BIO354L - Ichthyology - Syllabus.
Introduction - Fishes constitute an incredibly diverse group, and this one semester course can only provide a general overview of what has been learned about them over many centuries by the many subdisciplines of biology (anatomy, physiology, ecology, systematics, etc.). It would be impossible to cover everything we know about fishes in a single course. This course will emphasize a systematic approach to the global diversity of fishes and focus on their evolution and identification. By teaching something of the relationships among groups, and being grounded in phylogenetic systematics, it is hoped that it will stimulate the interests of students in this incredible group, and serve as a springboard for further studies of different aspects of ichthyology. This course will attempt to present information on all major groups of fishes inhabiting the earth, from the deepest depths of the sea to the torrential streams of the highest mountains, but it will emphasize freshwater fishes, and particularly those of Texas and surrounding regions. As each group is discussed, salient features of their biology will be presented, but keep in mind that this course is intended to broadly complement the Fish Biology course taught at UTMSI. That course takes a more thematic approach to the study of fishes, being organized around the different subdisciplines of biology (anatomy, physiology, ecology, etc.), and which also has a marine emphasis. Students of that course will be provided much more detailed insights into the way a fish works; the physiology, chemistry, and physics of how individuals breathe, move, grow, reproduce, feed, etc. that they will get only in very general terms in this course. Students of this Ichthyology class are encouraged to also take the Fish Biology class at UTMSI, currently taught by Dr. Lee Fuiman.No prior coursework on fishes is required to take this course, but students are expected to have a general biology background (preferably vertebrate zoology) and enthusiastic desire to learn about this immensely diverse and interesting group of organisms.
General Policies - We adhere to and attempt to abide by UT and College of Natural Science general policies as described in http://www.utexas.edu/cons/faculty/classpolicies/. Additionally, we (as does UT in general) provide upon request appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6529, 471-4641 TTY.
Lectures will introduce students to the evolutionary history, diversity and biology of the fishes of the world. Following introductory lectures on general fish diversity, terminology, and capture and study methods, later lectures will present the current knowledge of evolutionary history and relationships of all major groups of fishes in a systematic fashion, group by group. Distinguishing characters of each major group will be explained, and highlights of the particular adaptations and life histories of each group summarized and compared and contrasted with those of others. Physiology, behavior, ecology, and salient details of life histories will be briefly discussed for each group. Occasional lectures will provide detailed discussions of the life histories or other aspects of the biology of especially interesting or important groups, and others will discuss fish conservation issues. Fisheries and management of certain species or groups will be mentioned as relevant, but this is not a fisheries management course.
Lab: Students will study preserved (formalin/alcohol) specimens and dry skeletons, sometimes dissecting specimens in laboratory exercises designed to complement and expand upon lectures, and improve understanding of fish morphology, biology and adaptations. Advise the T.A. and/or Dr. Hendrickson immediately if you have, or suspect you have, any allergies to formalin or alcohol (both isopropyl [rubbing] and ethyl [drinking]) or any aversion or other reasons for not being able to work with preserved specimens. Students may want to minimize contact with formalin by wearing rubber gloves, which they must provide themselves. Gloves will not be provided. Students are also expected to bring basic dissecting and specimen examination equipment (scalpel, scissors, mounted needles, probes, ruler) to labs. Dissecting kits are available at the University Co-op at the Art Counter - the set for BIO 453 is the optimal set for this class. (Or you can buy the pieces separately - scissors, scalpel, probe, forceps - but you will get a better deal with the kit). You will also need a compass divider (like a compass but without a pencil) for measuring specimens - also available at the University Co-op. Please have your dissecting instruments and lab manuals before the first lab.
All specimens are carefully cataloged and property of the Texas Memorial Museum Fish Collection on loan to the School of Biological Sciences for use by this and other classes. Students will be asked to replace any lost or damaged specimens. Please be careful with them, and be especially careful not to mix up specimens and labels. It is best to always try to have only one jar open at a time at your work station, thus minimizing confusion as to which specimen came from which jar. Basic instructions on specimen care and handling will be provided during the first lab. Each student should clean his/her dissecting tray, lab table, and the surrounding floor area after each lab. Students may be assigned duties (e.g., cleaning sinks) on a rotating basis. All students will participate in take-down of lab exams and clean up after exams.
The lab can be used for review from 9-5 outside of regularly scheduled lab hours, except when reserved for other classes. The lab will be closed on the day of the lab exam (and other times as announced in class). Students are not permitted to study in lab while another class is meeting. No food or drink is allowed in the lab.
Keys for identification of the freshwater fishes of Texas (Hubbs, Garrett and Edwards. 1996. An annotated checklist of the freshwater fishes of Texas with keys to identification of species) are to be purchased by students for use in lab. If not available at local book stores, a book order form can be downloaded from http://hsb-faculty.baylor.edu/Dorsett/default.htm. These keys are being tested for eventual inclusion in a book on the fishes of Texas. A clipboard for comments is provided in the lab. Students are encouraged to make comments, report errors, and comment on any sections lacking clarity. Any and all comments are welcome. Pay particular attention to suggestions for illustrations that would complement the text
Reading: Students are expected to read all reading assignments prior to lectures and labs. See the class lecture and lab schedules for assignments associated with specific lectures and labs.
Texts used in the class are: Helfman, G.S., Collette, B.D., Facey, D.E. 1997. The Diversity of Fishes. Blackwell Science, Inc., Caillet, G., Love, M., Ebeling, A. 1996. Fishes: A field and laboratory manual on their structure, identification and natural history. Waveland Press, and Hubbs, C., Garrett, G, Edwards, R.J. 199X. A Checklist of the freshwater fishes of Texas. Texas Academy of Sciences (http://hsb-faculty.baylor.edu/Dorsett/default.htm). Students should be aware of the Helfman et al. book website (http://sparc.ecology.uga.edu/~helfman/fishes.html). Students are advised to review the errata provided in this site during the early days of the class, and make notations in their own copies of the text. Students should also review this Web page periodically as the authors intend for it to be a dynamic document, and will add new reports of errors as they are received. Students are encouraged to submit reports of any new errors they may find. Only selected portions of the texts will be read (as assigned in the class schedule), but additional reading of other sections is highly recommended.
Additional readings, outside of those from the texts, are often associated with lectures. These assignments are also listed in the class schedule and are all made available as as pdf files in the class folder on the UT E-Reserve site. Readings associated with labs will be listed on the lab handouts.
Field trips: Three weekend trips are planned. Participation on two (2) is required, but participation on all three is strongly recommended. During fieldwork students will have opportunities to observe fishes in their habitats and familiarize themselves with a variety of collecting gears. Transportation will be provided, but not basic camping gear or food to be prepared by students in camp. Camping gear may be available for rent on campus or through local businesses if needed, or students can arrange to share. Travel, accommodation and food details will vary somewhat among trips. Some trips will depart at the start of the Friday lab period, thus allowing 2 nights and 2 full days in the field. Trips will generally return to campus Sunday evening. The trip to Cuatro Ciénegas in Coahuila, México, requires a long drive, and may be slightly longer duration if an adequate number of students can accommodate an extended schedule. All students will need proper identification for entry to México. Notify your TA or me immediately if you have any reason to believe that you might have problems crossing the border (visa restrictions, etc.).
Some specimens collected during field trips will be preserved for utilization in lab, for other teaching purposes, and for research. Students objecting to euthanasia of specimens for any reason should discuss this with Dr. Hendrickson early in the class.
Projects: A project is required of each student. Project grades will comprise 15% of the overall class grade. Project grades will be based on completeness, thoroughness and accuracy of research, adherence to instructions, quality of writing, attention to detail (spelling, etc.) and technical aspects of written and oral presentation. Projects consist of library, Internet, and other forms of research (e.g. personal communication) on a Texas freshwater species (or group of fishes) selected by the student and approved by Dr. Hendrickson. Some lab experimental work may also be arranged with Dr. Hendrickson and the TA. Students should begin work on their projects as early as possible, deciding on the topic and having it approved by the deadline stated in the class schedule. A list of approved projects will be started and posted on the class Web site as soon as the first one is approved and the file will be updated regularly. Duplicate projects are not permitted, and topics will be approved on a first come, first served basis. Separate detailed project instructions and a project outline (html template) are provided. The outline is for the minimal project, and students should feel free to expand their projects as they feel appropriate. All projects will be presented orally to the class during the last lecture and lab periods.
All projects must be submitted as electronic files in Microsoft Powerpoint or html (WWW) format by the deadline stated in the class schedule. All projects will be published on the WWW as part of the course web pages (past student projects may be viewed here). Project grades will be subjectively determined, with evaluation being based on completeness of the research and clarity and thoroughness of both the written and oral presentation. The projects should be useful contributions for publication on the worldwide web. They should be written for a general, public audience of individuals interested in fishes (and future students), but factual content should be thoroughly documented as for a technical publication.
Grading and related issues: Lecture and lab grades will be independent, each comprising 42.5% of the final, overall class grade, with the project comprising the final 15%.
Lecture: The lecture grade will be based on two exams and the final exam, each being progressively more heavily weighted (respectively, 25%, 35%, and 40% of final lecture grade). The final exam will be comprehensive. Exams will be combinations of short essays, multiple choice, and matching, with simple illustrations of key anatomical features sometimes provided for labeling or identification. Students may also sometimes be requested to sketch simple key anatomical features with labels. Makeups of lecture exams will be allowed by special arrangement for appropriately documented reasons in compliance with normal guidelines of the College of Natural Sciences and UT. Please advise in writing (e-mail ok) or by voice mail as much in advance as possible if you will not being able to take any normally scheduled exam.
The total number of points possible on any one lecture exam will vary. Grades on each exam will be reported to students as total number of points correct and as percentage of the highest score obtained by any student for each exam. Final letter grades will be based on the percentage of the highest final (overall class) score on the basis of >= 90 = A, 80-89.9 = B, 70-79.9 = C, 60-69.9 = D, <60 ="F." I reserve the right to apply a curved grading scheme at the end of the class. Observations on interest levels, classroom, lab and field trip participation, and effort devoted to the class will all be considered in final grading, and may contribute to raising the final grade as much as one full letter grade in borderline cases.
Lab: The lab grade will be based on two exams - a mid-term (40%) and a final (60%). Both exams will be lab practicals with questions based on activities in lab. The final exam will not formally be a comprehensive exam, but topics from the first half of the class will be important during the second half of the class. Everything listed on Lab Handouts is fair game for the exams. No makeup exams will be given.