Faculty of Science Course Syllabus Department of Biology BIOL/MARI 3080 The Ecology and Evolution of Fishes Winter 2016
Instructor(s): Jeffrey Hutchings
[email protected]
Lectures:
Dunn 117
10:30-11:30
LSC4076
Laboratories: 0 Tutorials:
0
_____________________________________________________________________________________ Submit course syllabus to your Depart office for posting on the Dept website prior to the start of term Submit requests for final exam exemptions to the Dean’s office at least 2 weeks prior to the start of term
Course Description
The class examines selected topics on the ecology and evolution of marine and freshwater fishes. Topics include: phylogeny and systematics; functional morphology and physiology; population biology; lifehistory evolution; behavior; fisheries science; and conservation biology.
Course Prerequisites
A cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-) or better in BIOL 2003.03, BIOL 2040.03, BIOL 2060.02 (or BIOA 3001.03)
Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes • Extensive and broad knowledge of the ecology and evolution of fishes • Understanding of basic techniques in cladistics, ageing, population and growth modelling, research surveys, functional morphology and physiology, life-history evolution, basic elements of fisheries science • Skills in fish species taxonomy, phylogeny, and species identification
Course Materials
Suggested text: M. Barton (2007) Bond’s Biology of Fishes, 3rd Edition, Thompson BbLearn Website: J.A. Hutchings (2011) Life Histories. In Ecology: A Canadian Context (Freedman, B., Hutchings, J.A., Gwyne, D.T., Smol, J.P., Suffling, R., Turkington, R., and R.L. Walker), Nelson Education, Toronto, pp 206-240. On Reserve: M. Barton (2007) Bond’s Biology of Fishes, 3rd Edition, Thompson R.J. Wootton (1998) Ecology of Teleost Fishes, 2nd Edition, Chapman & Hall J.S. Nelson (2006) Fishes of the World, 4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons M. King (2007) Fisheries Biology, Assessment and Management, Fishing News P.J.B. Hart & J.D. Reynolds (2002) Handbook of Fish Biology & Fisheries, Blackwell S. Jennings, M. Kaiser, and J. Reynolds (2001) Marine Fisheries Ecology, Blackwell
Course Assessment NOTE: An exemption is required if you are not planning to hold a final exam scheduled by the Registrar’s Office for the final exam period. Submit your syllabus along with your request (and reason for the request) to the Assistant Dean (
[email protected]) at least 2 weeks prior to the start of classes. Component
Weight (% of final grade)
Date
Tests/quizzes Midterm Fish Identification Test 1 Fish Identification Test 2
25% 15% 20%
1 February 26 February 18 March
Final exam
40%
(Scheduled by Registrar)
Other course requirements
Conversion of numerical grades to Final Letter Grades follows the Dalhousie Common Grade Scale A+ (90-100) A (85-89) A- (80-84)
B+ (77-79) B (73-76) B- (70-72)
C+ (65-69) C (60-64) C- (55-59)
D F
(50-54) (
