Graduate Studies Reports Access
Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - BSC6002
Tracking Number - 5441
Current Status:
-
Campus: St Petersburg
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments:
Detail Information
- Date & Time Submitted: 2016-04-13
- Department: Biology
- College: AP
- Budget Account Number: 511209
- Contact Person: Deby Cassill
- Phone: 7274241424
- Email: cassill@mail.usf.edu
- Prefix: BSC
- Number: 6002
- Full Title: Conservation Biology Techniques
- Credit Hours: 3
- Section Type: O -
Other
- Is the course title variable?: N
- Is a permit required for registration?: N
- Are the credit hours variable?: N
- Is this course repeatable?: N
- If repeatable, how many times?: 0
- Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Biology Techniques
- Course Online?: C -
Face-to-face (0% online)
- Percentage Online: 0
- Grading Option:
-
- Prerequisites: None
- Corequisites: None
- Course Description: Introduction to techniques used in conservation biology to assess, study, and protect biodiversity.
- Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Needed for new program/concentration/certificate
- What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? This course in an elective that will support the proposed MS in Conservation Biology.
- Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? No
- What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) PhD in Biology or related field
- Objectives: 1. Identify the common physical, chemical, and biological features used to define and study streams and rivers.
2. Describe the key conservation issues for Florida’s streams and rivers.
3. Identify common meiofauna, macroinvertebrates, algae, aquatic plants, and fish found in these habitats and used to determine water quality.
4. Describe key models used to define habitat quality.
5. Identify the key elements in stream/river management plans, and evaluate management plans for minimum flows.
- Learning Outcomes: 90% of students will complete the class and field trips with 75% or greater grade.
- Major Topics: Conservation issues for Florida streams, rivers
Physical and chemical features
Assessment techniques
Field trip, Gum Springs, stream sampling
Benthic macroinvertebrates
Benthic algae
Habitat quality parameters
Field trip, Little Manatee River
Productivity, Food web analyses
Modeling flow and ecosystem quality
Field trip, Myakka River
Aquatic plants, riparian processes
Minimum flow management plans
Group Project work
- Textbooks: Hauer, F. and Lamberti, G.A. 2007. Methods in Stream Ecology, 2nd edition. Academic Press, 896 pp.
- Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: To be determined after assessing the goals of students.
- Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: 1) Review paper
Each student will be required to write a review paper on a current technique used in stream or river ecology and its application to conservation. The text should be approximately 15 pages in length, excluding cover page, references, figures and tables. Total = 150 pts. Tentative topics are due Week 3. The final review paper is due Week 14.
2) Participation
There will be weekly discussions on the topics and readings presented in class. Attendance at the field trips is mandatory. All students will be expected to actively participate in these discussions, and to co-lead one discussion during the semester.
3) Field and lab notebook
Each student will be expected to keep a detailed and well organized field and lab notebook that will serve as a reference for techniques introduced in the course, and data collected in the field and lab. (100 pts)
4) Project
Each student will participate in a group project that utilizes some technique introduced during the course. A project proposal (100 pts) will be due Week 4, and the final project is due Week 15.
The total course points = 500 pts.
The following grading scale will be used in assigning final grades:
A+ = 97.6-100%
A = 93.6-97.5%
A- = 89.6-93.5%
B+ = 87.6-89.5%
B = 83.6-87.5%
B-= 79.6-83.5%
C+= 77.6-79.5%
C = 73.6-77.5%
C- = 69.6-73.5%
D = 60-69.5%
F = < 60%
- Assignments, Exams and Tests: Week 1 Conservation issues for Florida streams,
rivers
Week 2 Physical and chemical features, 3, 4, 5
Assessment techniques
Week 3 Field trip, Gum Springs, stream sampling
Week 4 Benthic macroinvertebrates 19, 20, 35
Week 5 Benthic algae 16, 34
Week 6 Habitat quality parameters 28, 29, 30
Week 7 Field trip, Little Manatee River
Week 8 Productivity, Food web analyses 23, 26, 27
Week 9 Modeling flow and ecosystem quality
Week 10 Field trip, Myakka River
Week 11 Aquatic plants, riparian processes 18
Week 12 Minimum flow management plans
Week 13 Group Project work
Week 14 Group Project work
Week 15 Group Project due, presentation of results
- Attendance Policy: Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,
http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)
Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)
In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.
- Policy on Make-up Work:
- Program This Course Supports: MS in Conservation Biology
- Course Concurrence Information: Florida Studies
ESP
- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.