Texas A&M University
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WFSC 417/617
Biology of Fishes
Spring 2008
A Course at the Disciplinary
Core of Fisheries and Aquaculture, for Upper-Division Undergraduate Students
(WFSC 417) and Graduate Students (WFSC 617) in WFSC, FISC, and Cognate
Majors.
WFSC 417/689 - 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 normally
is limited to two lab sections of 12 students each. 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.
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