Fish Biology & Conservation

Catalog description

This course will provide a broad overview of numerous aspects of fish biology, including their anatomy, physiology, taxonomy, evolution, and ecology. In addition, the course will also examine management strategies for preserving aquatic ecosystems, with an emphasis on the conservation and management of fish populations targeted by recreational and/or commercial fishing. The laboratory portion of the course will be partially field based, providing students with the opportunity to sample fishes using techniques employed by natural resources managers. The course will also provide background in the process of identifying local fish species, for the purpose of population assessment and environmental monitoring. This course fulfills the ecology/evolution or organismal elective requirement.