Spring 2020 - BISC 306 D100

Invertebrate Biology (4)

Class Number: 2455

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2020: Tue, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2020: Thu, 9:30–11:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    BISC 101, 102 and 204 with a grade of C- or better.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to selected invertebrate phyla with an emphasis on functional morphology, diversity and ecology.

COURSE DETAILS:

Animals are extraordinarily diverse in their form and function. Most of them are not vertebrates (like humans), and most of the interesting variety is not found among insects. This is a course about everything else: the evolution of animal diversity from sponges to sea squirts, corals to clams, and a lot of worms.

Lectures emphasize anatomy, functional morphology, and natural history of free-living marine phyla and classes. Labs emphasize overall form and function of living animals from major taxonomic groups: observations of behaviour and other features, some dissection, and some functional (not artistic) drawing of animals and parts.

Canvas will be used for this class: https://canvas.sfu.ca

Grading scheme is provisional and may change before start of classes.

Grading

  • Six In-class Quizzes 50%
  • Field Trip Participation 5%
  • Laboratory Notebook 20%
  • Laboratory Practical Exam 15%
  • Final Exam 10%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

The course grade and the lab fees include a fabulous three-day field trip to the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on Vancouver Island.
Field trips are provisionally scheduled for March 3-5 or March 10-12.
Please hold those dates until further notice. Field trip scheduling information will be distributed in lab sections during the week of Jan. 16th.

REQUIRED READING:

Pechenik, Biology of the Invertebrates, 7th edition, 2015. The 6th edition is ok also. Either hard copy  or e-book can be purchased. International editions (soft cover) are less expensive.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS