Biology 336

Spring Semester 2012

Spring Semester 2012 MWF: 12:00 12:50 am Section 01 134 Science Building Lab: Tuesday, 2:00-4:50 PM, 333 Science Building Instructor: Dr. Terry Haverkost Office: 367 Science Building Office Phone: 860-465-0398 E-mail: haverkostt@easternct.edu Office Hours: Tues. TWR 11:00 12:00, Wed 2:00 4:00 Course Overview In this course we will discuss invertebrates with a comparative approach. Although the approximately 15 phyla we will discuss this semester may seem too diverse to make meaningful comparisons, we will focus our discussions on form, function, nutrition, reproduction, excretion, gas exchange, and phylogeny. Topics may change from week to week depending on the significant features highlighted by any one group. By the end of this course you should be able to: - Have a greater appreciation and knowledge of the diversity of invertebrate life. - Understand how these invertebrates confront similar and unique selective pressures. Grades/Evaluation Lecture 70% Lab 30% Lecture Quizzes 30% Exams (3) 40% Paper discussion (Q) 10% Paper discussion (L) 20% Laboratory We will formally meet once a week to conduct experiments and studies of invertebrates. Some of these studies will require you to be available after posted lab times. If you are not able to fulfill your outside-of-lab responsibilities please make sure they are done by your lab partner or, as a last resort, your instructor. In lab you will be graded by providing short answers to written questions, summarizing experimental protocols, and analyzing collected data.

Invertebrate Biology, BIO 336

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Spring Semester 2012

Laboratory will consist mainly of multi-week studies of ecology, evolution, epidemiology and systematics using invertebrates as model organisms. The schedule of the lab exercises is dependent on the availability of specimens and is subject to change. Quizzes There will be a quiz every Friday at the beginning of class, except when there is no class on Friday or otherwise announced. Quizzes will focus on comprehension and terminology of the material covered that week. Exams There will be three take-home exams assigned throughout the semester. You will have one week to complete each exam. Each exam will consist of a number of essay questions. More information will be provided before these exams are assigned. Paper discussion Throughout the semester we will discuss various papers that focus on some aspect of the biology of invertebrates. These discussions will take place almost every Friday and will begin with a 15-minute synopsis of the paper, followed by a question-and-answer session. Every week students will be expected to read the paper and have 2-3 questions prepared for the discussion. For the weeks marked with an asterisk (*) in the class schedule, the 15-minute synopsis and discussion will be led by a pair of students. For all students not leading the discussion you will be required to turn in 2-3 questions about the research and a 200-word synopsis that addresses the following questions: 1. What was this paper about? 2. What was the point of this paper? 3. What evidence is presented to strengthen the author(s) point? Grading Any questions about grading on tests or assignments must be brought to the instructors attention within seven (7) days after they are returned to the class. Thereafter, grades are considered final. Make-up exams will only be allowed in extreme situations. If you must miss an exam, contact me and we will arrange for you to take the exam prior to the scheduled date. Late Policy Any assignment with a deadline will be assessed a late penalty, with 10% of the overall grade being deducted for every day the paper is late, with a maximum of a 50% deduction.

Biology 336

Spring Semester 2012

Grading Scale Resources 94- 100%: A The book used for this course is 90-93.9%: A- 87-89.9%: B+ Invertebrates by Brusca and Brusca (2nd 83-86.9%: B ed) Sinauer Press. New copies of this 80-82.9%: B- 77-79.9%: C+ book will be available through the 73-76.9%: C bookstore, but any copy of any addition 70-72.9%: C- 67-69.9%: D+ will likely be acceptable for the purposes 60-66.9%: D of this course. <59.9%: F Academic Services Center The Academic Services Center is located on the ground floor of the library and is open Sun. 2-9; M.-Th. 9-9, Fri. 9-5. (Closed Sat.). For further information call 465- 4272 or check the ASC website at <http://www.easternct.edu/asc/> While you are always welcome to drop in, if you make an appointment, they can arrange to have someone available with the specific skills you need. Academic Misconduct Policy Academic dishonesty is unfair to honest students, cheapens the value of a degree from Eastern, and will not be tolerated in this class. It is the responsibility of each student to become familiar with what constitutes academic misconduct and plagiarism, and to avoid all forms of cheating and plagiarism. Students should read and understand Eastern's Academic Misconduct Policy, which can be found in the student handbook. For Students with Disabilities If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact the Office of AccessAbility Services at 465-0189. To avoid any delay in the receipt of accommodations, you should contact the Office of AccessAbility Services as soon as possible. Please note that I cannot provide accommodations based upon disability until I have received an accommodation letter from the Office of AccessAbility Services. BIO 050: Intermediate Writing Requirement for Biology Written communication is important for continued success within any discipline. Students are expected to meet the BIO 050 writing requirement within the four core courses: Bio 120, 130, 220, and 230. Students earn 0-2 points for Bio 120 and 130, and 0-4 points for Bio 220 and 230. The points are awarded for assignments, such as laboratory reports, graphs, and tables. We expect you to put forth your best effort in each class to earn the maximum number of points. BIO 050 credit is awarded when you earn at least 8 points. If you have not earned the 8 points, your professors will continue to evaluate your writing in upper level courses relative to the Bio 050 standard. The BIO 050 standard must be met prior to registering for BIO 466 Senior Seminar.

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Spring Semester 2012

Tentative Schedule The topics listed below are a general overview of the topics to be discussed each week. This schedule is subject to change, but the exams dates listed are solid, barring inclement weather. Week General Topic Notes Paper Discussion of: Jan 16 Introduction, Phylogeny No Class Mon or Tues. Jan 23 Protists Janovy and Hardin, 1987 Jan 30 Protists Perkins, 2001 Feb 6 Phylum Porifera Becerro, 2008 Feb 13 Phylum Cnidaria No Class Feb 17 (Fri) McClanahan, 2004 Take home exam Wed Feb 20 Phylum Platyhelminthes No Class Feb 20 (Mon) TBA Take home exam due Wed Feb 27 Phylum Rotifera et al.* Welch and Meselson, 2000 Mar 5 Phylum Nemata* Fire et al., 1998 Mar 12 Ph. Nematomorpha, Bolek (in press) Acanthocephala* Mar 19 Spring Break No classes this week -- Mar 26 Phylum Annelida* Take home exam Wed Brinkhurst and Kennedy, 1965 Apr 2 Phylum Arthropoda* No class Apr 6 (Fri) TBA Take home exam due Wed Apr 9 Phylum Arthropoda* Hedin et al., 2012 Apr 16 Phylum Mollusca* TBA Apr 23 Phylum Echinodermata* Temara et al., 1999 Apr 30 Deuterostomes Take home exam Wed May 7 Finals Week Take home exam due Wed

Biology 336

Spring Semester 2012

To what phylum do starfish belong?

What characters distinguish the annelid from the flatworm?

If mutations are random, why isn't evolution random?

What does a protonephridia do?

What is an apomorphy?