Texas A&M University
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WFSC 417/617
Biology of Fishes
Spring 2010
A Course at the Disciplinary
Core of Fisheries and Aquaculture, for Upper-Division Undergraduate Students
(WFSC 417) and Graduate Students (WFSC 617) in Wildlife & Fisheries
Sciences, Biology, Marine Biology, Water Management and Hydrological Sciences,
Oceanography, Natural Resources Development and Related Majors.
WFSC 417/617 - BIOLOGY
OF FISHES (3-3 4)
Biology of Fishes provides essential background
for would-be fishery managers and aquaculturists
and for students who plan to do graduate or post-graduate work in fish
physiology, behavior, or ecology. Biology of Fishes serves as a conceptual
interface between such basic courses as Ichthyology (WFSC 311) and Limnology
(WFSC 414), and more applications-oriented courses such as Principles of
Fisheries Management (WFSC 410) and Aquaculture (WFSC 423). Biology of
Fishes explores morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations
of fishes to their aquatic environments. Responses to environmental change
and pollution are treated as natural extensions of fishes' adaptive systems.
These responses are quantified and integrated in the context of mathematical
models, where appropriate, to convey a sense of subject-matter cohesiveness.
Emphasis is on ideas and relationships, not on isolated facts and numbers.
Laboratory exercises feature virtual experiments
with "Ecofish," a STELLA®
simulation model of fish autecology.
The laboratory experience is designed to reinforce concepts developed in
lecture and to give students practical experience in executing, analyzing,
interpreting, and reporting experiments of the type that are the foundation
of fish biology. Each graduate participant who registers in WFSC
617 is expected to design and conduct an independent simulated experiment,
(using appropriately modified Ecofish),
in addition to carrying out the five highly-structured exercises performed
by all participants.
Biology of Fishes is available to distant
as well as local students. Normal class transactions--both in lecture
and laboratory--are archived in digital form, via Camtasia®,
and made available for internet-download from a WFSC server. The
only occasions when distant (and local) students need be physically present
in the classroom at College Station, are the mid-term and final exams--but,
with prior arrangement for appropriate supervision, even the exams can
be taken at distant locations.
Dr.
William H. Neill developed the course and teaches it each spring semester.
Enrollment in the local sections that meet "live" with Dr. Neill is limited
to 16 students in aggregate. Link to the course "Prospectus" and
"Schedule" (at left) to see details for the current or most recent offering.
Click on "Journal" to participate in information exchange relevant to the
course.
For an audio-video introduction to WFSC 417/617
and Ecofish, click on each of the four "Tour_"
buttons at left, in sequence. Depending on your browser settings,
the "Tour" files (recorded with Camtasia
and produced for Macromedia Flash presentation) may download and play automatically;
or, you may need to paste the links successively into your browser's address/location
window and go from there. The entire presentation lasts about 79
(9.6+16.6+20.8+32.2) min.
The template for this page is by Ray H. Kamps. |
16
Nov 09
closed
