Ichthyology - BIO509 - Spring 2008

Dr. Tracy Galarowicz

Office: Brooks 184

Office phone: 774-1336

Email: galar1tl@cmich.edu

Office hours: Mon 2-3 p.m., Tues 9-11 a.m., Wed 11 a.m.-12 p.m., or by appointment

Web page: http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/galar1tl/

Class hours

            Lecture: M, W, F 10 – 11 a.m., Laboratory: W 1 – 4 p.m.

            Open lab hours:  F 1-4 p.m.

Texts

Barton, M.  2007.  Bond’s biology of fishes, third edition.  Thomson Brooks/Cole.  891 pp.

Hubbs, C. L., K. F. Lagler, and G. R. Smith.  2004.  Fishes of the Great Lakes Region, revised edition.  University of Michigan Press.  332 pp.

McMillan, V. E.  2001.  Writing papers in the biological sciences.  Third edition.  Bedford/St. Martin’s, Boston, MA.  207 pp. 

Course objectives

1.      Students will learn to identify, classify and name (scientific names) the fishes of Michigan and the basic natural history of each species.

2.      Students will learn how fishes are uniquely adapted to their aquatic environments.

3.      Students will learn about the great diversity of fishes in the world as related to aquatic habitats.

4.      Students will learn how to use keys to identify fishes.

Grading

You are responsible for all information presented during lecture and laboratory plus all assigned readings.  The final exam will cover material from the entire course. 

Final grades will be based on a tentative percentage scale:

            A 93-100%, A- 90-93%, B+ 88-90%, B 83-88%, B- 80-83%,

C+ 78-80%, C 73 - 78%, C- 70-73%, D+ 68-70, D 60–69%, E <60%

                                        Tentative Lecture Schedule

*Specific assignments given in class

Paper

Students are required to write a paper (not less than five and no more than ten double-spaced, typed pages) covering an ichthyology topic.  The paper must address a specific topic, which must be approved by the instructor.  You must use at least five primary journal articles for your paper.  Consult McMillan (2001) for format.  Topic idea is due January 28, an outline (5 points) of the paper is due February 25, and the final paper (95 points) is due April 11.  Graduate students will present their paper with a fifteen minute PowerPoint presentation in class.  The presentation will be graded by both the instructor and your peers.   

Make-up and late assignments

                        Make-up exams are only given under special circumstances (e.g., family emergency, serious illness, approved university event).  If you need to miss an exam due to an approved scheduled event, contact me prior to the event to arrange a different testing time.  If you miss an exam due to an emergency, contact me as soon as possible to arrange a different testing time.  Written documentation may be required for absences.  Please notify appropriate university officials if an emergency or illness will result in an extended absence.  For each day that a written assignment is late, ten percent of the potential points will be deducted from that assignment.          

Policy on Students with Disabilities

CMU provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodation to participate in educational programs, activities or services.  Students with disabilities requiring accommodation to participate in class activities or meet requirements should first register with the Office of Student Disability Services (250 Foust Hall, telephone #517-774-3018, TDD #2568), and then contact me as soon as possible.

Policy on Academic Integrity

In May 2001, the CMU Academic Senate approved the Policy on Academic Integrity, which applies to all university students.  Copies are available on the CMU website at http://academicsenate.cmich.edu/noncurric.htm, and in the Academic Senate Office in room 108 of Bovee University Center.  All academic work is expected to be in compliance with this policy.

Classroom Civility

Each CMU student is encourage to help create an environment during class that promotes learning, dignity, and mutual respect for everyone.  Students who speak at inappropriate times, sleep in class, display inattention, take frequent breaks, interrupt the class by coming to class late, engage in loud or distracting behaviors, use cell phones or pagers in class, use inappropriate language, are verbally abusive, display defiance or disrespect to others, or behave aggressively toward others could be asked to leave the class and subjected to disciplinary action under the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures.

Additional resources

Becker, G. C.  1983.  Fishes of Wisconsin.  The University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. 

Calliet, G., M. Love, and A. Ebeling.  1986.  Fishes: A field and laboratory manual on their structure, identification, and natural history.  Waveland Press, Prospect Heights, Illinois.

Holland-Bartels, L. E., S. K. Littlejohn, and M. L. Huston.  1990.  A guide to larval fishes of the Upper Mississippi River.  U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Hubbs, C. L., and K. F. Lagler.  1958.  Fishes of the Great Lakes region.  The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Moyle, P. B.  1993.  Fish: an enthusiast’s guide.  University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Moyle, P. B., and J. J. Cech, Jr.  2004.  Fishes: an introduction to ichthyology.  Fifth edition.  Prentice-Hall, Engelwood Cliffs, N.J.  726 pp.

Oates, D. W., L. M. Krings, and K. L. Ditz.  1993.  Field manual for the identification of selected North American freshwater fish by fillets and scales.  Nebraska Technical Series No. 19, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Robison, H. W.  1992.  Canadian nature guides freshwater fish.  SMITHMARK Publishers, Inc., New York, New York.

Trautman, M. B.  1957.  The fishes of Ohio.  Waverly Press, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland. 

Wootton, R. J.  1998.  Ecology of teleost fishes, second edition.  Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherl

                            Tentative Laboratory Schedule

General laboratory guidelines

·         A dissection kit and gloves are suggested for in-laboratory work.

·         Before leaving lab, all tools and trays must be washed and returned.  Lab tables must be cleaned with bleach and water.

·         Laboratory material may not be removed from the classroom.

·         Extra laboratory time is available on Fridays, 12-4 p.m.  Because of laboratory time (3 hours) and open lab hours (on Fridays), you may not study in the laboratory on days of quizzes and exams. 

Laboratory exams

Six quizzes and two laboratory exams will be administered during the semester.  The exams are not timed so you may spend as much time as needed at each station.  You will be graded on proper identification to species, proper nomenclature, and proper classification.  In addition, you must be familiar with the natural history of each species and the status of the fish.

BIO 509

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