2006–2007 - Florida Institute of Technology

BIO 4550 COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE ANATOMY (4 credits).
Lectures and labs examine the comparative anatomy of higher animals. Emphasizes
the evolutionary trends of the vertebrates. (Requirement: Junior standing.)
BIO 4601 CORAL REEF FISH ECOLOGY (3 credits). Introduces the
structure of coral reefs and the behavior, ecology and evolution of reef fish communities.
Prerequisites: BIO 4530.
BIO 4620 FISH AQUACULTURE AND MANAGEMENT (4 credits).
Surveys in depth the culture methods of freshwater and saltwater fish species
including an introduction to the theory and techniques necessary for managing
wild fisheries stocks. Labs focus on fish culturing methodology and analysis of wild
fish populations. Includes several field studies. Prerequisites: BIO 1020.
BIO 4625 CRUSTACEAN AQUACULTURE (3 credits). Studies the basic
biology, life history and culturing techniques of the major commercially important
crustaceans. Labs culture selected decapod species. Prerequisites: BIO 3510.
BIO 4641 BIOLOGY OF MARINE MAMMALS (3 credits). Studies the
evolution, classification, ecology and general life history of marine mammals.
Prerequisites: BIO 1020.
BIO 4710 MARINE BIOLOGY (4 credits). Lectures and labs on the nature
of life in the ocean and in coastal environments. Reviews taxonomic diversity, ecological
roles and adaptations of the five kingdoms. Includes physiological mechanisms,
locomotion and migrations, defenses against predation, sensory reception,
productivity, feeding, reproduction and symbiosis. Prerequisites: BIO 3510.
BIO 4720 MARINE ECOLOGY (4 credits). Covers the structure and function
of marine biotic systems from the organism (life histories) to community and
ecosystem. (Requirement: Senior standing.) Prerequisites: BIO 2801, BIO 3410.
BIO 4905 OCEAN AND REEF ECOLOGY OF AUSTRALIA (3 credits).
A field course examining the biodiversity and ecology of temperate and tropical
marine habitats in Australia. Studies the comparative analysis of the phycological,
invertebrate and vertebrate biota, and the physical components of marine ecosystems
of southeast Australia and the Great Barrier Reef. Corequisites: BIO 4915.
BIO 4915 EVOLUTION AND ECOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN ECO-
SYSTEMS (3 credits). Examines the origins and adaptations of the unique
flora and fauna of Australia. Emphasizes climatic and geological shaping of
modern communities. Discusses the influence of continental drift, glacial cycles,
nutrient availability and human impact on populations. Prerequisites: BIO 1020.
Corequisites: BIO 4905.
BIO 4990 BIOLOGY FORUM (1 credit). Critical analysis of primary literature
and review articles in the biological sciences by oral presentation and small
group discussion. (Requirement: Instructor approval.)
BIO 4991 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH 1 (3 credits). Research experience
under the direction and supervision of a member of the biological sciences
faculty. (Requirement: Instructor approval.)
BIO 4992 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH 2 (3 credits). Research experience
under the direction and supervision of a member of the biological sciences
faculty. (Requirement: Instructor approval.)
BIO 4993 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH 3 (3 credits). Research experience
under the direction and supervision of a member of the biological sciences
faculty. (Requirement: Instructor approval.)
BIO 5005 COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY OF INVERTEBRATES (3 credits).
Introduces graduate students to the methods by which invertebrate metazoans
perform life functions, as well as the similarity underlying these methods.
Draws on the rich diversity of invertebrate body forms, and compares major and
minor phyla.
BIO 5010 ICHTHYOLOGY (4 credits). Provides graduate students a background
in ichthyology and fish biology. The first part follows classical ichthyology
by covering systematics and evolution of fishes. The second part focuses on biological
and ecological adaptation of fishes to different environments.
BIO 5013 ELASMOBIOLOGY (3 credits). Studies the evolution, taxonomy,
ecology, behavior and physiology of sharks, skates and rays. Labs supplement
lecture material.
BIO 5015 POPULATION ECOLOGY (3 credits). Examines factors responsible
for variations in population structure, and strategies employed for within and
among population interactions. Emphasizes evolutionary ecology.
BIO 5017 TROPICAL PLANT COMMUNITY ECOLOGY (3 credits).
Investigates the origins and functions of tropical plant communities. Includes soils,
climate, distribution of biodiversity, niche structure, animal/plant interactions and
conservation. Emphasizes the effect of global climate change on the communities.
BIO 5020 FIELD ECOLOGY 1 (3 credits). Field course identifies the plant
communities characteristic of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Examines the
factors responsible for the control and dynamics of these community types in the
field. The field trip is conducted in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A
field fee is required.
BIO 5021 FIELD ECOLOGY 2 (3 credits). Intensive four-week field exami-
nation identifies the plant communities in the central and southern Rocky Mountains
and the plateaus and deserts of the southwestern United States. A field fee
is required.
BIO 5022 CORAL REEF ECOLOGY (3 credits). Two-week field examination
in the Bahamas. Familiarizes students with patterns of abundance and
distribution of the common species of coral reef fishes. Emphasizes species identification
and field methods of investigating reef fish ecology. A field fee is required.
BIO 5023 FIELD ECOLOGY 3 (3 credits). Field examination of the structure
and function of selected tropical rainforest ecosystems. A field fee is required.
BIO 5024 FIELD ECOLOGY 4 (3 credits). Three-week course, two weeks of
which are conducted in Kenya. Familiarizes students with patterns of abundance,
distribution, habitat requirements and behavior common to vertebrate species of
African savannah ecosystems. A field fee is required.
BIO 5025 ECOLOGY OF SALT MARSH AND MANGROVE (3 credits).
Discusses the ecology of salt marsh and mangrove systems. Emphasizes how
organisms adapt to the alternating inundation and exposed environment, and how
physical and biological factors interact to determine the population and community
structures.
BIO 5028 DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF ECOLOGICAL STUDIES (4
credits). Comprehensively reviews experimental and observational methods and
analysis tools commonly encountered in ecology. Emphasizes the practical application
of research designs to ecological problems and different fields of ecology.
BIO 5030 CONSERVATION BIOLOGY (3 credits). Demonstrates the
synthetic nature of conservation biology drawing from the disciplines of genetics,
population biology, biogeography, ecology, wildlife management, human ecology
and natural resource management. Illustrates conservation issues using case studies
from a wide variety of global ecosystems.
BIO 5033 PALEOECOLOGY (4 credits). Investigates how ecosystems have
changed during the Quaternary period. Includes evolution of species and communities,
factors driving climate change, effect of climate change from high to low
altitudes, ecological impacts of human evolution and dispersal, isotopic dating and
analysis.
BIO 5034 PALEOCLIMATOLOGY AND PALEOECOLOGY (3 credits).
Discusses how and why climate has changed, and how those changes have influenced
ecosystems. Also covers species migration, speciation, community change
and biogeography. Provides tools to develop climatic and ecological histories.
BIO 5036 EXPLORATION OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR (3 credits).
Emphasizes lab analysis of behavior in animals. Students perform ethological
observations and design and conduct experiments testing mechanisms underlying
specific behavior.
BIO 5037 NAVIGATION AND ORIENTATION OF MARINE ANIMALS
(3 credits). Introduces the behaviors, mechanisms and cues used by marine
organisms for navigation and orientation. Stresses functional significance and
evolution of orientation behaviors.
BIO 5038 BEHAVIOR AND SENSORY BIOLOGY OF FISHES (3 credits).
Investigates the behavior of fishes as it relates to ecology, reproductive biology
and social systems. Integrates the role of fish sensory systems with the expression
of these adaptive behaviors.
BIO 5040 MARINE MAMMALOGY (4 credits). Covers the evolution,
classification, zoogeography, anatomy and general life history of marine mammals.
BIO 5042 FEEDING ECOLOGY OF FISHES (3 credits). Addresses the
feeding biology of fishes, emphasizing the interplay between theoretical and
practical aspects of fish foraging research. Involves lectures and discussions on
foraging theory, ecological and functional morphology of feeding in fishes, effects
of disturbance on fish foraging and influences of exotic species on fish ecology.
BIO 5045 REPRODUCTION AND RECRUITMENT OF MARINE
FISHES (4 credits). Discusses the processes of reproduction and recruitment of
marine fishery species. Topics range from the physiological and behavioral characteristics
of reproduction, to the molecular events of fertilization, to the influences
of oceanographic processes on larval and juvenile life stages.
BIO 5047 ECOLOGICAL PHYSIOLOGY OF FISHES (3 credits).
Addresses how the physiology of fishes is affected and regulated in response to
environmental changes. Fishes inhabit a vast range of habitats that vary with
respect to biotic and abiotic factors. Successful maintenance of populations in
challenging environments requires responsive adjustments in physiology.
BIO 5050 MOLLUSCAN BIOLOGY (3 credits). Lectures on the biology of a
well-studied and dominant marine, freshwater and terrestrial invertebrate phylum,
including comparative biology and taxonomy.
BIO 5055 ECHINODERM BIOLOGY (4 credits). Studies the anatomy,
physiology, ecology, evolution and systematics of the marine phylum Echinodermata.
Emphasizes recent advances in knowledge of echinoderms. Includes
individual and group labs.
Course Descriptions 165