Biol 4740 Deep-Sea Biology Winter 2008
Dr. Pamela Roe
N- 277
(209) 667-3484
My home page at: http://science.csustan.edu/pam/
Bio. Dept. info at: http://arnica.csustan.edu/biology/
INTRODUCTORY COURSE INFORMATION
INTRODUCTION:
The deep sea is by far the most extensive habitat on earth inhabited by organisms (Nybakken and Bertness, 2005). Its biology is also the least known of all earthÕs ecosystems. In the past several years, much study of deep-sea biology has occurred in Monterey Bay, especially through Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML), Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBA). The facilities available and the rapidly increasing knowledge of one of our last frontiers off the Central California Coast provide excellent opportunities to gain much insight into an exciting new area of study.
MY PHILOSOPHY FOR THIS COURSE:
My philosophy about teaching is that I want to share as much knowledge and understanding of the subject with students as possible. I also believe it is my job as instructor to challenge people. I want you to learn course materials because I care about you and I care about zoology. I firmly believe that the more people know, the happier they can be, and the more they can appreciate and enjoy the world around them. I want to help you in gaining knowledge about, and appreciation of, zoology. I expect students to be thoroughly involved in my courses and in their education in general. The more people put into something the more they get out of it; therefore, I expect this class to be high on your priority list, and I expect you to put in plenty of quality time and effort on it. Likewise, I will spend much effort in trying to make the course a valuable experience for you.
GOALS
1) To expose students to deep-sea animals of the Monterey Bay area
2) To encourage students to read and analyze original literature concerning some
topics of deep-sea biology.
3) To involve students in analyses of data from deep-sea studies as a means of giving
students some experience with this aspect of research.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND REQUIREMENTS:
Prerequisites: One year of college level biology including ZOOL 1050 and consent of instructor. Biol 4740 is a 4-unit lecture and laboratory senior level course. The focus is discovery, natural history and ecology of deep-sea habitats and organisms. The course counts as an elective in the Biology major, in the Marine Biology Concentration and in the Ecology and Field Biology Concentration. Requirements: Students must be willing to spend multiple days in the Monterey Bay area, without driving back & forth daily and must be willing to camp out on the floor at MLML on the multiple day trip. Cost of course in addition to registration and course fee will include cost of food while on field trips. Field trips are integral, mandatory parts of the course.
COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Students will be expected to become reasonably familiar with examples of deep-sea organisms, deep-sea ecosystems, and problems and adaptations to those problems of living in deep-sea ecosystems. Students will be expected to read original literature plus chapters from texts and books on deep-sea biology, and from information gained, to develop an in-depth presentation to the class on a particular deep-sea habitat/ecosystem. Students will be expected to participate in laboratory and field exercises, to analyze data from those exercises, and provide meaningful reports to the class regarding the analyses.
GRADES AND GRADING:
Grades: A-F; Cr/Nc is not an option. This course is graded plus/minus. I do not grade
on a curve.
A = 90% or higher (90-92 = A-, 93 and above = A)
B = 80-89% (80-82 = B-, 83-86 = B, 87-89 = B+)
C = 70-79% (70-72 = C-, 73-76 = C, 77-79 = C+)
D = 60-69% (60-62 = D-, 63-66 = D, 67-69 = D+)
F = below 60%
Grades are based on:
1) Participation of all aspects of class, including data analyses, oral reports, full
participation on field trips - approximately 50 pts.
Oral reports = 50 pts
Written report = 100 pts
2) Grade on final take-home exam - approximately 100 pts.
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS
1. As a general philosophy, you should attend all class meetings. If you must miss a class meeting, it is your responsibility to make up any work missed and to obtain and learn all information you missed.
2. Be on time to class and do not expect to leave class/lab early.
3. Observe lab safety and cleanliness procedures.
4. Participate fully and in a positive manner in all class activities.
5. Cheating in any form is unacceptable in science, including in all biology classes.
6. Talking, whispering and giggling among students during lectures is disruptive for both classmates and the instructor. It is expected that students will refrain from these activities while anyone is lecturing/presenting information at any time during class. If this becomes a problem, students will be asked to leave class for the duration of these activities. On the other hand, students are expected to participate in discussions, ask questions of speakers, etc.
7. Cell phones must be turned off while anyone is lecturing at any time during class.
8. The field trip regulations (on separate pages from this introductory information) that do not specifically pertain to being in vehicles, pertain to all parts of class, i.e., lecture and lab as well as field trips. These are not limited to, but especially include numbers 4, 7, and 8 of the Department of Biological Sciences Field Trip Regulations and number 2 of the CSU Stanislaus Field Trip liability Waiver. (See handouts).
9. People learn best when they take responsibility for their own learning. You need to accept that responsibility.
EXPECTATIONS OF THE INSTRUCTOR
1. Numbers 1 Ð 9 above.
2. Be open to feedback on the course and be flexible in order to make appropriate changes to meet student needs.
3. Be fair in assessment of student learning.
It is my hope and expectation that we will all work together to make this course an outstanding experience for all involved.
Expected Schedule
for Deep Sea Biology
Winter Term, 2008
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Day |
Date |
Time |
Topic |
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Fri |
Jan. 4 |
8:30-11:30 2:30-5 |
Introductory lecture; power point by Sarah; determine drivers for trips, field trip forms done, etc. Possibly deep sea pelagic organisms identification/Literature |
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Mon. |
Jan. 7 |
8:30-11:30 |
Short lecture and lab on deep sea benthic organism identification Ð abyssal soft sediments and canyon walls/Literature. Pelagics if not on Jan. 4. Field trip details. |
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Wed. |
Jan. 9 |
8:30-11:30 |
Short lecture and lab on hydrothermal vents and cold seeps/Literature; Deep sea local fish preview for field trip. Field trip details. |
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Thurs. |
Jan. 10 |
9:30 am |
Leave for 2-day field trip.Team research assignments (divide into groups to report on: deep sea pelagic communities, hydrothermal vents/cold seeps, abyssal plain, canyon walls, seamounts, hard substrata. |
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Fri. |
Jan. 11 |
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Point Sur cruise. Home by 8:30 at least. |
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Mon. |
Jan. 14 |
8:30-11:30 |
Data from cruise. Team research assignments (divide into groups to report on: deep sea pelagic communities, hydrothermal vents/cold seeps, abyssal plain, canyon walls, seamounts, hard substrata). Information on oral presentations (Sarah) and written reports. Any left-overs from last week |
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Wed. |
Jan. 16 |
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Data analyses using benthic animals from 3000m Ð sex ratios, size distribution, reproductive condition work up data of benthic animals from 3000m Ð sex ratios, size distribution, reproductive condition; short reports. Field trip details. |
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Fri. |
Jan 18 |
9:30-7:30 |
Field trip - Gabby Vega and possibly Stacy Kim-hydrothermal vents; Andrew DeVogelaere-Davidson Seamount |
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Mon. |
Jan. 21 |
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Martin Luther King HolidayÑNo Class |
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Wed., |
Jan. 23 |
8:30-11:30 |
OpenÑCatch up, exercise on 3000 m species distributions, work on oral/written reports, or start oral team reports (depending on number of students in class) Note: ALL written reports (2 copies each student) due at beginning of day of first oral reports. Outlines and abstract of paper/topic (one each for every person in class including Dr. Roe and Sarah) due at beginning of day of your oral report. |
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Fri. |
Jan. 25 |
8:30-11:30 |
Team reports, discussion, literature review |
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Mon. |
Jan 28 |
8:30-11:30 |
Team reports, discussion, literature review |
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Wed. |
Jan. 30 |
8:30-11:30 |
Team reports, discussion, literature review; hand out take-home exam |
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Fri. |
Feb 1 |
8:30-11:30 |
Work on take-home exam at CSUSÑliterature, reports available in classroom. Due 11:30 am today or 9:30 am Mon Feb. 4 (to be decided by instructor) |
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Textbook: The Silent DeepÑThe Discovery, Ecology and Conservation of the Deep Sea, 2007, Tony Koslow