BIO 315: Biology of Invertebrates

Syllabus – Spring 2006

			Lecture	Laboratory	Pechenik
Date		Day	9:45-10:50 rm105	10:00-2:00	readings
March	26	M	Introduction to Invertebrates		Ch. 1
	27	T		Lab orientation, pond scum 1
March	28	W	Classification & relationships		Ch. 2
April	2	M	Protozoans		Ch. 3
	3	T		Protozoa, Porifera
April	4	W	Porifera		Ch. 4
April	9	M	Cnidaria and Ctenophores		Ch. 5,6,7
	10	T		Cnidarian comparative morphology
April	11	W	Lophophorates (Tim Wood)		Ch. 19
April	16	M	Platyhelminths		Ch. 8,9
	17	T		Midterm I Flatworms, Fouling assemblage
April	18	W	Rotifera & related phyla		Ch. 10, 11,18
April	23	M	Molluscs		Ch. 12
	24	T		Mollusc comparative morphology/ ciliary feeding in Mussel
April	25	W	Molluscs		Ch. 12
May	2	M	Annelids		Ch. 13
	3	T		Fossil trip (Caesar Creek).
May	4	W	Nematoda and relatives		Ch.16
May	7	M	Tardigrades, Onycophora, Chelicerates		Ch. 15, 17
	8	T		Midterm II rotifers, oligochaete dissection
May	9	W	Arthropods - Chelicerates		Ch. 14
May	14	M	Arthropods - Crustacea		Ch. 14
	15	T		Decapods/phyllopods/isopods, WSU woods soil inverts (collection)
May	16	W	Arthropods - Crustacea 2		Ch. 14
May	21	M	Arthropods - Hexapoda		Ch. 14
	22	T		WSU woods soil inverts (analysis), Hexapoda
May	23	W	Arthropods – Hexapoda 2		Ch. 14
May	28	M	Memorial Day
	29	T		Pond sampling Field trip – Cowan Lake -invertebrate diversity
May	30	W	Echinoderms, Hemichordates		Ch.20-22
June	6	W	Final Exam 8:30 AM

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. John Stireman. Course instructor. Office 018 BH. Phone 775-3192;

Office hours: Monday 2:30 - 4:00 PM, Wednesday: 2:00-4:00 PM.

Email: john.stireman@wright.edu

Adam Guess. Graduate lab instructor. Office XX BH, Phone 775-XXXX (Baird).

OBJECTIVES: This course is meant to provide an introduction to the evolution, diversity, and ecology of invertebrate animals. In doing so we will explore major patterns in the evolution of form and function of animal bodies, and examine old and new theories about the relationships among animal groups. Overall, my objectives for you are these:

1. To become generally familiar with the major groups of invertebrates animals.

2. To discern patterns in invertebrate structure, physiology, development, behavior, and ecology that help clarify our thinking about evolution and adaptation.

TEXT: Biology of Invertebrates, by Jan A. Pechenik. 5^th Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2005.

EXAMS: There will be three written exams during the quarter as shown on the course schedule. will be cumulative, with emphasis on the most recent material. Exams are a mixture of short answer, essay, multiple choice, and miscellaneous other format questions. They will include identification of preserved specimens or structures, and will be held during the laboratory period. They are intended to be challenging. Although it is the evolutionary and ecological concepts that are valued most highly, given the organismal focus of this course, students will also be expected to learn and remember a variety of taxonomic groups and their distinguishing traits. Make-up exams, provided only under truly unusual and compelling circumstances, will be either oral or essay (my choice).

LABORATORY: Attendance is required during the regularly scheduled lab time. Absences will affect your final grade. If you would like to arrange additional time in the lab please contact one of the instructors in advance. Obviously, we cannot accept written lab accounts for any lab activity in which you were marked absent. Bring your text and a lab notebook to each lab session.

Your notebook should be a standard composition type, with cardboard cover and sewn-in pages of lined, unlined, or graph paper (one of the latter two preferred). This notebook will hold a record of all you do in lab. In it you will make drawings from slides, preserved animals, and live animals (with labels and scales), answer questions from handouts, and write down observations, experiments, and ideas. Drawings are not expected to be works of art, but they should be reasonably accurate (i.e., draw what you see, not what you think should be there). Notebook entries should be complete, accurate, and neat. Notebooks will be collected after each laboratory and returned at the beginning of the following laboratory.

GRADING:

Exam 1 100

Exam 2 100

Exam 3 (final) 150

Lab notebook/participation 150

Extra credit – You may receive 5 points extra credit by attending seminars on campus that deal with invertebrates and writing a one page summary (with at least one question you have for the speaker). I will announce upcoming seminars that I am aware of; others may be suggested by students but must be approved (15 pts. maximum).