University of Rio Grande

Invertebrate Zoology Bio 33404

Course Syllabus Fall 2006

Instructor:

Dr. Linda Sigismondi Office MS 100B, (740) 245-7484, lindas@rio.edu

Class Meetings:

Lecture MWF 1:30-2:20 Lab Th 1:30-3:20

Objectives:

• To learn the taxonomy of invertebrates.
• To learn the structure of representative invertebrates.
• To learn to sample and identify invertebrates in the lab and field.
• To understand the relationships between invertebrates and their environment.
• To understand the evolutionary relationships among the invertebrate groups.

References:

Pechenik, J.A. 2005. Biology of the Invertebratess. 5th Edition. McGraw-Hill, New York.

Invertebrate Zoology Course Web Page. 2006. http://faculty.rio.edu/lindas/invertsyl.html

Supplies Needed:

• Set of colored pencils
• 3-ring notebook
  

Grading:

Category	Point Value
Exams	300
Final	150
Lab Notebook	200
Project	100
Total	750

A=90-100%, B=80-89%, C=70-79%, D=60-69%, F=below 60%

Grades will be calculated after each exam so you can keep track of your progress.

Exams and Final: Exams will be partially objective (multiple choice, matching), partially essay (define, describe, draw and label, etc.) and partially practical (identify specimens from lab). The first 3 exams are 100 points each and are based on the current unit. The final exam is 150 points with approximately 75 points on the last unit and 75 points on review material. Students are expected to take all exams at their regularly scheduled time.

Study guides for each exam are below:

• Study Guide Exam 1
• Study Guide Exam 2
• Study Guide Exam 3
• Study Guide Exam 4

Sample Exam Questons

• Sample Exam 1
• Sample Exam 2
• Sample Exam 3
• Sample Exam 4

Lab Notebook: The lab notebook will consist of observations and labeled drawings made by the student during each lab period. It will also include a classification table in the beginning and a set of word roots at the end. Each unit is worth approximately 50 points. Lab notebooks will be collected and graded during the examinations on that unit. You are expected to have detailed, labeled drawings of all organisms and notes on behavior of live organisms. You may have photos in addition to drawings.

Project: Work with a partner. Design and carry out an experiment involving invertebrates. You will be required to submit a research proposal and progress reports during the quarter. At the end of the course, an oral report will be given to the class and a written report will be submitted to the instructor. The project will be graded as follows: 5 points for proposal, 5 points for progress report, 20 points for oral report, 35 points for written report, 35 points for overall design and execution of experiment. Guidelines for reports will be provided.

Possible Topics for Projects

• compare species richness and diversity of soil organisms from different sites
• compare species richness and diversity of stream invertebrates from different locations
• look at the effect of an environmental variable (light, pH, pollutant, etc.) on the behavior of of a particular species
• look at the effect of an environmental variable (light, pH, pollutant, etc.) on the growth and development of organism
• look at the effect of an environmental variable (light, pH, pollutant, etc.) on the physiology (heart rate, oxygen consumption, etc.) of organisms

Calendar

SUN	MON	TUES	WEDS	THURS	FRI	SAT
Aug 27	28	29	30	31	Sept. 1	2
	Intro to Invertebrates		Evolution & Natural Selection	Lab 1: Observation Skills	Fossil Record
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
	Holiday No Class		Sampling Methods	Lab 2: Sampling and ID	Sampling and ID
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
	Porifera		Porifera	Lab 3: Porifera	Cnidaria
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
	Cnidaria		Ctenophores	Lab 4: Cnidaria Ctenophora	Exam 1
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
	Platyhel- minthes		Platyhel- minthes	Lab 5: Platyhel- minthes	Other Acoelo- mates
Oct. 1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	Rotifers		Nematodes	Lab 6: Rotifers Nematodes	Nematodes
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
	Molluscs		Molluscs	Lab 7: Molluscs	Holiday No Class
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
	Molluscs		Mollluscs	Lab 8: Mollucs	Exam 2
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
	Annelids		Annelids & Relatives	Lab 9: Annelids & Relatives	Annelids Lab
29	30	31	Nov. 1	2	3	4
	Hexapods		Hexapods	Lab 10: Hexa- pods	Hexapods Lab
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
	Cheli- cerata	Advising Day-No Classes	Myriapoda	Lab 11: Cheli- cerata	Crustaceans

 

SUN	MON	TUES	WEDS	THURS	FRI	SAT
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
	Crustaceans Lab		Project Time	Lab 12: Crustaceans	Project Time
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
	Exam 3		Lopho- phorates	Holiday No Class	Holiday No Class
26	27	28	29	30	Dec. 1	2
	Lopho- phorates		Echino- derms	Lab 13: Echino- derms	Echino- derms
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
	Proto- chrodates		Chordate Lab	Lab 14: Micro- fossilos	Oral Reports
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
	Oral Reports/ Review	Final Exams	Final Exams	Final Exams	Final Exams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADA Statement: If a student wishes to be identified as having a physical, mental, or learning disability, that may or may not require reasonable accommodation(s), he/she must register with the Office of Accessibility. These registered students should identify themselves to their instructors and provide a written statement from the Accessibility Office that indicates the appropriate accommodations. The process of a student self-proclaiming the need for accommodation should occur as early in the semester as possible. The Office of Accessibility phone is 245-7339 and is located in Rhodes Hall room 116.

 

 

Suggested Links

• Parasites http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~parasite/a-z.html
• Rotifers http://www.utep.edu/~rotifers/bio/home.html
• Soil Invertebrate Key http://www.ent.orst.edu/eomtesa

Last Updated: August 23, 2006