Dept. of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles
Biology 4400 – Plant Systematics – Fall 2016
Lecture:W 1:00 – 1:50 ASCB 231
Lab:
WF 2:00 – 4:30 ASCB 231
Instructor:
Dr. Kirsten Fisher. ASCL 393; [email protected]
Office hours: M 12:00-1:30
Course materials and announcements will be available on Moodle
Course Overview: Historically, plant systematics has played a pivotal role in both the conceptual and
practical organization of biological diversity. The first truly systematic treatments of
organisms focused on plants, and many fundamental concepts underpinning our organization
of the natural world trace a direct lineage back to these formative works. Modern plant
systematics integrates both molecular and morphological data and uses advanced analytical
tools to organize diversity based on evolutionary relationships.
Objectives: You will learn the basic theory underpinning modern phylogenetic systematics and the
methods involved in phylogenetic analysis. Through the lecture and lab, you will learn to
identify major groups of land plants (embryophytes) and some of the diagnostic features
uniting different groups. You will also learn major evolutionary relationships among different
plant groups and key events in the evolution of the land plants. In the laboratory sessions, you
will gain experience using dichotomous keys to identify plants to species, as well as practical
expertise in identifying plant specimens to family. Diversity in this course will be focused on
plants and plant families that are native to the California Floristic Province.
Grading Policy: Your grade will be based on combined points from lecture and laboratory.
Point values for assignments are as follows:
Lecture Midterm …..............................….50
Laboratory Notebook………..….………..50
Plant ID Quizzes........................................50
Plant Mapping Project...............................30
Final Lab Practical Exam………..…...….70
Grading will be based on a percentage of total
points, as follows:
93-100% = A
90-92% = A88-89% = B+
83-87% = B
80-82% = B78-79% = C+
73-77% = C
70-72% = C-
68-69% = D+
63-67% = D
60-62% = D<60% = F
TOTAL ...........................……………. 250
Participation in the labs and field trip is required. Participation entails timely arrival to labs and field
trips, and full participation in the scheduled activity. Since the class schedule is set in advance
and field trips occur during class/lab time, conflicts with outside employment will not be accepted
as a valid excuse for absence from the field trip.
Plant ID quizzes, worth 10 points each, will take place at the beginning of five lab sessions.
Lecture midterm: This written exam will emphasize conceptual material presented during lectures - a
study guide will be provided for this exam.
Laboratory notebook: Each student is required to keep a lab notebook. Instructions will be given to guide
students in the development of an effective laboratory notebook for this course. Students’
notebooks will be checked for completeness periodically over the quarter. Students will be
allowed to use their lab notebook for the final lab practical (see below), if submitted for instructor
review prior to the exam.
Laboratory practical will be held during the course’s scheduled final exam time. The final lab practical
will cover taxonomic skills gained in both the lecture and lab portions of the course, and will
focus on interpreting live plant materials and/or assigning plant materials to appropriate higher
taxonomic groups. Make-up practicals will only be given under exceptional circumstances, for
absences with valid, thoroughly documented excuses. The final practical will be cumulative, and
will include material presented over the entire semester.
Other requirements: Each student is expected to have an AD account and access to the course materials
on Moodle. The entry page for Moodle can be found on the menu of your myCalStateLA page.
Academic honesty: Students are expected to abide by the University’s Academic Honesty Policy,
(http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/senate/handbook/ch5a.htm). Students who violate this
policy will be subject to disciplinary action, and may receive a failing grade in the course for a
single violation.
Reasonable accommodation will be provided to any student who is registered with the Office of
Students with Disabilities and requests needed accommodation.
Biology 4400 Schedule – Fall 2016
Note that dates, topics and activities may change. Any changes to the schedule will be announced in
class and posted on Moodle; it is the responsibility of the student to remain informed of any announced
schedule changes
Week
1
8/24-26
2
8/31-9/2
3
9/7-9
4
9/14-16
5
9/21-23
6
9/28-30
7
10/5-7
8
10/12-14
9
10/19-21
10
10/26-28
11
11/2-4
12
11/9-11
13
11/16-18
14
11/23-25
15
11/30-12/2
Final Exam
12/9, 11:30 am (?)
Lecture
Intro to plant diversity
Labs
W: Review of vegetative structures
F: Review of reproductive structures
Phylogenetic systematics and
W: Phylogenetics
Classification
F: Using dichotomous keys
Early land plants – bryophytes
W: Liverworts
F: Mosses
Lycophytes and monilophytes
W: Lycophytes and eusporangiate ferns
F: Leptosporangiate ferns
Introduction to seed plants –
W: Quiz 1/Conifers I
conifers
F: Conifers II
Cycads, ginkgos and gnetophytes
W: Cycads, ginkgos, gnetophytes
F: Field Trip to Huntington Gardens
Midterm Exam
W: Origin of flowering plants (lecture)
F: Quiz 2/ANITA grade & Magnoliids
Monocots
W: Liliales, Asparagales, Arecales
F: Poales
Eudicots – Ranunculales, Proteales, W: Ranunculales, Proteales
Caryophyllales
F: Caryophyllales
Rosid clade – Fabids and Malvids
W: Quiz 3 / Fabales
F: Rosales, Fagales
Asterid I clade – Lamiids
W: Malvales, Brassicales, Sapindales
F: Ericales, Gentianales, Solanales
Systematics and conservation
W: Quiz 4 / Lamiales, Boraginales
F: Veterans’ Day – No Lab
Asterid II clade
W: Apiales, Dipsacales
F: Asterales
Thanksgiving Holiday – No Lecture or Lab this week.
Plant Collections
W: CSLA Herbarium Tour
F: Quiz 5 / Final Review