Section outline


  • Left photo shows a long, straight highway in the middle of a desert. Right photo shows a mouse.

    In the southwestern United States, rainy weather causes an increase in production of pinyon nuts, causing the deer mouse population to explode. Deer mice may carry a virus called Sin Nombre (a hantavirus) that causes respiratory disease in humans and has a high fatality rate. In 1992–1993, wet El Niño weather caused a Sin Nombre epidemic. Navajo healers, who were aware of the link between this disease and weather, predicted the outbreak. (credit "highway": modification of work by Phillip Capper; credit "mouse": modification of work by USFWS)


    Note the check boxes to the right that help you track your progress: some are automatic, and some are manual. 

    Course Outcomes:

    Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

    1. Apply biological concepts to the natural world and society
    2. Recognize biology as an inquiry process dependent on the scientific method and requiring critical thinking
    3. Interpret biological images, scientific graphs and models used to illustrate general biology concepts
    4. Demonstrate biological literacy through the use of standard English and appropriae citation of outside resources.
    5. Recognize fundamental biology principles in the areas of evolution, biological diversity, ecology, microorganisms, and anatomy and physiology of organisms.

    Objectives Chapters 23-26
    1. Distinguish between abiotic and biotic components of the environmen
    2. Define biogeogrpahy
    3. Define global climate change
    4. Discuss the effects that the Industrial Revolution had on the global atmosphere
    5. Describe the three different patterns of population distribution
    6. Describe how life history patterns are influenced by natural selection
    7. Explain different life history patterns and how different reproductive strategies affect species' survival
    8. Give examples of exponential and logistic growth in natural populations
    9. Discuss exponential human population growth and its effects
    10. Explain how humans have expanded the carrying capacity of their habitat
    11. Give examples of predator-rey
    12. Give examples of symbiotic relationships
    13. Compare innate and learned behaviors
    14. Identify courtship rituals
    15. Identify the different biochemical cycles
    16. Explain the effects of habitat loss
    17. Explain why it is important to conserve areas

    Lab Objectives Succession:

    1. Describe the processes of primary succession and secondary succession
    2. Explain what makes a community and an ecosystem different
    3. Describe the differences between abiotic and biotic factors
    4. Explain why disturbances play an important role in the progression of succession
    5. Define a climax community
    6. Describe why most areas will not make it to a climax community
    7. Describe the plant communities present after glacial succession and how they change the environment
    8. Explain the stages of succession of milk
    9. Describe how pH changes as milk goes through successional stages
    10. Explain the difference between gram negative and positive bacteria
    11. Draw and describe the shapes of bacteria

    Lab Objectives: Ecosystem

    1. Define eutrophication and explain how human behaviors lead to eutrophication.
    2. Explain how algae blooms are detrimental to aquatic ecosystems.
    3. Explain how zooplankton might impact algae blooms caused by cultural eutrophication.
    4. Predict the effects of changes in an aquatic ecosystem using a computer model


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