INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY -- Biology 3410/3420

 

Lecture: MWF 11:00-11:50 A.M. SC 128

Lab: Flexible & self-guided lab exercises in SC 131 &                         Lab fee: $35

Field trip to San Diego on October 22-25.

 

Instructor: Mark Grover         Text book: Pechenik, Jan A. 2005. Biology of the Invertebrates, 5th edition.

Office: SCI 113                                         McGraw- Hill, New York.

E-mail: grover@suu.edu                     

Phone: 586-7928

Office hours:   Monday 9-10, Tuesday 3-4, and Wednesday 9-10, 12-1, & Friday 9-10.                               

 

Course Description: A survey of invertebrate adaptations and diversity, emphasizing the morphology, ecology, physiology, behavior, and phylogenetic relationships of invertebrates.  The laboratory will emphasize classification and morphology of invertebrates, and will include a field trip to the Pacific Coast.  

 

Class Schedule

Date                 Lecture topic                                                                                                                Reading

Aug 30             Diversity and adaptations of invertebrates                                                                      Ch. 1

Sept 1              Origins of eukaryotic life & evolutionary innovations of protozoans                                

Sept 3              Protozoans – biology and classification                                                                         Ch 3    

Sept 6              Holiday – Labor Day                                                                           

Sept 8              The Cambrian explosion – Evolutionary experiments & adaptive radiation 

Sept 10            Phylogeny & classification of invertebrates                                                                    Ch. 2

Sept 13            Comparative developmental patterns and structural design of invertebrate groups

Sept 15            Reproduction and development in invertebrates                                                             Ch. 23 

Sept 17            Animals without organ systems – Porifera (Sponges) & Placozoa                                   Ch. 4

Sept 20            Animals with radial symmetry -- cnidarians & ctenophores                                             Ch. 5-7

Sept 22            Cnidarians continued

Sept 24            Bilaterally symmetrical acoelomates -- flatworms & mesozoans                                      Ch. 8-9

Sept 27            Diversity and adaptations of flatworms (Platyhelminthes)

Sept 29            Rotifera & Acanthocephala                                                                                           Ch. 10

Oct 1               Review for Exam 1

Oct 4               Exam 1                                                           

Oct 6               Nemeterea; Intro to Phylum Mollusca                                                                           Ch. 11

Oct 8               Mollusca – adaptive radiation, diversity, & complex organ systems                                Ch. 12

Oct 11             Mollusca – diversity & adaptations

Oct 13             Mollusca – continued

Oct 15             Annelida (segmented worms)                                                                                        Ch. 13

Oct 18             Annelida continued; Phylum Sipuncula

Oct 20             Arthropoda – Basic characteristics & adaptations                                  .                       Ch. 14 

Oct 22-25        Field Trip to San Diego & Harvest Break  

Oct 27             Arthropoda – Trilobites & Subphylum Chelicerata

Oct 29             Arthropoda – More on chelicerates

Nov 1              Arthropoda – Subphylum Mandibulata & Introduction to the Crustaceans

Nov 3              Arthropoda – Crustacean diversity and adaptations

Nov 5              Arthropoda – Class Hexapoda (Insecta) – Characteristics & classification

Nov 8              Arthropoda – Amazing insect adaptations

Nov 10                        More on insects; In search of arthropod relatives – Tardigrada & Onychophora Ch. 15

Nov 12                        Review for Exam 2

Nov 15                        Exam 2           

Nov 17                        Nematoda (Roundworms)                                                                                Ch. 16 

Nov 19                        Nematodes continued; Bizarre relatives of roundworms                                     Ch. 17 

Nov 22                        An assortment of strange phyla of limited diversity & uncertain affinities              Ch. 18

Nov 24-26       Holiday – Thanksgiving Break

Nov 29                        Lophophorates                                                                                                 Ch. 19

Dec 1               Echinodermata, Overview, Class Crinoidea & Class Stelleroidea (Asteroidea)               Ch. 20

Dec 3               Echinodermata, Classes Echinoidea & Holothuroidea

Dec 6               Hemichordata & Overview of Phylum Chordata                                                            Ch. 21

Dec 8               Invertebrate chordates & vertebrate origins                                                                   Ch. 22

Dec 10             Review for Final Exam

Dec 14                        Comprehensive Final Exam 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

 

Research Project: You will be required to complete a short research project and write a paper about your project.  Ideally, you will plan and complete your project during the field trip to San Diego.  Your project should involve a simple field experiment or series of field observations designed to test a specific hypothesis.  The format of your paper should follow the general format of journal articles (There should be Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, and Literature Cited sections, etc., see Pechenik’s “A short guiding to writing about biology”).  Details on the format of the paper will be provided in class.   This assignment is due by December 3.  

 

Lab Schedule

 

Date                             Lab exercises and topics

Aug 30-Sept 3             No lab

Sept 7-10                     Phylogeny & invertebrate classification

Sept 13-24                   Survey of sponges (Porifera) & cnidarians (Cnidaria) & comb jellies (Ctenophora)

Sept 27-Oct 7              Survey of flatworms (Platyhelminthes) & segmented worms (Annelida)

Oct 14-21                    Mollusca – from squid to snails

Oct 22-25                    Field Trip to San Diego & Harvest Break  

Oct 28-Nov 12            Arthropods

Nov 15-19                   Nematodes & other phyla

Nov 22-Dec 8              Deuterostomes – echinoderms, hemichordates & chordates

Thursday Dec 9            Lab Practical from 2:00-5:00 PM (Staggered times to allow small groups)

 

You will receive handouts with instructions for the completion of lab exercises.  The lab exercises will take place in SC 131 and will involve self-guided learning that emphasizes the classification and characteristics of invertebrates.  You may complete a lab any time during the dates listed above for that lab exercise.  The lab room will be open as often as possible, and we’ll arrange a formal schedule for use of the lab room during the first week of classes.   

 

Exams:  Exams will consist of a mix of multiple-choice questions, short answers, matching, definitions, true or false questions, and one or more short essay questions.  Exams 1-2 will be worth 100 points each.  The final exam will be comprehensive, but there will be an emphasis on material covered since Exam 2.  It will be worth 150 points.  In addition to the lecture exams, there will be a lab exam given on December 9.  The lab exam will emphasize classification and morphological features of the critters that you have studied in the lab.  

 

            Grading Criteria                                                         Points             

            Lecture exams – 100 points each, 2 exams                    200                 

            Final exam                                                                    150

            Project & Paper                                                           100

Lab assignments – 10-15 points each, 7 assignments     100

Lab exam                                                                       50                 

                                                                                                                                                                       

            Total Points                                                                  700

           

Grading Scale* (the exact grades will depend on the point distribution in the class)

            90-100%  (630-700 points)  » A

            80-89%    (560-629 points)  » B

            70-79%    (490-559 points)  » C

            55-69%    (385-489 points)  » D                   

            <55%       (0-384 points)      » F         

           

*A single grade will be assigned for both the lecture and lab portions of the class.

 

 

Academic integrity: Plagiarism will not be tolerated in any form.  Consult the current issue of the student handbook (published by Student Services) regarding expectations for students and the intellectual property policy.

 

Services for Students with Disabilities: Students with medical, psychological, learning or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids must contact the Disability Support Center, Room 205D, Sharwan Smith Center, phone (435) 865-8022. The Disability Support Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of these services and aids.