Course Lecturer Name(s): Dr. Stephen Nimrod
Course Director Name: Dr. Stephen Nimrod
Course Lecturer(s) Contact Information: snimrod@sgu.edu
Course Director Contact Information: snimrod@sgu.edu
Course Lecturer(s) Office Hours: By Appointments Only
Course Director Office Hours: Mon & Wed 3:00pm – 5:00pm, Tue & Thur 11:00am -12:00 pm
Course Lecturer(s) Office Location: Caribbean House, Top Floor
Course Director Office Location: Caribbean House, Top Floor
Course Support: Akima Ventour, Email: aventou2@sgu.edu, Phone: ext 3435
Course Management tool: To learn to use Sakai, the Course management tool, access the link https://apps.sgu.edu/members.nsf/mycoursesintro.pdf
Course Description:
This course will introduce students to the natural history of Grenada through the study of geology, geography, biogeography, flora and fauna. The students will gain an appreciation of the local natural environment and the processes that led to the formation of volcanic oceanic islands like Grenada. Examples of how local flora and fauna most likely came to Grenada and establish themselves to form the natural environment will be discussed. Instruction on the identification of major taxonomic groups found in Grenada and the Caribbean will be combined with explanations on how these organisms interact with other organisms and their environment. This course introduces students to the natural history of Grenada by lecture presentations, viewing specimens, and by taking short field trips to nearby shores and terrestrial areas to engage students actively. This course will provide an appreciation of why the unique organisms of our environment are being studied and exploited for research, ecotourism and commercial development, and why these organisms should be protected. The formal concepts introduced in this class will be presented by your lecturer and will be supplemented by group lab/class activities, and field work.
Course Objectives:
- Examine Grenada’s geographic location and explain how its location influences the islands weather, climate, flora and fauna.
- Discuss how geological processes such as plate tectonics gave rise to volcanic oceanic islands like Grenada and island arcs.
- Explain the processes whereby volcanic oceanic islands like Grenada received the flora and fauna that colonize the island and are present today as part of the natural environment.
- Identify and describe major vegetation types, as well as terrestrial and marine wildlife found in Grenada, and describe aspects of their biology and ecology.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Please see “Course and Session Learning Outcomes” CLO & SLO document in the Resources folder
Program Outcomes Met By This Course:
MWC-PLO1. KNOWLEDGE: Apply knowledge of the biological and physical components of life, and use this knowledge to understand the interrelationships of organisms with each other and their physical environments.
MWC-PLO2. APPLICABILITY: Analyze key global ecological and conservation issues to promote long-term species viability and health of marine and terrestrial environments, with an emphasis on the Caribbean.
BIOL – PLO2: Apply knowledge of the basic structures and fundamental processes of life at the molecular, cellular and organismal levels.
BIOL – PLO6: Demonstrate problem solving and critical thinking skills
SAS Grading Scale: Grades will be assigned as follows:
A = 89.5% or better
B+ = 84.5 - 89.4%
B = 79.5 - 84.4%
C+ = 74.5 - 79.4%
C = 69.5 - 74.4%
D = 64.5 - 69.4%
F = 64.4% or less
Course Materials:
Text: None
Supplementary Readings/Resources:
- Caribbean Conservation Association (1991) Grenada Environmental Profile. Island Resources Foundation, Barbados.
- Jackson, M.H., 1993. Galápagos, a natural history. University of Calgary press.
- Marshall N. (1992) Understanding the Eastern Caribbean and the Antilles: with checklist appended. Th‘anchorage Publisher.
Course Grading Requirement:
Exams (100% of grade): This course consists of Five exams. Exam questions will come from the assigned reading material, class lectures and discussions, and class labs/activities. Note: Exams may consist of multiple choice, true or false, short answer, matching, and fill-in-the-blank questions.
|
Assignment/Exam |
Percentage of Total Grade |
|
Exam 1 |
20% |
|
Exam 2 |
20% |
|
Exam 3 |
20% |
|
Exam 4 |
20% |
|
Exam 5 |
20% |
|
|
100% |
Course Requirements:
NA
Course Schedule:
|
|
BIOL 201 Natural History of Grenada Spring 2022 Lecture Plan |
|||
|
Week |
Lect |
Day |
Date |
Lecture Topic |
|
Week 1 |
1 |
Mon |
17-Jan |
Course introduction |
|
|
2 |
Wed |
19-Jan |
Natural History overview (Grenada Geography) |
|
Week 2 |
3 |
Mon |
24-Jan |
Geology, topography, soils (volcanic vs coral island) |
|
|
4 |
Wed |
26-Jan |
Climate, weather, seasonality |
|
Week 3 |
5 |
Mon |
31-Jan |
Biogeography (how organisms got here?) |
|
|
6 |
Wed |
02-Feb |
Sum-up |
|
Week 4 |
7 |
Mon |
07-Feb |
Holiday |
|
|
8 |
Wed |
09-Feb |
Quiz (1) |
|
Week 5 |
9 |
Mon |
14-Feb |
Freshwater sources (rivers, springs, lakes etc) |
|
|
10 |
Wed |
16-Feb |
Major natural vegetation (forest to the coast) |
|
Week 6 |
11 |
Mon |
21-Feb |
Terrestrial Wildlife in GND Pt 1: How Animals came here? |
|
|
12 |
Wed |
23-Feb |
Terrestrial Wildlife in GND Part 2: Ecoystems & Food webs |
|
Week 7 |
13 |
Mon |
28-Feb |
Sum-up |
|
|
14 |
Wed |
02-Mar |
Quiz 2 |
|
Week 8 |
|
|
|
Mid Term Week |
|
|
|
|
|
Mid Term Week |
|
Week 9 |
15 |
Mon |
14-Mar |
Coastal features (coastline, bays, beaches, etc) |
|
|
16 |
Wed |
16-Mar |
Coastal features (marine resources, fisheries) |
|
Week 10 |
17 |
Mon |
21-Mar |
Intertidal Organisms (mollusc & Crustaceans) |
|
|
18 |
Wed |
23-Mar |
Marine reptiles (Turtles) |
|
Week 11 |
19 |
Mon |
28-Mar |
Quiz 3 |
|
|
20 |
Wed |
30-Mar |
Marine reptiles (Turtles) |
|
Week 12 |
21 |
Mon |
04-Apr |
Sharks & Rays around Grenada |
|
|
22 |
Wed |
06-Apr |
Marine Mammals (Whales & Dolphins) |
|
Week 13 |
23 |
Mon |
11-Apr |
Sum-up |
|
|
24 |
Wed |
13-Apr |
Quiz 4 |
|
Week 14 |
25 |
Mon |
18-Apr |
Holiday |
|
|
26 |
Wed |
20-Apr |
Marine Fishes |
|
Week 15 |
27 |
Mon |
25-Apr |
Marine Fishes |
|
|
28 |
Wed |
27-Apr |
Quiz 5 |
|
Week 16 |
|
|
|
Final Examination Week |
|
|
|
|
|
Final Examination Week |
Field Trip Dates
- Terrestrial Features of Grenada: Saturday 19 Feb 2022: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Coastal & Intertidal Features of Grenada: Saturday 26 Mar 2022: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
School of Arts and Sciences Master Syllabi — Info for All Sections
Academic Integrity
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“Plagiarism is regarded as a cardinal offense in academia because it constitutes theft of the work of someone else, which is then purported as the original work of the plagiarist. Plagiarism draws into disrepute the credibility of the Institution, its faculty, and students; therefore, it is not tolerated” (p. 48).
Plagiarism also includes the unintentional copying or false accreditation of work, so double check your assignments BEFORE you hand them in.
Be sure to do good, honest work, credit your sources and reference accordingly and adhere to the University’s Honor Code. Plagiarism and cheating will be dealt with very seriously following the university’s policies on Plagiarism as outlined in the Student Manual.
Your work may be subject to submission to plagiarism detection software, submission to this system means that your work automatically becomes part of that database and can be compared with the work of your classmates.
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“Students are expected to attend all classes and or clinical rotations for which they have registered. Although attendance may not be recorded at every academic activity, attendance may be taken randomly. Students’ absence may adversely affect their academic status as specified in the grading policy. If absence from individual classes, examinations, and activities, or from the University itself is anticipated, or occurs spontaneously due to illness or other extenuating circumstances, proper notification procedures must be followed. A particular course may define additional policies regarding specific attendance or participation” (p. 9).
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“All matriculated students are expected to attend all assigned academic activities for each course currently registered. Medical excuses will be based on self-reporting by students. Students who feel they are too sick to take an examination or other required activity on a specific day must submit the online SAS medical excuse, which is available on Carenage. Students are only allowed two such excuses a year. Upon consultation with the Director of University Health Service, the third excuse will result in a mandatory medical leave of absence. The policies regarding make-up examinations are at the option of the Course Director” (p.46).
For additional specific examination policies and procedures, refer to the St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020), pages 31 through 37.
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“A student with a disability or disabling condition that affects one or more major life activities, who would like to request an accommodation, must submit a completed application form and supporting documentation to the Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services (SAAS) located in the Dean of Students Office. It is highly recommended that students applying for accommodations do so at least one month before classes begin to allow for a more efficient and timely consideration of the request. If a fully completed application is not submitted in a timely fashion, an eligibility determination may not be made, and accommodations, where applicable, may not be granted prior to the commencement of classes and/or examinations” (p. 8).
It is the responsibility of the student to read and understand the policies, laws, rules and procedures that while they could affect your grade for a course, have not been specifically outlined in the course syllabus. These are contained in the St. George’s University Student Manual.