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Appledore Island, Isle of Shoals, Kittery, Maine
t: 603.964.9011 • shoals.lab@unh.edu • shoalsmarinelaboratory.org
Shoals Marine Laboratory
Field Marine Invertebrate Biology (BIOSM 3830/MEFB 630)
25 May - 8 June 2015
OLD Course Syllabus and Schedule from 2015
Faculty:
Dr. Paula Mikkelsen (pmm37@cornell.edu)
Teaching Assistant: Jonah Morreale (jsm425@cornell.edu)
With guest participation by Dr. Justin McCallister (College of the Holy Cross), Dr. David
Plachetzki (UNH), artist Tom Glover (Banks Gallery, Portsmouth), and Hal Weeks (Shoals ML)
Prerequisites: One semester of college level biology or equivalent Class enrollment limit: 15
Credit hours: 3
Course Objectives/Goals: An introduction to the biology and diversity of the major marine invertebrate
groups, with an emphasis on field and laboratory techniques. Topics and methods include basic invertebrate
identification, functional morphology through dissection, qualitative and quantitative biotic inventory, intertidal
and shallow subtidal collecting (including dredging), zonation, biotic interactions, life histories, and behavior.
Mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms, and worms will be covered in depth; other phyla will be discussed as they
are encountered in the field. In addition to field and laboratory assignments, students will develop original
short-term research projects that demonstrate skills in research design, data collection and analysis,
presentation, and preparation for publication. Appledore Island's unique location and varied temperate shallowwater habitats provide an excellent venue for the encounter of freshly collected, in situ representatives of more
than 200 species during the 2-week course.
Through the directed study of selected marine invertebrates in a field setting, students will develop the
skills to design and complete a research project, including defining objectives, designing protocol, making
course corrections, analyzing data, and presenting results in oral and written forms. They will master
techniques of documented observation, marine animal care in the laboratory, field and laboratory
experimentation, and qualitative and quantitative biotic inventory. They will work as a class, in small groups,
and individually in field and laboratory settings.
Course Materials:
Required/Suggested textbooks and/or references
Biology of the Invertebrates, 7th ed., by Jan A. Pechenik, McGraw-Hill (2014 or earlier edition)
(purchase optional, lab copy will be available)
A Practical Guide to the Marine Animals of Northeastern North America, by Leland Pollock,
(Rutgers Univ Press, 1998) (purchase optional, lab copy will be available)
Shoals Marine Laboratory on Appledore Island, Isles of Shoals, Maine: Dedicated to undergraduate education and research in marine science since 1966
Supplemented with other field guides and primary literature (provided)
Assignments & Grading:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Lab and field notebook (completeness, originality)
Class assignments, field and classroom participation
Quiz and lab practical exam
Final exam
Research project
25%
10%
20%
20%
25%
Expectations and Conduct:
Students are responsible for fully understanding all of the information presented in this syllabus. If there
are any questions regarding this information, it is the student’s responsibility to bring it to the instructor’s
attention. In addition, students are responsible for attending all activities associated with this course and
completing all assignments. Students are responsible for asking questions anytime they need clarification
(remember, there is no such thing as a bad question).
Every student is responsible for their own behavior - specifically in being respectful and collegial to
other students and with instructors. Students are responsible for fully understanding and adhering all of the
information presented in the SML Appledore Handbook (http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_forms.html)
1. Personal Technology. Do not use cell phones, smart phones, iPads, mp3 players,
headphones, or similar devices in the classroom or during course activities. If you take notes
with your computer, disable wireless access during lecture.
2. The lab has a modest computer facility in Laighton Library; please treat this shared facility
with respect. Printers are available, but please limit printing to your FINAL document (if
required).
3. Transmission of Course Materials. Students are not authorized to replicate, reproduce, copy
or transmit lectures and course materials presented, or derivative materials including class
notes, for sale or free distribution to others without written consent of the instructors who are
the original source of the materials.
4. Academic Integrity. Any work submitted must be your own. Uncredited use of another
person’s words, data or images is considered plagiarism, a serious violation of the Code,
whether the material comes from another student, a web site, or a published paper.
Students must adhere to Cornell’s and UNH’s Policy for Academic Honesty/Plagiarism and
Discrimination
i.
Cornell: http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/aic.cfm
ii.
UNH: http://www.unh.edu/vpsas/handbook/welcome-university-new-hampshire
5. Disabilities & ADA Accommodation: Students with a disability must contact Cornell’s (420
CCC building; 607-254-4545) or UNH’s Student Disability
Serviceshttp://www.unh.edu/disabilityservices) four weeks prior to start of class for
confidential discussion of needs and for registration to verify eligibility for academic
accommodations. No retroactive accommodations can be made.
6. Mental Health: Shoals Marine Laboratory cares about you and your well-being. If you
experience unusual personal or academic stress during the course or need to talk with
someone about a personal problem, seek support from your instructors as soon as possible.
In addition, any SML staff is available for consultation 24/7. Find staff in the office in the
Hamilton House between 8am – 7pm or knock on the door of Bartell House after hours
Schedule:
Monday, May 25:
Arrival, Orientation
Lecture: Overview / Invertebrate Recognition
Tuesday, May 26:
LT 12:25P
Lecture: Shoals Inverts – Where to Find What
Field: Great Tidepool & Halftide Ledges
Lab, Class Presentations: Pick an Invert
Lab: What Did We Find?
Wednesday, May 27:
LT 1:16P
Field: Creek Farm (all day)
Lecture: Worms
Thursday, May 28:
LT 2:05P
Lecture & Lab: Mollusks
Field: Dredging Cruise
Friday, May 29:
LT 2:51P
Lecture and Lab: Plankton
Field: Smuttynose Island and Plankton from the Dock
Lab: What did we find?
Guest Lecture: Cnidarians/genomics (Plachetzki)
Saturday, May 30:
LT 3:35P
Lecture & Lab: Arthropods
Guest Lecture: Transect Study (Weeks)
Sunday, May 31:
LT 4:15P
Lecture & Field: Transects
Quiz and Project Discussion
Monday, June 1:
LT 4:55P
Class Presentations: Pick an Invert and Transect Analysis
Lecture, Lab, & Field: Echinoderms (McCallister)
Tuesday, June 2:
LT 5:32A, 5:35P
Lab Practical / notebooks due
Review – Jeopardy!
Wednesday, June 3:
LT 6:12A, 6:59P
Lecture: Echinoderm Life Histories (McCallister)
Final Exam
Thursday, June 4:
LT 6:53A
Projects
Lecture: Statistics
Friday, June 5:
LT 7:37A
Projects
Saturday, June 6:
LT 8:23A
Projects
Sunday, June 7:
LT 9:13A
Project Presentations / Project Reports Due
Lab Clean-up, Packing, Party!
Monday, June 8:
Departure
(Tides listed for Gosport Harbor; minus LTs in red)