EEB 3898 Field Methods in Fish Biology
Summer Session I, 2014
Course Duration: June 2nd - July 2nd, 2014
Meeting Time: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9:00 am - 12:00pm in TLS 371
Welcome to Field Methods in Fish Biology! This course is a hands-on, field based introduction to the biology of fishes and field sampling methods, with emphasis on local species.
Instructor
Jonathan Velotta
Email: jonathan.velotta@uconn.edu
Office: Biology/Pharmacy 212
Phone: (860) 486-4694
Mobile: (203) 394-7815
Office hours: by appointment
Syllabus and Course Information
Syllabus
Working Schedule
Date
|
Lecture
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Exercise
|
Assignment
|
M 2 June
|
Introduction to fish biology and field methods, active gear and gear bias
Lecture 1
|
Beach seine and minnow trap Swan Lake
|
Reading: Field Notebook Guidelines; How to read a science article; Poos et al 2007
|
W 4 June
|
Field Trip
|
Beach seine and minnow trap Mansfield Hollow Reservoir
|
Reading: Fink et al 1979 (Section I)
|
F 6 June
|
CT fish diversity I, active and electroshocking gear, curation of fish collections Lecture 2
|
External anatomy and morphometrics and meristics; Fish fixation protocol
|
Quiz I Monday; Field exercise report I due Monday
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M 9 June
|
Please arrive on time!
|
Backpack electrofishing Eldredge Brook with Dr. Vokoun
|
Reading: Gorman and Karr 1978
|
W 11 June
|
Lotic systems and stream order Pre-lab lecture
|
Seine Willimantic River with Dr. Vokoun
|
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F 13 June
|
CT fish diversity II; passive gear; river habitats
|
Identify and preserve specimens
|
Reading: Post et al 2008; Field exercise report II due Monday
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M 16 June
|
Field Trip
|
Boat electrofishing CT river with DEEP and retrieval of hoop nets
|
Exam I and Quiz II Wednesday; prepare field notebook
|
W 18 June
|
Exam I and ID Quiz I & II - field notebooks due!
|
Alewife night trip
|
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F 20 June
|
Internal anatomy and fish parasites
|
Dissection lab, collection of hard parts for aging
|
Field Exercise report III due Monday
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M 23 June
|
Field Trip
|
Seine Morris Cove with NOAA
|
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W 25 June
|
Long Island Sound diversity; visual observation methods; population and community ecology
|
Identify and preserve saltwater fishes
|
Quiz III Friday; Reading: McKinley et al 2001
|
F 27 June
|
ID Quiz III |
Visual observation methods - sunfish nesting and ethogram
|
Finish ethogram due Monday; Reading: scientific-writing guidelines
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M 30 June
|
Field notebook check II (end of class) |
Tentative: visual observation methods - population abundance at Diana's Pool
|
Final Exam study; Finish final report
|
W 2 July
|
Finalize and present biodiversity collection; Final Exam
|
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[*changes to our field trip itinerary may be made pending weather, etc.]
Web Resources
Fish Base
CT DEEP Bookstore