FRS 001 — Sec. 013 — (1 unit) — CRN 92604 — T 4:10-5:00 PM — 3088 Sci Lab
An Island Called California: An Ecological Journey Through California’s Natural Communities

Instructor: Deborah Canington, Section of Plant Biology, College of Biological Sciences

Description: In An Island Called California, Elna Bakker takes readers on an ecological journey from California's coast inland through the great Central Valley, over the Sierra Nevada to Mono Lake, and south to the deserts of eastern California. The impressive diversity of California's natural communities is engagingly presented by Bakker, and the book will be our guide in exploring the rich ecology of the State. Each week the class will cover two to three book chapters, and student-prepared PowerPoint presentations of assigned chapters will serve as the basis for class discussions covering community structure and ecological interactions among inhabitants in the natural communities introduced in the chapters.

Format: The seminar will meet one hour each week. At the first and second meetings, the instructor will review seminar objectives and requirements, give PowerPoint presentations based on the California communities covered in the first three book chapters, and lead a discussion of these chapters. During the remaining weeks, students will give the presentations. Each student will deliver a PowerPoint presentation, prepare a one-page handout to accompany the presentation, and lead a discussion covering the California communities covered in their assigned book chapters. Student presentation dates will be assigned during the first meeting. Work outside of class time will be required to create the PowerPoint presentation and handout, and each student will meet with the instructor prior to giving their presentation. Students are required to purchase An Island Called California, 2nd ed., which will be available at the campus bookstore. Grading: Quality of the presentation and handout and effectiveness of discussion leadership (75%); attendance and quality of contributions to each discussion (25%).

About the Instructor: Deborah Canington has been a member of the UCD faculty for over sixteen years and is a lecturer in the Section of Plant Biology. She teaches introductory plant biology for biology majors and upper-division courses in developmental vascular plant anatomy and in algae and bryophytes. Dr. Canington's research includes investigations in seed development of the purple orchid tree, Bauhinia variegata, and comparative morphogenesis of axillary and foliar buds in the piggy-back plant, Tolmiea menziesii. Her interests include comparative development of bryophyte form, origin and evolution of plants, comparative wood structure, and biology of plant and animal interactions.