Course Archive

Title: Special Topic, Arctic Vegetation Ecology: Lecture

Number: BIOL 492/692

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: BIOL 115 & 116, Introduction to Plant Biology (BIOL 239) or Principles of Ecology (BIOL 271) or instructor approval

Location: 183 AHRB

Meeting time: T/Th 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Instructor

Prof. D.A. (Skip) Walker

Alaska Geobotany Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks

AHRB 252/254

474-2460

dawalker@alaska.edu

Office hours: Generally available, call before coming

Students are encouraged to contact the instructor with any questions, or to clarify the lecture or the assignments.
I will be happy to review drafts of assignments and answer questions any time.

Evaluation

Summary of grading points

Undergraduate student grading (BIOL 493 students):
Attendance at lectures and discussion groups (10 points each)	280
Participation in literature discussions (15 points/session)	90
Presentation of literature summaries	100
Oral presentation of research topic	200
Snow Ecology exercise participation	100
TOTAL	770 points

 

Graduate student grading (BIOL 693 students):
Attendance at lectures and discussion groups (10 points each)	280
Participation in literature discussions (15 points/session)	90
Presentation of literature summaries	100
Oral presentation of research topic	200
Snow Ecology exercise participation	100
Final research paper	300
Lead literature discussion session	50
TOTAL	1120 points

Grading Criteria (PDF)

These criteria may be modified somewhat as the course progresses.

Final grades will be as follows: greater than or equal to 90% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D; < 60% = F

All students are expected to accomplish the following:

(a) Attend all lectures (10 points for each lecture attended, 13 total). There will be no make-up for missed lectures, but good reasons for missing the lectures will be accepted if cleared before the lecture.

(b) Attend all the literature discussion sessions, read the assigned reading, and participate actively in each session (15 points for each session, six total).

(c) Give oral summaries of one paper for the literature discussion sessions (100 points).

(d) Give a 15-minute oral presentation of a literature review of a topic of interest related to Arctic vegetation (200 points). Guidelines for the presentations and grading criteria for the presentations will be handed out early in the semester.

(e) Attend the Saturday April 7, snow ecology field trip (100 points).

Additional expectations for graduate students:

(f) Write a 2000-3000-word research paper on an Arctic Vegetation topic of your choice. This paper should have at least 10 literature citations and can include additional tables and figures. This can be the same topic as that of your oral presentation. Late papers will receive a deduction of 15 points of the 300 total for every day late and no credit beyond 3 days late. Students should arrange for an incomplete grade if they cannot meet this deadline (300 points).

(g) Lead some of the literature discussion sessions. This will probably amount to one or two sessions depending on the number of graduate students. This will involve thorough reading of the papers to actively lead the discussion and act as moderator for the session (50 points for each session).