Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to use dichotomous keys in identification of plant and animal species.
• Students will be able to integrate principles of ecology to explain relationships within the biosphere and man's impact on the planet.
• Students will be able to explain the concept of natural selection through ecological examples of comparative adaptations.
• Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to show the relevance of biology on their daily lives.
• Students will be able to identify various local habitat types and their associated organisms, including amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and plants.
• Students will be able to demonstrate various field techniques such as insect collection/ mounting, plant pressing, vegetation line transects, etc.
• Students will be able to compare and contrast environmental topics such as ozone depletion vs. global warming, various animal mating systems, various foraging strategies, etc.
• Students will be able to apply scientific theories and concerns (e.g. human population growth).
• Students will be able to diagram biogeochemical cycles and their relationship to environmental problems such as acid rain and global warming.
• Students will be able to examine current ecological applications (i.e. sharing of neighborhoods by people and predatory species, effectiveness of the endangered species act, fragmentation of wildlife habitat, etc.).