Biology 2201
Course Description
This course begins the study of introductory biology. Topics include the cell and cellular transport, diversity of life, homeostasis of human biology systems and population biology.
Authorized Learning Resource
Homework Central
Mon Oct 5: Upcoming! Students completed Lab 2 - Quadrat Sampling. We discussed the differences between accuracy and precision.
Lab 2 - Quadrat Sampling (Due Wed)
Fri Oct 2: Please review our notes and discussion of (2) Quadrat Sampling. We discussed the difference between accuracy and precision...to be continued.
Thurs Oct 1: Students completed Lab 1 - Line Transect Sampling.
Lab 1 - Line Transect Sampling (Due Fri)
Tues Sept 29: Students completed Unit 1 Quiz 1. We also discussed various distribution patterns for organisms (a) clumped distribution, (b) uniform distribution and (c) random distribution.
Mon Sept 28: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic D - Characteristics of Populations. Be familiar with why we samples organisms (too numerous), the importance of taking many samples and averaging (increasing precision) and the importance of random samples. We discussed sampling methods: (1) Line Transect and worked through a sample problem. We also discussed various distribution patterns for organisms (a) clumped distribution....to be continued.
Quiz 1 - Tuesday Sept 29
Thurs Sept 24: Please review our continued discussion of Topic C - Canadian Biomes. (3) Freshwater Biomes (a) lakes and ponds (littoral zone, limnetic zone, benthic zone) and (b) rivers Also review our introduction to Topic D - Characteristics of Populations. Note the difference between population size and population density. Also review how we count organisms through (a) direct observations, (b) indirect observations (tracks, nests, burrows, feces) or (c) sampling when numbers are large. Be familiar with why we samples organisms (too numerous), the importance of taking many samples and averaging (increasing precision) and the importance of random samples...to be continued.
Assign 3 - Biome Research (Due Mon) Quiz 1 - Tuesday Sept 29
Wed Sept 23: Please review our continued discussion of Topic C - Canadian Biomes. Note characteristics of (1) Terrestrial Biomes (c) temperate deciduous forest and (d) grasslands. (2) Marine Biomes (a) Pelagic Zone (open ocean) - made of (i) neritic zone over the continental shelf and (ii) oceanic zone beyond the continental shelf (b) Intertidal Zone (upper intertidal zone, middle intertidal zone, lower intertidal zone). (c) estuaries...to be continued.
Assign 3 - Biome Research (Due Mon) Quiz 1 - Tuesday Sept 29
Tues Sept 22: Please review our introduction to Topic C - Canadian Biomes. Be familiar with the definition of a biome and the factors that determine the distribution of biomes: (1) climate, (2) latitude, (3) soil, (4) altitude. Note the factors that determine the distribution of species in biomes: (1) abiotic factors and (2) an organism's range of tolerance. Be familiar with an ecotone as an overlap region between two biomes with high biodiversity. Note characteristics (location, temperature, precipitation, indicator plants, indicator animals and adaptations) of (1) Terrestrial Biomes (a) tundra, (b) boreal forest...to be continued.
Quiz 1 - Tuesday Sept 29
Thurs Sept 17: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic B - Energy in Ecosystems. Be familiar with the producer / consumer levels as well as trophic levels and autotroph / heterotroph terms. (2) Food Webs - These include all feeding relationships, are common in nature and are stable. (3) Pyramid of Energy - Note the shape of the pyramid and be able to explain in terms of the Rule of 10. Note reasons for inefficient energy transfer such as energy being converted into other forms (kinetic energy for movement and thermal / heat energy) and lack of energy release from bone, fur and other waste.
Assign 2 - Energy Flow (Due Tues)
Tues Sept 15: Please review our notes and discussion of Topic B - Energy in Ecosystems. Note the equations for the 2 processes that allow energy to enter the ecosystem: (1) photosynthesis and (2) chemosynthesis. Also note the equation for the process that uses energy in ecosystems: (1) cellular respiration. We stated that energy has a continuous supply from the sun and moves in a 1 way flow through an ecosystem. Ecologists use several diagrams to represent this energy flow: (1) food chain. These indicate one set of feeding relationships, are not common in nature and are fragile. Be able to identify the various producer / consumer and trophic levels in a food chain...to be continued.
Mon Sept 14: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic A - Biosphere and Hierarchal Levels: (1) organism (species), (2) population, (3) community, (4) ecosystem, (5) biome and (6) biosphere.
Assignment 1 - Biological Hierarchy
You must complete these sample questions.
Remember that questions for in-class assignments come from here!
Fri Sept 11: Welcome to Biology 2201. I am looking forward to working with you throughout the year. This was an introductory class. We distributed course descriptors and explained how you will be evaluated in this course. The Google Classroom Code was provided and this electronic classroom will display all course content and is where assignments, quizzes and test dates will be posted. We introduced Unit 1 - Ecosystem Interactions and Population Dynamics. Topic A explores the Biosphere and its organization into hierarchical levels. Be familiar with the definition of ecology, an ecologist and the various hierarchical levels: (1) organism (species)...to be continued.
