Biology II Course Schedule – Spring 2026: Chapter and Topic Overview

Biology II Course Schedule Overview

This document outlines the weekly schedule, topics, and assessment dates for a college-level General Biology II course. The course covers a wide range of topics from phylogeny and microbial diversity to plant and animal biology, culminating in ecology and conservation biology. Below is a structured summary of the main topics and subtopics, organized by week and corresponding textbook chapters.

Course Structure and Major Topics

• Weeks 1-3: Introduction, Phylogeny, Bacteria, Archaea, Protists (Chapters 26-28)

• Weeks 4-6: Plant Diversity, Angiosperms, Plant Structure, Growth, Development, Transport, Fungi (Chapters 29-31, 35, 36, 38)

• Weeks 7-8: Animal Diversity, Invertebrates (Chapters 32-33)

• Weeks 9-10: Vertebrates, Animal Form & Function, Nutrition, Circulation & Gas Exchange (Chapters 34, 40-42)

• Weeks 12-13: Osmoregulation, Excretion, Reproduction, Hormones, Nervous System (Chapters 44-46, 49)

• Weeks 14-15: Animal Behavior, Ecology, Conservation Biology (Chapters 51-52, 56)

Key Topics and Subtopics

Phylogeny & The Tree of Life (Ch. 26)

• Definition: Phylogeny is the evolutionary history and relationships among species or groups of organisms.

• Applications: Used to construct phylogenetic trees, which illustrate evolutionary pathways.

• Key Concepts: Cladistics, monophyletic groups, shared derived characters.

Bacteria and Archaea (Ch. 27)

• Definition: Bacteria and Archaea are two domains of prokaryotic life, distinguished by genetic and biochemical differences.

• Examples: Cyanobacteria (photosynthetic bacteria), methanogens (archaea).

• Importance: Roles in nutrient cycling, biotechnology, and as extremophiles.

Protists (Ch. 28)

• Definition: Protists are a diverse group of mostly unicellular eukaryotes.

• Examples: Amoebas, algae, paramecia.

• Significance: Ecological roles as producers, consumers, and parasites.

Plant Diversity I & II (Ch. 29, 30)

• Plant Diversity I: Evolution of land plants, nonvascular plants (mosses, liverworts).

• Plant Diversity II: Seed plants, gymnosperms, angiosperms.

• Key Terms: Alternation of generations, vascular tissue, seeds, flowers.

Angiosperms, Plant Structure, Growth & Development (Ch. 35, 38)

• Angiosperms: Flowering plants, double fertilization, fruit development.

• Structure & Growth: Meristems, primary and secondary growth, tissue types.

• Development: Genetic and hormonal control of plant development.

Transport in Vascular Plants (Ch. 36)

• Transport Mechanisms: Xylem (water transport), phloem (sugar transport).

• Key Processes: Transpiration, cohesion-tension theory, pressure-flow hypothesis.

Fungi (Ch. 31)

• Definition: Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that decompose and absorb nutrients from organic material.

• Examples: Yeasts, molds, mushrooms.

• Roles: Decomposers, symbionts (mycorrhizae), pathogens.

Animal Diversity (Ch. 32)

• Overview: Major animal phyla, body plans, evolutionary relationships.

• Key Concepts: Symmetry, tissue layers, developmental patterns.

Invertebrates (Ch. 33)

• Groups: Sponges, cnidarians, mollusks, arthropods, echinoderms.

• Characteristics: Body structure, reproduction, ecological roles.

Vertebrates (Ch. 34)

• Major Groups: Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals.

• Evolution: Key adaptations such as jaws, limbs, amniotic egg.

Animal Form & Function (Ch. 40)

• Principles: Relationship between structure and function, homeostasis.

• Examples: Thermoregulation, osmoregulation.

Animal Nutrition (Ch. 41)

• Processes: Ingestion, digestion, absorption, elimination.

• Key Structures: Digestive systems in various animal groups.

Circulation & Gas Exchange (Ch. 42)

• Circulatory Systems: Open vs. closed systems, heart structure.

• Gas Exchange: Lungs, gills, tracheal systems.

Osmoregulation & Excretion (Ch. 44)

• Osmoregulation: Regulation of water and solute balance.

• Excretion: Removal of metabolic wastes (ammonia, urea, uric acid).

Animal Reproduction, Hormones (Ch. 45, 46)

• Reproduction: Sexual and asexual reproduction, reproductive cycles.

• Hormones: Endocrine system, hormone regulation of physiology and behavior.

Nervous System (Ch. 49)

• Structure: Neurons, synapses, central and peripheral nervous systems.

• Function: Signal transmission, integration, response.

Animal Behavior (Ch. 51)

• Types: Innate vs. learned behaviors, social behaviors, communication.

• Examples: Migration, mating rituals, foraging.

Ecology & the Biosphere (Ch. 52)

• Levels: Organismal, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere.

• Key Concepts: Energy flow, nutrient cycling, biomes.

Conservation Biology and Global Change (Ch. 56)

• Conservation: Biodiversity, threats to species, conservation strategies.

• Global Change: Climate change, habitat loss, human impacts.

Assessment Schedule

Exam	Chapters Covered	Date
Exam 1	26, 27, 28	1/29
Exam 2	29, 30, 31, 35, 36, 38	2/19
Exam 3	32, 33, 34, 40, 41, 42	3/26
Exam 4 (Final)	44, 45, 46, 49, 51, 52, 56	4/27–5/01

Additional info: This schedule is subject to change. Students should refer to the course website or instructor announcements for updates.