooks are DUE at the time of our FINAL EXAM: Monday, March 14th.
• Acevedo's Study Guide is posted here.
• Lapsansky's Study Guide is posted here.
• Scores for Quiz V are posted. The class earned an average of 86% on this quiz, bringing the overall class average in lecture up to 78%. There have been 205 points possible in lecture so far, with 125 points remaining on the final exam. Your TA will forward your earned points for the lab (175 pts possible) to be added into your lecture score for your final grade calculation. The total possible number of points for this class is 500. Your SCORES can be accessed from this link. Select Bio 204 (Winter 2005), and enter your student number (W#).
• Tutors are available for drop in or appointments at the Tutorial Center (see link above). A fellow 204 student has also set up a standing Bio 204 Study Group on Thursdays at 1pm in MH 230. For more information, please contact Beckey at hammr@cc.wwu.edu or algood41@hotmail.com.
• Welcome to the first day of Biology 204!
• Office Hours for Winter quarter 2005 are Monday 10-12 and Tuesday, 2-4, and by appointment. Please sign up for a meeting time on the list posted outside my office. Thanks.
• Bio 204 lab will meet during the first week of class.
• Bio 204 Syllabus - Winter 2005
• In order to help you construct a more complete understanding of biology, we discussed your 2-minute Write Questions in class. Please study your notes regarding these questions in preparation for in-class evaluations (exams and quizzes).

Laboratory Information:

• Your lab TA has schedule an informal writing workshop for help in writing your ecology paper. Alli's is scheduled for March 1: 6:30-8:30, and Hannah's is scheduled for March 2: 5:30-7:30. The workshop is held in Biology 212.
• The USGS pamplet on Bryophytes and Mosses is posted here, for your convenience.
• Bio 204 Laboratory Homepage
• The diagrams of Plant Life Cycles that you looked at in lab are posted here, for your convenience. Hope they help!
• NEW! Click here for a good website on the Inheritance of Human Eye color, and a fun eye color calculator!

Powerpoint Presentations and helpful web links:

• Powerpoint figures are removed between quarters.

Other Links:

• Bio 204 Textbook Web Site - Biology, 6th ed., Campbell and Reece
• Bio 204 Laboratory Homepage
• Dr. Alejandro Acevedo's Course homepage