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COURSE NUMBER: BIOL 399
COURSE TITLE: Special Topics in Biology - 2015/16 Winter: Integrated Zoology
NAME OF INSTRUCTOR: Dr Darcy Visscher
CREDIT WEIGHT AND WEEKLY TIME DISTRIBUTION: credits 3(hrs lect 3 - hrs sem 0 - hrs lab 0)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: A course on a topic of figure of special interest to a member of the biology faculty and offered on a non-recurring basis.

Prerequisites: BIOL 210, 211; some topics may have more specific pre-requisites

2015/16 Winter

Integrated Zoology takes a systems based approach to understanding the connection between organismal form and function of animals within a phylogenetic context. Students consider the selective pressures of changing environmental conditions that present organisms with the challenge of continuous modification. Laboratory exercises are designed to expose students to the diversity of living animals and demonstrate the basic morphological specializations of representative organisms.   
REQUIRED TEXTS:
  • Fenton, M.B., Campbell, K.A., Dumont, E.R., Owen, M.D. (2014) Integrative Animal Biology. 1st Edition. Nelson Education Publishing.  
  • Laboratory manual will be based on a course pack materials created from existing labs in Vertebrate Zoology (BIOL 342) and Invertebrate Zoology (BIOL 344).
MARK DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT:
Lecture Assignments 10%
Midterm 1 15%
Midterm 2 15%
Final exam 25%
Laboratory Assignments 10%
Lab Midterm 10%
Lab Final 15%
100%

COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course examines the process of becoming adapted to fill the endless niches found on earth
throughout geological time. 
  • Students will learn the details of body plans, morphology, and life cycles
  • Investigations include the variety of changes that aid in the locomotion, reproduction, and homeostasis of organisms ranging from protozoans to the invertebrates and vertebrates.
  • Laboratory exercises are designed for exploring the diversity of living animals and the basic morphological specializations of representative organisms. 
  • Drawing skills will be developed to emphasize comparative thinking across taxa.
COURSE OUTLINE:
  • 1 Introduction
  • 2 Body plans
  • 3 Evolution and phylogeny
  • 4 Life cycles
  • 5 Locomotion
  • 6 Feeding
  • 7 Digestion
  • 8 Parasitism
  • 9 Gaseous exchange
  • 10 Circulation
  • 11 Excretion
  • 12 Reproduction
  • 13 Neural integration
  • 14 Endocrine integration


Required texts, assignments, and grade distributions may vary from one offering of this course to the next. Please consult the course instructor for up to date details.

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