BIOL 271 - Natural Science of Eastern Washington

Credits: 5
Variable Credit Course: No

Lecture Hours: 22
Lab Hours: 66
Worksite/Clinical Hours: 0
Other Hours (LIA/Internships): 0

Course Description: The course provides applied, multidisciplinary scientific exploration of the natural history of the eastern Pacific Northwest region. Field-studies, supplemented with class work, will include hands-on skills-building investigations of: (1) ecological systems (and the organisms that comprise them); (2) abiotic systems (geology, climatology, hydrology, glaciology), and (3) human interactions with the environment (pre- and post-European settlement). Weekly meetings or half-day field trips will culminate in a 2 to 4 day (or multi-day during Summer) camping trip to areas of scientific interest.

Prerequisite: Either placement into OR co-enrollment in OR completion of a college-level Math course with a grade of C or higher.
Meets FQE Requirement: No
Integrative Experience Requirement: No

Student Learning Outcomes

Identify and taxonomically rank a range of organisms (plants, birds, mammals, fungi, insects, fish, reptiles, and amphibians) that inhabit the region.
Develop and utilize a vocabulary of terms enabling greater conversation about natural selection, evolution, and organismal form and function.
Demonstrate the scientific method by designing field studies investigating a variety of abiotic and biotic phenomena.
Construct and use equations, graphs, charts and tables to analyze and interpret natural phenomena.
Articulate scientific explanations based on analysis of field observations and data.
Utilize a vocabulary of biological terms enabling field discussions ofâ€” and reporting on ecosystem function.
Demonstrate basic understanding of animal metabolism, structural development, niche, habitat and community roles during field discussions and in reports.
Identify geologic materials (rocks & minerals) and structures (strata, volcanos, faults, etc.) characteristic of the region.
Recognize and describe characteristics of ecological, climatological, geologic, hydrologic, glacial and systems of the region.
Recognize and describe interactions (matter and energy transfers) between abiotic and biotic systems.
Articulate diverse historic and current examples of how humans rely on and interact with the natural world with emphasis on those occurring in the eastern Pacific Northwest.

Course Contents

The Nature of Science & the Scientific Method.
Methods, Techniques and Logistics of Field Studies.
Landforms and geologic history of the Pacific Northwest Montane region.
Flora of the Pacific Northwest Montane region. Identification and taxonomy of a range of flora. Organism metabolism, structural development, niche, habitat, and community roles.
Animals of the Pacific Northwest Montane region. Identification and taxonomy of a range of terrestrial organisms. Organism metabolism, structural development, niche, habitat, and community roles.
Geological materials, features and characteristics of the eastern Pacific Northwest.
Meteorology and climate of the region.
Ecosystems of the eastern Pacific Northwest.
Interactions between biotic and abiotic systems.
Historic and current examples of how humans rely on - and interact with the natural world.

Instructional Units: 6.5