Biology 115 – Marine Biology

Fall 2008–San DiegoMiramarCollege

CRN: 65873 – Lecture MW 9:35-11:00, rm S5104…..Lab F 1:00-4:00, rm S5100

Instructor: Andrew LowePhone: (619) 388-7536

Email: Web page:

Office Hours: B301B; M 11:00-12:00, TR 10:00-11:00, and by appointement

Address: c/o Biology Department, Miramar College, 10440 Black Mountain Rd, San Diego, CA 92126

Required Texts & Supplies

Lecture – Marine Biology, 7th Ed. 2007,by Peter Castro & Michael E. Huber

Lab – 3-ring binder for observations, notes, experiments, etc

Important Dates

September 5th Drop Deadline – No notation on your record

Ooctober 31st Drop Deadline - Withdrawal (W Grade)

After October 31st an evaluative grade (A through F) will be recorded.

Course Objectives and Expectations

This course in Marine Biology is designed to serve as an elective in the natural sciences. This is a survey of the marine organisms, emphasizing their natural history and special adaptations to the ocean environment. Topics include the marine environment, plankton, marine “plants”, marine invertebrates, fishes, marine birds, and marine mammals. Several field trips are required to local marine habitats…see lab schedule.

Both in the classroom and outside, you will be exposed to experiences, terminology, and interconnected concepts which may be new and perhaps even seem intimidating at times. However, if you will commit to it, I think you will find this course not only a highly rewarding experience, but fun as well. The feeling of accomplishment is a great one, especially when you do something well. It is my desire to expose you to information and experiences that will help you excel and make wise decisions in your academic and professional future.

Your education is an extremely valuable commodity. It is therefore important to extend as much courtesy as possible to your fellow classmates, so that everyone gets as much as possible out of the course. These courtesies include the following: please do not talk, exchange notes, or otherwise disrupt the class during instruction. Please turn off pagers, alarms, and cellular phone ringers. If your behavior in any way distracts other students, you may be dismissed from the class.

Attendance is mandatory.

There is no opportunity to make up field trips or labs, so it is very important that you make it a priority to be present everyFriday. If you miss a lab, you will receive a zero for that day and you will need to obtain the data and notes from a class mate to study for the final exam.

District policy requires that you participate fully in lecture and laboratory experiences. If you are absentmore than 6% of total course hours (or, more than 3 sessions), participation will be considered unsatisfactoryand you may be dropped by the instructor. However, it is your responsibility to drop a course if you choose to discontinue. Failure to do so will result in an evaluative grade (A-F) on your record.

Due Dates

Due dates are tentative. You are responsible for knowing the dates of exams, and other assignments. Assignments are due at the beginning of a class period. Late assignments will be accepted (unless specified otherwise), but 10% of the point total for the assignment will be deducted for each day or part thereof that it is late.

Lecture Exams

On exam days, be sure to get adequate rest, have back-up mechanisms in place for getting to class on time, and arrange for reliable transportation to class. There is to be absolutely no communication of any kind, between students, once an exam begins. Nothing is allowed at the test area except for a writing instrument(s) and eraser. All questions should be directed to me and you may not leave the room during an exam and resume it when you return. If you leave the room I will collect the exam, and I will grade what you have completed.

Assignments:

Although we often work in lab groups you are expected to do your own write ups. They should be written in your own words and turned in the week after the lab unless instructed otherwise.

Honor Code/Academic Dishonesty

By remaining enrolled in this class you are pledging, on your honor, that you will not engage in any acts of dishonesty. Cheating, plagiarism, or any act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for work that is not your own is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. You are responsible to understand and abide by District policies in the college catalog. Abuse of these policies will be reported to the dean for appropriate action. If you are aware of cheating of any kind, I would appreciate what information you have, as it essential to maintain the integrity of the course--this includes communication between individuals in different class sections, copying assignments to be collected, plagiarizing papers, etc.

Grading

Points will be earned for activities in both lecture and laboratory. The lecture portion will comprise approximately 2/3 of the course grade; the laboratory approximately 1/3 of the course grade. I will keep a running total of points as should you to maintain awareness of your grade standing in the course. Points may be earned in the following ways (these are approximations):

4 Lecture exams100 pts ea.

Lecture quizzes, assignments,

and participation100 pts

Lecture Subtotal500 pts

Final Lab Exam100 pts

Lab exercises, fieldtrip assignments,

and participation200 pts

Lab Subtotal300 pts

Your percent score in the class will be determined as follows: Course % = (Sum of points earned by you / Sum of points possible on each assignment) x 100

Grades in the course are assigned according to the following scale:

A = 90% and aboveB = 80 - 89.99%C = 70 - 79.99%D = 60 - 66.99%

Lecture Schedule – Marine Biology Spring 08

(Tentative – minor adjustments may occur depending on classroom discussions)

Week / Dates / Lecture
Day Topic
1 / Aug. 25
27 / M
W / Introductions & Course Overview
Scientific method & Ocean Geology (Ch 1 2)
2 / Sept. 01
03 / M
W / ** Holiday – No Class – Labor Day **
Ocean Geography & Water Chemistry (Ch 2 & 3)
3 / 08
10 / M
W / Surface Currents & Waves(Ch 3)
Tides & Deep Water Currents(Ch 3)
4 / 15
17 / M
W / Fundamental Biology (Ch 4)
Exam 1
5 / 22
24 / M
W / Marine Microbes (Ch 5)
Multi-cellular Protists (Ch 6)
6 / 29
Oct. 01 / M
W / Invertebrates (Ch 7)
Invertebrates
7 / 06
08 / M
W / Fish (Ch 8)
Reptiles, Birds, & Mammals (Ch 9)
8 / 13
15 / M
W / Mammals (cont.)
Exam 2
9 / 20
22 / M
W / Intro. To Marine Ecology (Ch 10)
Rocky Shores (Ch 11)
10 / 27
29 / M
W / SandyShores (Ch 11)
Estuaries & Mangroves (Ch 12)
11 / Nov. 03
05 / M
W / Continental Shelf & Kelp Habitats (Ch 13)
Coral Reefs (Ch 14)
12 / 10
12 / M
W / Epipelagic (Ch 15)
Mesopelagic & Deep Sea (Ch 16)
13 / 17
19 / M
W / Exam 3
Fisheries (Ch 17)
25
26 / M
W / Thanksgiving Break
14 / Dec. 01
03 / M
W / Fisheries (Cont.)
Human Impact, MPA’s, & Aquaculture (Ch 18)
15 / 08
10 / M
W / Biological Invasions
Global Warming
16 / 15
17 / M
W / Wrap-up & review
Exam 4

Laboratory Schedule

(Tentative – minor adjustments may occur depending on fieldtrips/weather)

Week / Date / Activities
1 / 8/29 / Lab Safety/ Scientific Method / Sand Crab Morphology
2 / 9/5 / Sand Crab Experiment and Analysis
3 / 9/12 / Salinity Experiments
4 / 9/19 / Marine Plankton and Algae
5 / 9/26 / Field Trip: Intertidal Community (low tide 1.30 @ 13:59)
6 / 10/3 / Marine Invertebrates - survey and identification
7 / 10/10 / Field Trip: Harbor Fouling Community
8 / 10/17 / Fish Adaptations
9 / 10/24 / Field Trip: Steven Birch Aquarium
10 / 10/31 / Lucky Fish Market; Lab activity
11 / 11/7 / Field Trip: Sea World
12 / 11/14 / Dive Response
13 / 11/21 / Field Trip: Estuaries and Salt Marshes
14 / 11/28 / ** Thanksgiving Break **
15 / 12/5 / Poster Presentations
16 / 12/12 / Final Lab Exam

Personal Background and Objectives (20 pts), Due August 29th

Within two pages (double-spaced, 12pt font), tell me about yourself and be sure to include the following information:

  • A small photo of yourself attached (or embedded) to the upper left corner.
  • Tell me about your science background (courses, instructors, institutions), and the reason for taking this class in particular.
  • What letter grade do you expect to earn in the class and why?
  • What are your academic and professional career goals, and what are your plans to achieve those goals?
  • What are your interests and hobbies?
  • Anything else you would like me to know about you (relevant allergies, medical conditions, etc)?
  • Lastly, reflect on what you hope to achieve from this course. In doing so, compile a single question that you personally would like to have answered or challenged during the journey of this course.