Ichthyology Syllabus

Syllabus

ICHTHYOLOGY - BIOL 404/504

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Winona State University

Spring 2024

BIOL 404/504 - Ichthyology (3 S.H.)  An introduction to the anatomy, physiology, behavior, ecology, evolution, and taxonomy of fishes. Lecture, laboratory, and fieldwork. Prerequisites: BIOL 308, BIOL 310, and BIOL 312. Offered alternate years.

This course will provide students with an introduction to the biology and taxonomy of fishes. During lecture sessions, students will be introduced to the taxonomy, major groups, general morphology, physiology, and natural history of fishes. During lab sessions, students will gain “hands-on”, practical knowledge of material learned in lecture. Specifically, students will become familiar with fish morphology and anatomy, will learn fish taxonomy and fish identification (emphasis on regional freshwater fishes), and will be exposed to local aquatic habitats and their associated fish fauna.

Instructor:  Neal D. Mundahl  

Office:  250 Pasteur Hall

Telephone:  (507) 457-5695  

e-mail:  nmundahl@winona.edu  

Office Hours:  MWF 8:00 - 9:00, 11:100 - 12:00, TTh 10:00-12:00, or by appointment   

Course Objectives:

1) Acquire knowledge of fish origins, evolution, anatomy, physiology, and behavior 

2) Become familiar with fish taxonomy 

3) Learn to identify local fishes by sight and recognize their preferred habitats 

Texts: 

Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology by Moyle and Cech

How to Know the Freshwater Fishes by Eddy and Underhill  

Evaluation:

 Three lecture exams of equal value - 300 points total 

One lab exam - 100 points total 

Lab assignments - 25 points each (125 points total)

Adapt-a-Fish - 50 points 

Graduate Students: Students enrolled for graduate credit will be required to complete two assignments in addition to those described above. One assignment will involve assessing the growth rates of Slimy Sculpin at a single stream site (will involve dissection of preserved specimens and/or field collecting, data analysis, and writing a summary report). A second assignment will consist of students each collecting, preserving, and properly archiving 5 species of local or regional fishes for deposition into the WSU Fish Collection.

Grading: 

A percentage of the points earned out of the total possible points (500) will be calculated for each student. To be certain of earning the grade of your choice, you should strive for the following percentages: A - 90%, B - 80%, C- 70%, D - 60%.  

Lecture Schedule and Required Readings:   

Jan 8 - Feb 12 Evolution & Anatomy

I. Background and introductory information

A. Ichthyology – What, where, why, how

B. Career opportunities for ichthyologists

II. Fish taxonomy and evolution

A. Vertebrate ancestry

B. Fish evolution

C. Major groups – living/extinct

III. Fish anatomy/morphology

A. External – fins, scales, barbels, color

B. Skeletal/muscular