BIOL 110 - Botany

4 Credit (3 lecture, 2 lab) 5 Contact Hours [Reading Level 3 and Writing Level 3 and Math Level 2 ]

This course is a survey of the Fungi and Plant Kingdoms and their natural communities. Plant structure, classification, and function will be studied through class and outdoor lab experiences, both on and off campus. Students will build a representative botanical collection from local flora, with emphasis on the Angiosperms (flowering plants). Students will observe and record the phenology (seasonal rhythm) of selected deciduous plants. Students will contribute to the scientific body of botanical knowledge through maintenance of the existing MCC Herbarium, and through the inventory and preservation of specimens found in an assigned Montcalm County public site. This class includes field trips with outdoor activity and possible inclement weather.
OFFERED: fall semesters

Course Goals; Objectives; Competencies
Goal 1: Explain the structures, characteristics and ecology of Kingdom Fungi.

Objectives:

List the four characteristics that distinguish the Kingdom Fungi.
Identify the microscopic anatomical features of fungus.
Identify the macroscopic anatomical features of fungus.
Describe the economical, medical, and ecological importance of fungi.
Describe the biology, the ecological importance, and evolutionary importance of lichens.

Goal 2: Explain the structures and characteristics of Kingdom Plantae.

Objectives:

List the characteristics that distinguish the Kingdom Plantae.
Explain how primitive plants differ from advanced plants.
Distinguish angiosperms from other plants.
Explain the physiological processes of plants: photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and transpiration.
Explain alteration of generations.
Describe the functions and interrelationships of roots, stems, leaves and flower structures.
Identify the microscopic anatomical features of both primitive and modern plants.
Identify the macroscopic anatomical features of both primitive and modern plants.

Goal 3: Explain the ecological importance of Kingdom Plantae.

Objectives:

Recognize the different habitats and environmental conditions of native plant communities.
Observe and record the phenological progress of deciduous plants.
Recognize interactions/relationships between plants and animals and their importance.
Describe the economical, medical, and commercial importance of plants
Describe the ecological and evolutionary importance of plants.
Observe and record the impact of human activity on plant communities and individual species.

Goal 4: Use two or more dichotomous plant keys effectively to identify local flora/fungi to Family and Genus level.

Objectives:

Distinguish the different leaf types of angiosperms.
Determine leaf arrangement.
Identify flower types and structures.
Identify various fruits.
Identify unknown angiosperms, gymnosperms, ferns, club mosses, horsetail, mosses and fungi.

Goal 5: Complete a herbarium collection.

Objectives:

Preserve specimens according to standard procedure.
Mount specimens according to standard procedure.
Collect representative specimens from 5 different Divisions: angiosperms, gymnosperms, fungi, lichens, ferns, mosses, club mosses, horsetails, or liverworts.
Present a collection of at least 20 different specimens representative of 10 different Families.
Record date, location, scientific name and habitat for each specimen collected.

Goal 6: Contribute to the scientific body of botanical knowledge.

Objectives:

Inventory a specific number of plants in existing MCC Herbarium collection.
Identify and preserve 10 specimens in area of concentration from the class field project site.
Present information on class field project specimens in a written and oral format.

Goal 7: Explore opportunities for further academic study and careers in Botany.

Objectives:

Attend field trips to academic sites that offer botany related majors
Attend field trips to businesses and educational sites utilizing botanical skills.