Fish Physiology Lecture and Lab

Catalog description

Overviews comparative marine and freshwater fish ecology, biology and physiology. Focuses on comparative physiology, supported by a focus on fishes from various habitats, including local California fishes and fishes that inhabit extreme environments on Earth. Provides an overview of fish physiology, and links between environment, climate change, and evolutionary history through a combination of lectures and interactive class activities. Includes embryonic development, cardiovascular system, respiration, responses to temperature, responses to hypoxia and anoxia, diversity of fishes, morphology, taxonomy, and anatomy. The laboratory component provides hands-on experience with experimental techniques in fish biology and physiology. Teaches techniques on fish acclimation, respiration, thermal tolerance, anatomy, development, and enzyme activities. Includes multi-week experiments to assess phenotypic changes in fish physiology. Perform statistical analyses and present experimental results as reports. Three hours of lecture. Four hours of laboratory. May not be taken for credit by students who received credit for: BIOL 487-2 or BIOL 423 . Prerequisite(s): BIOL 353 .