Marine Invertebrate Communities

 

Instructor: Dr. Mark Dybdahl, SBS

 

Description: Two-week field/lab course at a marine station. Survey of marine invertebrates and their habitats and ecology.

 

Prerequisites: Biol 106/107 and 6 hours of physical and/or biological science.

 

1.     Detailed statement of course objectives.

 

The purpose of this two-credit course is an introduction to the invertebrate animals of shoreline and near-shore marine habitats, and to the process of scientific investigation in marine ecology.

 

The course will be held at a marine field station over an 8-day period and an additional 6 days on campus at WSU. We will cover the natural history and ecology of the organisms in each habitat. We will visit a full range of marine habitats. Activities include a mix of field collections, laboratory study, and field ecological investigations of marine invertebrate organisms and communities.

 

An individual research project will be the subject of a research paper and oral presentation to be completed during the two-week period.

 

Schedule of course content

 

Day 1: Introduction, Travel

Day 2: Marine habitats, Marine invertebrate phyla

Day 3: Ecological patterns and species interactions

Day 4: Rocky subtidal zone, Rocky intertidal zone; Individual projects

Day 5: Mudflats; Individual projects

Day 6: Near-shore plankton; Individual projects

Day 7: Individual projects

Day 8: Estuaries, Travel

Day 9-14: Completion of individual project write-up and presentation

 

Form of instruction (lecture, studio, laboratory)

 

The course will consist of laboratory and field study with some introductory lecture material presented in the lab or field.  Approximately 10 hours per day will be spent in lab or field study, which will include evening lab sessions.

 

Proposed textbooks and/or other media used.

 

Kozloff, Eugene N. 1983. Seashore Life of the Northern Pacific Coast. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington Press.

 

Required assignments

 

  1. A detailed lab and field notebook
  2. An individual lab or field research project and written report including an introduction, methods description, results with data analysis and presentation and discussion (5 pages)
  3. A oral presentation of the research project (15 minutes)

Criteria for student evaluation, including relative percentages for assessment

 

  1. A detailed lab and field notebook (20%)
  2. An individual lab or field research project and written report (50%)
  3. A oral presentation of the research project (30%)

 

ÒReasonable accommodations are available for students who have a documented disability. Please notify the instructor during the first week of class of any accommodations needed for the course. Late notification may cause the requested accommodations to be unavailable. All accommodations must be approved through the Disablity Resource Center (DRC) in Administration Annex 206 (Tel. 335-1566).Ó

 

 

Plagarism and cheating and the penalties for this conduct

 

Washington State University is committed to principles of truth and academic honesty. According to WSU policy and procedures, plagarism is Òknowingly representing the work of another as ones own, without proper acknowledgment of the source.Ó Cheating is Òthe intentional use of, or attempt to use, unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic activity to gain advantage.Ó Hard evidence of student plagarism or cheating may result in a grade of F for the course, and a report filed with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.