Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - BISC 306 D100

Invertebrate Biology (4)

Class Number: 2362

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Mon, Wed, Fri, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    BISC 101, 102, and (BISC 204 or GEOG 215), all with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to invertebrate phyla, with a focus on marine taxa. Labs include examination of live animals, dissections, and preserved specimens.

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

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

NOTES:

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

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

The course grade and the lab fees include a fabulous Friday–Sunday field trip to the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on Vancouver Island.

Field trip is provisionally planned for March. 

RECOMMENDED READING:

Pechenik, Biology of the Invertebrates, 7th edition, 2015. International editions (soft cover) are less expensive. Either hard copy or e-book can be purchased (a link to the e-book will be available at the SFU Bookstore web site).

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.