Marine Biology
Señor Robles
Welcome to Marine Biology
Syllabus 2014-2015
Contact Information
 Room 1301
 Email: roblesb@issaquah.wednet.edu
 Website: http://theroblesite.weebly.com
 (425) 837-6063
CLASS OBJECTIVES
 To develop Ocean Literacy
 To expand your scientific knowledge into the specific realm of marine life
COURSE OUTLINE
Below are the units we cover. The order is subject to change and does not conform to the order of units
presented in the textbook.
Aquatic Insects
 Arthropod anatomy
 Classification of living things
 Adaptations to an aquatic lifestyle
Watershed Habitats
 Human management and the environmental impacts of poor management
 Biomagnification
 Edge Ecosystems
Migratory Fish
 Life cycles and life histories
 Walking field trip to the Issaquah Hatchery
Salinity
 Adapting to salty conditions; balancing your internal conditions with your surrounding
 Recreating hypersaline conditions to raise specialized organisms
Fish
 Special adaptations
 Classification
 50 + species to learn!
Aquatic Birds
 Adapting to marine life
 Guest presentation from COASST (Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team)
Oceanography
 Physical forces of the ocean: tides and currents.
 Marine geography: do you know your seas and oceans?
 Nautical exploration
Plankton
 The basis of the marine food web
 A world of larvae
Marine Invertebrates
 Classification of dozens of critters
 Anatomical investigations of selected invertebrates
Sharks
 These fish get special treatment because of the interest level
 Dogfish shark dissection!
Seaweed
 Plantlike organisms of the sea
Marine Reptiles
 Past and present sea reptiles
 Adaptations to an aquatic lifestyle
Marine Mammals
 Land animals that returned to the sea
 Captivity and amusement
Human Impacts on the Ocean and its Life
 The detrimental effects of human activity: overfishing, pollution.
 Major changes in the Earth’s oceans: global warming, ocean acidification.
 The hope for solutions
I am only allowed for
educational purposes
and with permission.
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
 Treat all class members (including the instructor) with respect
 Keep the room clean. No food or drinks at the lab tables.
 Be aware of all the safety rules, and conduct yourself accordingly.
 Cell phones, iPods, etc. must be off or on silent/vibrate mode during class (if your device causes a
disruption in class or lab, I will confiscate it.) There are times you may use your phone for taking
pictures or for going online, but you need to get permission.
 Please be on time. Three or more tardies per semester will earn you detention.
 Be aware of the late work policy:
___If you are absent and can’t help turning something in past its due date, write “ABSENT” on
the paper, along with the date you were missing.
___Late work (not due to absence) is worth 50%
I am NEVER allowed.
___Overly late work (a week or more past the assigned date) will not be accepted

Come to class prepared
o Pencils & pens
o Paper in a binder
o Lab journal
o You may keep your book at home, but there is assigned reading and homework.
There will be numerous projects, presentations, and field trips. Be prepared for an exciting year!
Grading Scale in %
A
93 or higher
A90-92.99
B+
87-89.99
B
83-86.99
B80-82.99
C+
77-79.99
C
73-76.99
C70-72.99
D+
67-69.99
D
60-66.99
F
0-59.99
Percentage breakdown
Quizzes & tests….………30
Labwork……….....……...20
Assignments…….……….20
Participation……….….....10
Projects………………….10
Semester Final………..…10
Please provide signatures below:
Student: _______________________________________
Parent/guardian: _________________________________ Date: ________________