0 or 4 credits
Spring 2025 Lecture Laboratory Upper DivisionAdvanced study of the biology and ecology of fishes. In particular, the course covers aspects of the morphology, physiology, development, behavior, evolution, and diversity of fishes throughout the world. The relationship of fishes to the physical, chemical, and biological features of the environment in both natural and perturbed aquatic ecosystems will be explored. An emphasis will be placed on diversity in morphology, behavior, feeding, and reproductive strategies as they relate to individual, population, community structure, and anthropogenic effects.
Learning Outcomes1Know key primitive fish groups and understand how modern fishes evolved through time.
2Develop skills in fish taxonomy and scientific nomenclature, including identification of a wide range of fish specimens.
3Understand fish diversity in terms of morphology, behavior, feeding, reproduction and habitats.
4Build fish laboratory skills, including fish dissection, data collection and data analysis.
5Understand the broad ecological roles of fishes in freshwater and marine systems.
6Understand the principles of fish population dynamics and how populations respond to various biotic and abiotic factors.
7Develop an understanding of the scientific method and demonstrate the ability to solve. problems, think critically and write scientific reports.