Bio 305 – Evolution of the Iowa Flora – Course Information and Outline – Fall, 2007

Description . Investigations of Iowa’s plant diversity from three perspectives: (1) taxonomy and systematics; (2) paleoecology and community assembly; and (3) population structure, biogeography, and conservation. Three lectures and one laboratory each week. Prereq. Bio 252 or instr. permission.

Instructor . Vince Eckhart (eckhart), 4354, Science 1808. Office hours: Mon. 9-11; Tues. 1-3.

Settings . Lecture/discussion MWF 8, Science 1021. Lab F 1:15-4:05, Science 1809, the Grinnell College Herbarium, CERA, and other field sites.

Texts . Barkley TM (1986) Flora of the Great Plains. U. Kansas Press, Lawrence, KS. Harris JG, Harris MW (2001) Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary. Spring Lake, Payson, UT.

Sample of supplemental readings and resources

Anderson WI (1998) Iowa’s Geological Past. U Iowa Press, Iowa City.

Axelrod DI (1985) Rise of the grassland biome, central North America. Botanical Review 51:163-201

Eilers LJ, Roosa DM (1994) The Vascular Plants of Iowa. U. Iowa Press, Iowa City.

Gleason HA, Cronquist A (1991). Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden, NY.

Holmgren NH, Holmgren, PK (1998) Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual: Illustrations of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden, NY.

Judd et al. (2002) Plant Systematics: a Phylogenetic Approach. 2 nd ed., Sinauer, Sunderland, MA

Swink F, Wilhelm G (1994) Plants of the Chicago region. Indiana Academy of Science Press.

Yatskievych G (1999). Steyermark's flora of Missouri. Missouri Bot. Garden., St. Louis.

Overview.

unit 1 = principles of taxonomy and systematics; sampling the flora of the Grinnell region

• discussion, lecture, and exercises on plant identification and taxonomy
• students assemble herbarium-quality plant collections
• students carry out and design service projects (weeding/replanting campus prairie-walk)
• discussion, lecture, and exercises on current methods and issues in plant systematics

unit 2 = paleobotany and community assembly

• lecture, discussion, and exercises on the ancient and recent history of the Iowa flora
• field trips to noteworthy sites (e.g., glacial relicts, range limits of distinctive/notable species)
• students compose non-fiction articles on the history of the Iowa flora

unit 3 = conservation and biodiversity

• lecture, discussion, and exercises on conservation of Iowa plants
• students complete prairie walk service project
• students prepare and present grant proposals on Iowa plant conservation

Evaluation. 550 points. Plant identification quizzes (90 points total); plant collection and notebook (180 points); non-fiction article on history of the Iowa flora (90 points); journals on service-learning projects and field trips (30 points); grant proposal presentations (30 points); grant proposals (90 points); other participation (40 points), or your role in teaching the material. There is no final.

<60% 60% 65% 72% 77% 80% 84% 87 >90%

F D C C+ B- B B+ A- A

Miscellaneous policies. Please turn in assignments on time. You can arrange to make up work missed due to excused absences (e.g., for athletic events), but please inform me of these planned absences in advance. Note that the class schedule includes a couple of my own excused absence. For absences due to illness, have the Health Center contact me for confirmation.

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