Entomology, Biology 513, 513L, 592F Spring 2008

Instructor: David Gray        Contact: dave.gray@csun.edu     Office: SC2209     Hours: Tues/Thurs 12 - 1 PM      Phone: 818 677 7653

Course objectives: to provide students with an overview of the biology of insects, including the anatomy and physiology, evolution and systematics, and ecology and behavior of the world's most diverse group of animals.

Required texts:

Daly et al. 1998. Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity, 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press.

Peterson Field Guide to Insects; preferably new edition at bookstore.

Policies:

• Cheating/plagiarism on any part of the course (exam, quiz, practical, presentation, insect collection, etc.) will result in failure of all parts of the course and may result in further University discipline.
• Late assignments lose 10% per day, i.e. the most you can receive for an assignment that is one week late is 90% of its point value, 2 weeks late 80% etc.
• Punctuality.  Expect to start on time.
• The Biology Department withdrawal policy states: "Unrestricted withdrawals are permitted only until the end of the third week. Thereafter, requests to drop a class will be honored only when a verifiable serious and compelling reason exists and when there is no viable alternative to withdrawal.  Poor performance is NOT an acceptable reason for withdrawal. During the last three weeks of the semester withdrawals will not be approved except when a student is withdrawing from ALL classes for verifiable medical reasons."

You can receive a grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D or F.

Lecture Grade: 35% Exam 1; 35% Exam 2; 30% Presentation (20 minutes, 15 minute lecture, plus 5 minutes questions/discussion).

Lab/Field Grade: 40% Insect Collection; 40% Lab Quizzes; 5% Dissection; 15% Lab Practical Exam.

Schedule Overview.  Typically, we will have two hours of lecture back to back on Mondays, followed by two hours of lab or local fieldwork.  Some weeks, the Wednesday hours of lab time will be replaced by instructional fieldwork during weekend fieldtrips (ca. 48 hours class time).  Missing the required weekend fieldtrips will result in a loss of one letter grade from the Lab/Field portion of the course.

Course and Lecture Schedule