BIO 1614 --- FIELD BIOLOGY --- SYLLABUS

PHONE: Office = (512) 223-3325 Lab = 223-3332 Secretary = 223-3320

Email: smuzos@austin.cc.tx.us

ASSISTANT Elaine Huser

OFFICE: 307.0 Rio Grande Campus

PHONE: (512) 223-3332

Email: ehuser@austin.cc.tx.us

CLASS TIME

M & W: 1:25 - 4:25 p.m. RGC Room 308.0 or in the field (as announced)

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Kutac, Edward A. & S. Christopher Caran. Birds & Other Wildlife of South Central Texas, A Handbook

Lynch, Bro. Daniel Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & The Hill Country

Muzos, Steven J. Central Texas Field Biology, 2^nd ed.

Peterson, Roger Tory, A Field Guide to the Birds East of the Rockies, 5^th ed.

A field notebook and pen. Notebooks must have hard cover, with pages permanently attached.

Binoculars (The BIO Dept. generally has enough to lend a pair to anyone who needs them.)

A Texas highway map

RECOMMENDED MATERIALS

Enquist, Marshall. Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (out of print)

See "Course Resources" (in Muzos) for other recommended titles.

OBJECTIVES

Your set of objectives for this course are statements which indicate what material you are responsible for in order to pass the course. It is important that you understand and learn the objectives because they are what you will be tested on (unless otherwise specified by Dr. Muzos). Not all of the objectives will be covered every semester, since the course content changes somewhat with the seasons. Check with your instructor to see if any objectives will be deleted this semester. Additional material may also be required, and will be announced in class.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Follow the course Syllabus and all other handouts.

2. Follow the items in the class manual (Central Texas Field Biology 2^nd ed.), including the Course policies and Field Trip Policies.

2. Use and follow the Field Biology Study Tips in the class manual.

3. Call Dr. Muzos' voice mail (223-3325) before class (9:00 - 11:30 a.m.) on the day of every field trip to see if there is a schedule change. If there is no message, or if you are calling at another time that day, please call the lab (223-3332) in order to check for any schedule changes. When possible, changes will be posted on the web page as well.

SCHOLASTIC INTEGRITY

All students must adhere to the current policies and procedures of ACC. Students should be familiar with the current ACC Student Handbook (available in the Student Development Office), and the current ACC General Catalog (available in the Admissions and Records Office). Violations of ACC policies and procedures will be handled according to the Student Discipline Procedures as described in the current ACC Student Handbook.

Unless Dr. Muzos gives you specific instructions otherwise, do your own assignments and only your assignments. Do not copy material from another source or from another student. Do not turn in material that is the same as that of another source or another student.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is taken every class day and every field trip. Arriving late, leaving early, not having required materials, or any inappropriate behavior may result in your being counted as absent. After ONE "in-class" absence you will lose five (5) points for each additional absence if we stay in the classroom, and after ONE "field trip" absence you will lose ten (10) points for each additional field trip absence. You are responsible for all deadlines, directions, discussion, materials, assignments, schedule changes, or announcements covered in class, regardless of your reason for being late to class or being absent.

If you miss a class (including field trips), be sure to get the notes from one of the students who attended. For missed field trips, you should copy information from their field notebook into yours, indicate that you did not attend, and indicate from whom you copied the notes.

GRADING

Grades are based on exams, a comprehensive final exam, collections, assignments, class participation, a field notebook, attendance, and extra credit. The following grading scale is used:

GradePoints

A 900-1030

B 800-899

C 700-799

D 600-699

F 599 or less

ASSIGNMENTS

A variety of in-class and on-your-own assignments will be made. All assignments are due at the beginning of the period on the date due. Late materials will receive a 50% penalty or a zero. Penalties may be waived for documented emergencies.

EXAMS

Exams are mostly "practical," short-answer, and essay style exams which are given during class. Portions of the exams will be "open-notebook." No make-up exams are given.

Your percentage score on the Final Exam may (at your request) be averaged with your lowest percentage score on Exam 1, 2, or 3, and that average will replace the low exam score. For example, if your lowest score was a 64% on Exam 1, and you score an 88% on the Final, the 64% will be replaced with a 76% for Exam 1.

BIOLOGY LEARNING LAB (the "Study Lab," Room 307.0, Phone 223-3332)

The BIO 1614 lab assistant (Elaine) will be glad to help you. However, her time is limited. You are invited and encouraged to make full use of the lab whenever it is open. The following materials are available there:

Handouts, Readings, Manuals

Field Guides, Miscellaneous Books and Materials

Supplies and Equipment (to check out)

Some (limited) specimens to study.

ACC Field Biology Manual (previous edition)

Hand lenses

Key to the Herbaceous Flowering Plants of Wild Basin Wilderness (Muzos)

You may turn in assignments (in advance) in Room 307.0.

FIELD TRIPS

Many of the activities of this course require outdoor participation. Students are expected to come to class prepared to go outside, regardless of the weather. Schedule changes will be made at the discretion of Dr. Muzos. If you have questions, call Dr. Muzos or the lab before class, or check the course web site .

Trips are generally taken during class, except for:

Weekend trips (overnight) - dates to be announced

Other day trips as scheduled.

Everyone is required to attend all field trips.

Students will need to car pool during field trips taken during class time. The number of vehicles on a trip should be kept to a minimum. We often meet at a predetermined point away from the Rio Grande Campus. Directions will be available in advance (see Class Manual). Arrangements will be made in advance to ensure that all students have transportation to and from field trips. ACC is not responsible for damage to private vehicles.

You must pay for your own personal expenses. Drivers and passengers of private vehicles are responsible for the expenses of their vehicles. Depending on budget constraints, the ACC Biology Department may pay entrance fees, etc.

SMOKING IS NOT PERMITTED.

CLASS PARTICIPATION

Students are expected to follow instructions, and contribute to class and group activities in a positive manner. You will also be asked to help retrieve, carry, and put away materials needed for daily activities. Students are expected to follow ACC and BIO 1614 policies in the classroom and during all field trips.

WITHDRAWAL and REINSTATEMENT

If, at any time, you have not completed at least one-half of the class activities and attended at least one-half of the classes and trips, you are subject to immediate withdrawal. The instructor is not required to withdraw you for the above reasons. It is your responsibility to determine your class status at all times.

Reinstatement procedures will follow the guidelines presented in the current ACC Catalog.

INCOMPLETES

Incompletes are rarely given in Field Biology. In order to be eligible for an Incomplete Grade (I) you must do all of the following by the last class day:

1. Have passing grades (70%) on at least 75% of the activities listed on the grade sheet.

2. Take the Final Exam.

3. Meet with Dr. Muzos, discuss what is involved in receiving and completing a grade of "I," and complete and sign the proper forms.

EXTRA CREDIT

Extra credit in this course can be earned in a wide variety of ways, however, the maximum number of points for the course is 30 (with no more than 20 from any one kind of activity). See your class manual for instructions for most of these activities.

Any time Dr. Muzos says "I don't know" to field biology related questions in class, look it up, write a complete answer, and turn it in for 1-5 points of extra credit. Other extra credit possibilities may be announced in class, so pay attention! See Dr. Muzos if you have other suggestions for activities.

Extra credit activities may be recorded in your field notebook. Mark the page with a paper clip when you turn in your notebook for grading. If you attend an out-of-class activity on the following list, you must supply proof of attendance, such as a program or other literature with the date of the activity and the signature of the person in charge. The following point values apply.

Texas Beach Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup 10

San Antonio Zoo 10

San Antonio Botanical Garden 10

Zilker Botanical Garden 5

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center 10

Texas State Aquarium 10

Texas Memorial Museum 10

Other zoos & botanical gardens 5-10

Guided Field Trips from Other Organizations: (5 points per hour, not including travel)

Native Plant Society of Texas<,A>

Audubon Society

Wild Basin