TABLE 1.

Lab manual Table of Contents illustrating the topics

Lab topic	Learning objectives
Evolution: Geological Time, Primate and Human Evolution, and Molecular Evolution	Identify major geological and evolutionary events Create a scaled timeline of major evolutionary events and indicate the approximate date of each Calculate the proportion of earth’s history for which various groups of organisms have existed List derived characteristics of primates and humans Distinguish between primitive and advanced characteristics in primate facial and skull bones Analyze evolutionary relationships using molecular (DNA) evidence
Evidence of Evolution	Describe evidence of evolution that is based on microevolution and population genetics Define and use the terminology of population genetics correctly Use the equations of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium to calculate allele and genotype frequencies Graph allele frequencies using Microsoft Excel and identify changes in allele frequencies Draw graphs and explain three types of selection
Taxonomy and phylogenetics	Explain how the following evidence is used for phylogenetic reconstruction: the fossil record, DNA, and biogeography. Describe specific examples of phylogenetic reconstruction, such as the relationship of humans to other primates. Build and analyze a phylogenetic tree, identifying patterns of shared ancestry. Differentiate between the allopatric and sympatric modes of speciation.
Bacteria	Identify and define common bacterial shapes and features, including: cocci, bacilli, spirilli, pili, capsule, spore, fimbriae, flagella, plasmid, Gram-positive cell wall, Gram-negative cell wall. Describe various bacterial metabolic processes, including: photosynthesis, chemosynthesis, methanogenesis, nitrogen fixation. Identify and describe at least three vital roles that bacteria play in their ecosystems, such as primary production, decomposition, nitrogen fixation, and disease.
Protista	Define the term “protist” and explain why this is not a monophyletic group. Identify representatives from each supergroup Excavata, “SAR” clade, Archaeplastida, and Unikonta Draw a phylogenetic tree for the eukaryotes and explain why the eukaryote supergroups form a polytomy. Indicate the position of plants, animals, and fungi on the eukaryote tree, and identify the group of protists most closely related to each. Give examples of protist species from each eukaryote supergroup. Give two examples of the significant impact of specific protists on their ecosystems.
Fungi	Describe fungal classification into phyla, and provide a phylogeny of Kingdom Fungi. In a sentence or two, describe the characteristics of the three largest phyla in the Kingdom Fungi (Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota). Using images, explain the life cycle of typical multicellular fungi. Give three examples of how humans benefit from specific uses of fungi
Plants I: Seedless plants	Distinguish members of Kingdom Plantae from their nearest relatives (charophyte algae) Draw a basic phylogeny for Kingdom Plantae Diagram and explain the life cycle of plants (alteration of generations) Differentiate the characteristics of nonvascular plants vs seedless vascular plants Using images, explain the life cycles of moss (a nonvascular plant) and ferns (a seedless vascular plant)
Plants II: Seed plants	Describe the alternation of generations life cycle in plants List characteristics of gymnosperms and angiosperms Identify reproductive structures in gymnosperms and angiosperms Summarize differences between monocots and eudicots Label the reproductive and non-reproductive structures of a flower
Animals I: Invertebrates	Distinguish members of the Kingdom Animalia from their closest living relative (Choanoflagellates and Fungi). Explain the basic body plan of members in the Kingdom Animalia. Identify members of the Phyla Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Rotifera, Annelida, Mollusca, Nematoda, Arthropoda, Echinodermata. Compare two types of invertebrate life cycles. Compare the structure and function of invertebrates.
Animals II: Vertebrates	List characteristics found in the Subphylum Vertebrata of Kingdom Animalia List characteristics of each of the major tetrapod groups: amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals; and provide examples of each Identify homologous structures in vertebrates, and explain the functions of each structure Identify representatives from the eight vertebrate clades, Agnatha, Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes (comprised of Actinopterygii and Sarcopterygii), Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, and Mammalia Identify and list 11 organ systems in vertebrate animals, their main organs, and provide the major function(s) of each (integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, lymphatic/immune, urinary, & reproductive) Compare the life cycles of amphibians and mammals Identify structures in dissected specimens of representative vertebrates (frog and fetal pig)
Ecology I: Biomes, Population Growth and Predator-Prey Dynamics	Identify the characteristics of Earth’s major terrestrial biomes and describe the impacts humans have had on these biomes. Explain the relationships between climate (temp and precipitation) and terrestrial biome type. Apply the concepts of biotic potential and environmental resistance to human population growth. Explain the difference between exponential and logistic growth and define carrying capacity. Identify major events that have affected human population growth, and explain how they have increased carrying capacity. Explain the dynamics in population size in a real-life predator-prey relationship. Explain the difference between density-dependent and density-independent factors that affect population growth. Interpret real-life predator-prey population data as depicted in a graph.
Ecology II: Community and Ecosystem Dynamics	Explore the concept of an ecological niche and the difference between a fundamental niche and a realized niche using an example of two barnacle species competing for the same resource. Using the same two competing barnacle species, demonstrate how limiting factors (predation and desiccation tolerance) interact to result in competitive exclusion, resource partitioning and realized niches. Investigate the concept of trophic cascades, and explain how a keystone species can indirectly affect the biodiversity and nutrient cycling of an entire ecosystem.