Biology 211 — Fall 2004

Flowering Plant Taxonomy

Lecture/Discussion: MWF 9:00-9:50 in Olin 335

Laboratory: W 1:00-4:00 in Olin 314

Course Web Pages: www.colby.edu/its/BI211

 

Instructors:      Ray Phillips, Asst. Prof. of Biology — Lovejoy 105, Phone: 4209 (call Chris, my Administrative Secretary, at 4201 to make an appointment), Email: rbphilli

                          Lindsey Colby, Biology Teaching Associate — Olin 304, Phone: 3558, Email: lwcolby

 

This course provides an introduction to the principles and practice of biological systematics and classification (taxonomy).  Emphasis is placed on acquiring the facility to use appropriate terminology in order to identify flowering plants, as well as understanding the historical context and investigative procedures used by taxonomists in developing classifications.  Of particular importance is gaining an understanding of the philosophical bases in taxonomy and the relevance of this field to the areas of biology that use classifications.

Objectives:

1.     Learn vegetative and reproductive features and terminology that are useful in the identification of flowering plants.

2.     Gain ability to use published keys for the identification of flowering plants.

3.     Learn to recognize some of the common and unusual families of flowering plants in Maine.

4.     Understand the principles of plant taxonomy, including evolutionary trends, patterns of speciation, biogeography, and floral biology.

5.     Gain an understanding of the relationships between evolutionary mechanisms, evolutionary history, and the classification of organisms.

6.     Develop an ability to critically examine the extent to which a classification system reflects relationships between organisms and to understand the reasons for the significant changes now being made in biological classification systems.

Evaluation:

1.     Daily Quizzes - (5 pts each, drop 3 lowest scores and add 15 pts)                     150 pts.

2.     Report – Taxonomic review of a group of plants selected by each
               student. Due November 29.                                                                        150 pts.

3.     Examination I (October 11-15)                                                                                   100 pts.

4.     Examination II (November 10-15)                                                                              100 pts.

5.     Laboratory Exercises                                                                                                  100 pts.

6.     Plant Collection (Oct. 6, Nov. 10, Dec. 8)                                                                200 pts.

7.     Lab Exam I: Family Recognition (Families 1-2, 17-36;  Sept. 29)                           100 pts.

8.     Lab Exam II: Family Recognition (Families 37-60, 3-16; Nov. 3)                           100 pts.

9.     Final Examination (Date to be announced)                                                             100 pts.

                                  TOTAL                                                                                            1,100 pts.

Textbooks:

Judd, Campbell, Kellogg, and Stevens, 2002.  “Plant Systematics: A Phylogenetic Approach,” 2^nd Edition, Sinauer Associates.

Magee, Dennis W., and Harry E. Ahles, 1999.  "Flora of the Northeast. A Manual of the Vascular Flora of New England and Adjacent New York," University of Massachusetts Press, Amherst.

Plant Collection:

Due:       5 specimens due Oct. 6,

15 additional specimens due Nov. 10,

Complete collection due Dec. 8

The plant collection must include 100 75 50 40 fully identified specimens representing different species (or infraspecific taxa).  Ten specimens must be mounted properly on herbarium paper.  A typed or neatly printed label must be prepared for every specimen and affixed in the extreme lower, right-hand corner of the sheet for mounted specimens.  The label must include the collector's name and collection number, family, genus and species with the author citation, date of collection, locality, country, and any other pertinent data. The remaining unmounted specimens should be loose in folded (11x16) newsprint with a prepared label as described above.  Required: 3 specimens in Poaceae, 2 in Cyperaceae, and 1 in Juncaceae.

A field book must accompany the collection.  The field book must be compiled in the field as you collect each specimen; it should be in pencil; all records must be entered, dated, and numbered sequentially; and the field book and label data must coincide.  You will probably collect more than 50 specimens.  Frost comes early in Maine so collect early!

The collection will be graded in the following manner:

Identification: Each specimen is worth 5 points.  Misidentification to family results in a –7 point assessment; to genus –3 points; and to species –1 point.  In difficult groups, species ID is leniently graded.

Quality of the collection: Are the leaves and flowers pressed flat?  Is the specimen dry?  Are the upper and lower surfaces visible?  Are the mounted specimens firmly and totally attached?  Is the label prepared properly?  Is the mounting aesthetically pleasing?  A poor quality specimen will result in a –2 point assessment.

Label and Field Data:  Is the collection label complete and specific?  Given the information on the label, would it be possible for another collector to return to the same location?  If the specimen is from a tree or shrub, are there notes on features of the plant (such as tree height, bark texture) that are not evident from the specimen itself?  An inadequate label and field notes for a specimen will be assessed –2 points.

You will be able to use the lab after class hours by checking the key out from the Science Library in Olin (hours are posted and available on the web).  Other classes may use the laboratory; a schedule for the lab will be posted.  In general, the lab is available for your use evenings and weekends.  Cabinet space will be available for you to store your collection as you work on it during the semester.

Report: Taxonomic review of a group of flowering plants (Preliminary Report due Oct. 8, Report due Nov. 29, Oral Reports to Class Nov 29 to Dec. 3).

Each student will select a group of flowering plants and review its taxonomic history in terms of classification within the group and position relative to other groups.  The focus should be on changes that have occurred since Linnaeus through the different historical periods when different approaches to biological classification were used in recognizing groups (taxa) and their relationships within the group and between this group and other groups.  Special attention should be given to the changes associated with application of the phylogenetic approach to classification during the past ten to twenty years.  Monophyletic, paraphyletic, and polyphyletic groups recognized in past classification systems should be identified.  Included should be a review of major characters and the various synapomorphies and symplesiomorphies that have given rise to different classifications in the past.

The group selected can be as high (class, subclass, order, family) or as low (genus, species, varieties) in hierarchical rank as you wish but it is likely to be more difficult if the group is at a lower rank.

The group should be selected and reported to the instructor with a basic bibliography by Oct. 8.  Feel free to talk with the instructor prior to that date as you develop ideas or if you have questions or need suggestions.

The report should not be longer then about fifteen pages.  If desired, the report can be presented in a poster form or as a PowerPoint document.  Each student will give a short (5 to 10 minute) oral report to the class outlining the findings in this review.  These oral reports will take place the week of Nov. 29.  The project is worth 150 points, of which 50 points will be based on the oral report and 100 points on the printed report.

Flowering Plant Family Recognition (Laboratory Exams Sept. 29 and Nov. 3):

During this course you will be introduced to many flowering plant families.  Some of the most important of these will be reviewed with examples and the characteristic features will be described and illustrated.  You will be expected to recognize members of these families without the aid of a key.  Most of these you will find very easy to recognize.  Below is a complete list of these 60 families.  Be sure to see the textbook and its included CD-ROM, as well as the web pages for this course, where family descriptions and examples will be found.  

 

* The textbook, Judd et al., either does not recognize the family (4, 13, 20, 42, 44, 49 and 52) or has a significantly different circumscription (boundaries around what is included; 6, 54 and 55) than traditional classifications.  For these families use the lab handouts and web resources for descriptions and examples.
Some families have alternative acceptable names (33, 40, 56, 57, and 60).