CATALOG DESCRIPTION: A survey of the major invertebrate phyla emphasizing classification, morphology, natural history, evolution, and behavior. At least one Saturday coastal field trip is required. Credit, 4 semester hours.

GOALS: To gain a better understanding of and appreciation for the diversity found in the animal kingdom in terms of morphology, metabolism, lifestyles, adaptations, behaviors, etc. Also to understand something of the evolutionary history and relationships among the major animal groups.

TEXT: Invertebrates by Brusca & Brusca (2nd edition). There will also be several important handouts given in both lecture and lab.

GRADING: 3 lecture exams worth 20% each (60%)
3 lab exams worth 15% each for the two highest scores, and 10% for the lowest score.
I will use a 10-point grading scale: 90-100=A, 80-89=B, etc. and I will assign + & - grades as in this example: B-=80-82.9, B=83-86.9, B+=87-89.9.

LABORATORY: Will typically involve looking at slides, specimens, dissections, films, etc. of the phyla covered that week. Your 3 lab exams will test your knowledge and recognition of these materials.

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is expected at every class meeting. If you should miss any lectures or labs. You must get the missed material from other students (any handouts from me). If an exam is missed, notify me as soon as possible as to the reason. If the reason is judged to be valid, a make-up exam will be scheduled. Regular exams usually include some bonus points, make-ups exams will not. If you are a responsible adult who cares about your education and doing your best, you will be at every possible class meeting. I will not reward good attendance or punish poor attendance by adding or deducting course points.

CLOSING HOTLINE: The school does at times cancel classes for all or part of a day, usually due to bad weather. To find out if classes are running as usual, call the University Hotline at: (910) 521-6888.

CELL PHONES: No professor appreciates cell phones ringing in class. Please turn them off or to vibration mode while in class. Off is preferable, unless you are expecting a real emergency call.

Behavior: I expect you to be aware of the contents of the Academic Honor Code, found in Section IV. Rights and Responsibilites of the Student Handbook (online and hardcopy), and its wording on cheating, plagiarism, academic dishonesty, and the Code of Conduct. I especially stress that you should be in class to take notes, ask questions, give input when it is pertinent, and to give your attention to what is being presented in the class. Any continued/repetitive form of disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. You need to be respectful of the material presented and of your fellow students who have come to learn the material. As laid out in the Student Handbook under Code of Conduct (items 15 & 17), disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Should disruptive behavior become excessive, you will be asked to leave the classroom, and you must seek permission from me before reentering the class on the next class day. Continued problem behavior will be reported to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, and you may be administratively withdrawn from the class. Do not bring food to either lectures or lab. Drinks will be tolerated if you are careful and clean up any spilled liquid.

EMAILS: any emails to me should in the topic Bio.310, so that I will read it rather than delete it.

CLASS VISITORS: Please check with me beforehand if you have someone with you who you want to sit in on the class session (especially so in the case of children).

DISABILITY: Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments is required to speak directly to Disablility Support Services and the instructor as early as possible, preferably within the 1st week. All discussions will remain confidential. Please contact: Disability Support Services, DF Lowery Building, Room 107 or call 521-6695 for an appointment.

LECTURE SYLLABUS:

Introduction Ch. 1
Classification Ch. 2
Protists Ch. 5
Porifera Ch. 6
Placozoa & Rhombozoa Ch. 7
Cnidaria Ch. 8
Ctenophora Ch. 9
Platyhelminthes Ch. 10
Nemertea Ch. 11
EXAM I

Excretion
Parthenogenesis
Gastrotricha Ch. 12
Nematoda Ch. 12
Nematomorpha Ch. 12
Rotifera Ch. 12
Acanthocephala Ch. 12
Sipuncula Ch. 14
Mollusca Ch. 20
Annelida Ch. 13
Pogonophora Ch. 11
EXAM II

Tardigrada Ch. 15
Onychophora Ch. 15
Arthropoda Ch. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
Echinodermata Ch. 22
Chaetognatha Ch. 23
Hemichordata Ch. 23
Chordata Ch. 23
Bryozoa (Ectoprocta) Ch. 21
Brachiopoda Ch. 21
Patterns of Invertebrate Evolution Ch. 24
Invertebrate Behavior
EXAM III