Syllabus
Ichthyology
(ZOO 5456) and Fish Biology (ZOO
4454)
Spring, 2008
Meeting times: MWF 2:00-2:50
Classroom: MCB 111 (BBC)
Textbook
Moyle, P. B., and J. J. Cech. Jr.
2004. Fishes. An Introduction to Ichthyology, 5th Ed. Prentice Hall
| Week |
|
|
|
| 1 |
Jan 5, 7, 9 |
Course introduction and fish families workshop | 1; 12 - 24 |
| 2 |
Jan 12, 14 |
Form, external anatomy, skeleton, muscles |
2 |
| Jan 16 | Families TEST | ||
| 3 |
Jan 19 |
Martin Luther King Day, no class |
|
| Jan 21, 23 | Bouyancy, Respiration; Blood and circulation | 3, 4. 5 |
|
| 4 |
Jan 26, 28, 30 |
Homeostasis; Sensory systems; |
6, 10 |
| 5 |
Feb 2, 4, 6 |
Feeding, nutrition, growth |
7, 8 |
| 6 |
Feb 9, 11, 13 |
Functional morphology: swimming and feeding | 2 (review) |
| 7 |
Feb 16, 18 |
Growth, life history | 8 |
| Feb 20 |
In class TEST | ||
| 8 |
Feb 23, 25, 27 |
Reproduction | 9 |
| 9 |
Mar 2, 4, 6, |
Sensory perception; Social systems; Activity patterns | 10, 11 |
| 10 |
Mar 9, 11, 13 |
Zoogeography | 25, 26 |
| 11 |
Mar 16-20 |
Spring Break; no class | |
| 12 |
Mar 23, 25, 27 |
Zoogeography |
continued |
| 13 |
Mar 30, Apr 1, 3 |
Ecology; Adaptations and habitats | 27, 28-36 |
| 14 |
Apr 6, 8 |
continued |
continued |
| Apr 10 | In class TEST | ||
| 15 |
Apr 13, 15, 17 |
Conservation and management | 37 |
| 16 |
Apr 20-24 |
Final Exam Week (day time TBA) |
|
Purpose: The purpose of this class is to provide an overview of the biology of fishes, along with a general appreciation of the great diversity of taxa in this group. To meet these goals, we will cover both marine and freshwater taxa with equal emphasis.
Student responsibilities: You
are
expected
to do the assigned reading, attend and participate in class, and
complete
a research paper. The research paper will be examined for
plagerism using the software TURNITIN. Evidence of cheating on
tests or plagerism will be adjudicated following the FIU code of
student conduct found in the Student Handbook that is available from
the Current Students webpage (http://www.fiu.edu/student.htm).
Grades: Class grades will be
based
on your performance on tests and a research paper. There will be
three tests: one on fish families (10%); two in-class written tests
(25%
each); and a comprehensive final exam (25%).
You
will prepare a research paper that will account for the remaining 15%.
Ichthyology (ZOO 5456)
Purpose: The purpose of this class is to provide an overview of the biology of fishes, along with a detailed appreciation of the great diversity of taxa in this group. This class will seek to encourage analysis, synthesis, and communication on advanced topics in Ichthyology. To meet these goals, we will cover both marine and freshwater taxa with equal emphasis, and a synthetic and annotated research paper will be produced. Also, the comprehensive final exam will be administered individually by the professor in a format simulating the oral comprehensive exam required for MS and PhD degrees in the Department of Biological Sciences.
Student responsibilities: You are expected to do the assigned reading, attend and participate in class, and complete a research paper. The research paper will be examined for plagerism using the software TURNITIN. Evidence of cheating on tests or plagerism will be adjudicated following the FIU code of student conduct found in the Student Handbook that is available from the Current Students webpage (http://www.fiu.edu/student.htm).
Grades: Class grades will be based on your performance on tests and a research paper. There will be three tests: one on fish families (10%); two in-class written tests (25% each); and a final comprehensive exam that will be oral (15%). You will prepare a research paper that will account for the remaining 25%.