Biology 170 – Marine Biology
Fall 2010
Section # 1288
Instructor: Julie Haugsness-White
Rhincodon typus male, photograph by by Zac Wolf
Contact information: jhwhite@miracosta.edu; (760) 757-2121 x6461
Webpage: link to website available on blackboard in the syllabus folder.
Office hours: T 10:45-11:30 am & TH 2:15-2:45 pm, SAN location TBA (or by appointment)
Course Information:
Class Time and Location: Lecture TTh 9:30-10:45 am SAN501; Lab Th 11:30-2:15 pm SAN402
Required Materials:
1. Text: Introduction to the Biology of Marine Life 9th Edition by Morrissey and Sumich
2. Additional Requirement: $7 for Birch Aquarium entrance fee
3. Lab exercises and other course materials must be downloaded from the
course website (http://blackboard.miracosta.edu). Internet connections are
available in the campus computer labs.
Important deadlines to keep in mind:
1. Last day to drop the class with no record of enrollment on your transcript: 9/4
2. Last day to withdraw and receive a ‘W’ on your transcript: 11/18
What basic skills are emphasized in this class?
1. Language / vocabulary comprehension
2. Reading comprehension
3. Communication by writing and oral presentation
Student Learning Outcomes: By the end of the semester you will be able to…
1. Assess how the physical environment influences the biology of marine life.
2. Evaluate structure function relationships in marine organisms.
3. Distinguish characteristics used to classify common forms of life in the ocean using appropriate
scientific terminology.
4. Evaluate anthropogenic impacts on the marine environment.
Specific Course Objectives: These objectives will help you to achieve the desired outcomes.
1. Identify how physical factors such as tides, currents, and the properties of seawater influence the
biology of marine life.
2. Differentiate the common forms of life in the ocean.
3. Examine the physiological adaptations to life in the marine environment.
4. Diagram the flow of energy through marine communities from primary producers to top
consumers.
5. Distinguish the major physical and biological characteristics that define marine communities
6. Compare existing, major, ocean fisheries and identify their past and present impacts on the
marine environment.
7. Examine anthropogenic impacts on the ocean including pollution, exploitation, and
management strategies.
Course Schedule:
Note: Entire chapters (e.g., ch 1), chapter sections (ch 2.1 means chapter 2 section 1),
and pages are indicated in the reading column
Week
1
Date
8/24
8/26
Lecture Topic
Introduction / Nature of marine life
Properties of seawater
2
8/31
9/2
9/7
9/9
9/14
Properties seawater / Ocean Circulation
Circulation / Intro to Food Webs
Plankton / Begin primary productivity
Primary productivity
Nutrient cycling
9/16
9/21
9/23
Discuss Iron Fertilization Article / Review
Lecture Exam 1 and Unit #1 Homework Due
Evolution & Intro to Animal Kingdom:
ch 2.1, 2.2, 5
Invertebrates
Invertebrates / Survey of Vertebrates
ch 6
Survey of marine vertebrates cont.
skim ch 12 for bird &
mammal vocab.
Thermoregulation and High performance
ch 10, “White shark”
fishes / Discuss White Shark article
article
Osmoregulation
p. 19-20 introduces
salt/H2O balance, ch 6
Oxygen Transport
ch 6.2
Diving physiology
“Diving” article;
p. 182-189
Lecture Exam 2 and Unit #2 Homework Due
Sensory Systems
p. 190-193; p. 312314 fish schooling
3
4
5
6
9/28
9/30
7
10/5
10/7
8
10/12
10/14
Reading
ch 1
ch 2.1, 2.3
ch 2.1, 2.3
ch 3, 4.4-4.5
“Iron Fertilization”
article
9
10/19
10/21
10
10/26
10/28
Buoyancy control
11
11/2
11/4
Begin Marine Habitats: Estuaries
Finish Estuaries / Begin Rocky Intertidal
12
11/9
11/11
Rocky Intertidal
Rocky intertidal / Review
13
11/16
11/18
Lecture Exam 3 and Unit #3 Homework Due
Kelp Forest
ch 4.2-4.3, ch 8.5
14
11/23
Coral reefs
Reproductive strategies
p. 301-305
p. 319-322; 281-286;
revisit ch 6 for reprod.
strategies in marine
vertebrates
ch 7
ch 8.1-8.4
Lab Exercise
Introduction / Safety / Scientific
Method: How is research
conducted? / Metric System
Properties of Seawater
Plankton
Photosynthesis & Testing
effects of pollution on plankton
Marine Invertebrate Diversity I
Taxonomic Classification &
Dichotomous Keys
Marine Invertebrate Diversity II
Porifera to Chordata / Invert
Relay
Invert Fouling Communities
(Field trip weather permitting)
Fish Diversity & Morphology
Sensory Systems / Discuss and
plan indep. project lab for next
week / Discuss prep for lab
exam
Estuarine / Sandy Intertidal
environmental monitoring lab –
Independent project
Rocky Intertidal (RI)Field Trip /
RP Intro /choose partner, topic
Dana Point Low tide -0.6 at 2:36 pm
ch 9
Complete RI data interpretation
/ Water Sampling and Bacterial
Culture Lab /
Complete Water Sampling and
Bacterial Culture Lab / Algae &
Photosynthetic Pigments
Self-guided field trip to
Birch Aquarium
11/
25
Holiday – campus closed
15
11/30
12/2
Finish Coral Reefs / Begin Deep Sea
Finish Deep Sea/ Begin Human Impacts
16
12/7
12/9
Human Impacts on the Sea
Human Impacts on the Sea
17
2
ch 10.3-10.4; ch 11
ch 13
RP Presentations Due: An
Examination of Fisheries and
Mariculture
Lab Notebooks Due /
Lab Exam / View documentary
Lecture Exam 4 and Unit #4 Homework Due on Tuesday, Dec 13 at 11:00 a.m. in the lecture room.
Please note that this is not our usual start time.
Grading:
Point breakdowns for each assignment are shown in the table below.
Course
Assessment
Lecture Exams
Homework
Points Possible
4 @ 100 points each. Total = 400 pts.
4 @ 20 points each.
Lowest HW score dropped in the final grade calculation.
60
104
Research Project
Lab Participation
& Lab Notebook
Lab exam
80
Total points possible in the class = 704. Grades will be based on points accumulated and final
letter grades are not negotiable. It is recommended that you keep accurate records of all
grades throughout the course. The following grading scale is used: A = ≥87%; B = 77-86%; C =
67-76%; D = 57-66%; F <57%
To
calculate
your grade
at anytime
during the
semester,
divide your
total points
earned by
the current
total points
possible
Descriptions of each course assessment:
Lecture Exams: Part of the goal of this college course is to foster a greater understanding of the language of science.
As a means of assessing your understanding of vocabulary and its context in the “bigger picture”, multiple choice
questions are presented in the lecture exams. To gauge your conceptual understanding of the material while encouraging
development of written communication skills, each exam will also include a significant written component in the form of
essay questions. To best prepare for exams review your lecture notes, complete the assigned readings BEFORE we
cover the topic in class (re-read the summaries at the end of each chapter), and make sure to review your homework
assignments. Lecture exams may include a cooperative learning component to them. I reserve the right to change the
exam dates if I feel it is necessary to improve student success. All exams must be taken and completed for a student to
be considered for a final course grade.
Essay Grading Rubric
Excellent (9-10 points)
Thoughtful and critical
answer to all portions of
the written essay question
and appropriate examples
to support argument are
provided.
Satisfactory completion
(7-8 points)
Answers provided but
critical analysis is missing
or incomplete; or examples
to support argument are
provided but are either not
appropriate or not
explained sufficiently.
Unsatisfactory completion
(0-6 points)
Little or no evidence of
adequate reflection.
Response is exceedingly
brief or absent. Answer
simply listed rather than
presented in organized
paragraph format.
Homework Assignments: Four homework assignments will be available online on the course website to be
downloaded, completed, and turned in on the day of each lecture exam (No late HWs accepted). Homework will include
questions based on the reading from the text and scientific journal articles posted on blackboard and are designed to be
used as a study guide for the lecture exams. If any of the homework answers are copied from another student (i.e.,
suspected of plagiarism) then the resultant grade for both or all students involved is zero…no exceptions. It is your
responsibility to be aware of and abide by the College’s Academic Honesty Policy.
Homework Grading Rubric
Excellent
(17-20 points)
> 90% of all questions answered;
Thoughtful and accurate answers
provided with appropriate examples
to support argument. Answers
Satisfactory completion
(14-16 points)
Thoughtful and accurate answers provided with
appropriate examples to support argument for > 80% of
questions; Or answers provided to all questions but
critical analysis is missing or incomplete; or examples
Unsatisfactory completion
(<14 points)
Little or no evidence of
adequate reflection on
<79% of the questions.
Response is exceedingly
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written in the student’s own words,
not plagiarized from book or
internet. A percentage of the total
points reduced for each question
not addressed.
to support argument are provided but are either not
appropriate or not explained sufficiently
Answers written in the student’s own words, not
plagiarized from book or internet. A percentage of the
total points reduced for each question not addressed.
brief or inaccurate. A
percentage of the total
points reduced for each
question not addressed.
Research Project: There are two forms of scientific research emphasized in this class: (1) research involving
conduction of experiments utilizing the scientific method to discover new information about a topic, and (2) library/webbased research to find accurate scientific information that has already been discovered and communicated. The research
project (RP) emphasizes the second form of scientific research in that it consists of an internet-based information search
on a specific topic; the findings of which you will present to the class in a PowerPoint presentation. A grading rubric is
provided in the assignment description. Go to the lab folder on blackboard and open the research project folder for info.
Lab Participation and Lab Notebook: Participation in weekly lab exercises and construction of a lab notebook
comprises a big part of your course grade. Each lab period you will earn points for participation, which is documented
on a weekly basis (read the next paragraph regarding documentation of attendance). Furthermore, at the end of the
semester you will submit a lab notebook. Your notebook should consist of all of your completed labs placed in a three-ring
binder in chronological order. In addition to points for participation in the entire lab period, completion of each lab exercise
is assigned a point value. When the lab notebook is graded, ONLY THOSE LABS IN WHICH YOU WERE IN
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATED will be counted towards your grade. In other words, simply copying the data
collected by your classmates and completing the questions on your own is not acceptable.
How to perform your best in the lab:
1. Print out the lab handouts each week: It is YOUR responsibility to print out each lab during the week in
which it is available and keep the completed lab in your notebook. Lab handouts are available on the blackboard
course website (look in the lab folder).
2. Document lab attendance and participation: To document your attendance and participation in the entire lab
period you must (1) print your name legibly on the attendance roster each week and (2) receive the instructor’s
initials on the lab exercise before you leave class.
3. Complete each lab exercise: Lab exercises and the associated media (videos, articles, etc.) are only available
for one week so make sure you stay on top of the lab schedule and print and complete exercises in a timely manner
Lab Participation and Notebook Grading Rubric
Grading Criteria for
each lab exercise
Documentation of
Attendance and
Participation
(required for credit
for the lab) 3
Data collection
Was sufficient data
collected for all
portions of the lab
exercise?
(2 pts)
Interpretation
Questions
Were descriptive
explanations
provided to
address all
experimental
questions?
(2 pts)
Neatness and
Legibility
4
Excellent (Exceeds
expectations)
Satisfactory
completion (Meets
expectations)
Unsatisfactory level of
achievement (Does not
meet expectations)
Attendance and participation in the lab
exercise was recorded by your instructor and
documented in the lab
(3 pts)
Attendance and
participation not
recorded by instructor
or documented in the
lab (0 pts)
Data collection 0 - 70%
complete; minimal
effort towards
documentation of data
(0 pts)
Data collection >90%
complete; satisfactory
effort in documentation
of data
(2 pts)
Data collection
>80% complete;
satisfactory effort in
documentation of
data (1 pt)
Substantive
descriptive
explanations to
address experimental
questions provided;
thoughtful and critical
analysis of
experimental
results/observations
(2 pts)
>90% of the writing is
neat and legible
Descriptive
explanations
provided to address
experimental
questions but lacks
thoughtful and
critical analysis of
experimental
results/observations
(1 pt)
Only 80% of the
writing is neat and
Descriptive
explanations provided
to address <70% of
the experimental
questions; little or no
evidence of adequate
reflection. Responses
exceedingly brief.
(0 pts)
< 70% of the writing is
neat and legible
Is the writing
(1 pt)
legible
(0 pts)
legible?
(0.5 pts)
(1 pt)
Before submitting your lab notebook, make sure (1) All pages of each lab exercise are
present and (2) labs are placed in correct chronological order in a 3-ring binder
Lab Exam: The lab exam will include questions pertaining to topics covered in the lab and field exercises. The exam will
be a mixture of short answer and essay style questions. The best way to prepare for the lab exam is to (1) keep accurate
records of observational and quantitative data as well as drawings of organisms observed throughout the semester, (2) be
as thorough as possible when completing each lab exercise, and (3) review the main ideas, observations, and
interpretation questions from each lab prior to the exam. No scantron is required.
Additional Information:
Extra Credit
Marine Biology Current Event worth 5 points. Keep your eyes open for news about ocean-related events, such as new
discoveries about global warming, changes in regulations of our fisheries, sewage spills, red tides, or any other cool
ocean-related news that you come across. The article or news report must be presented to me in lab. It can be an article
in the paper (popular press), a scientific journal article, or an online news report (CNN or a comparable news entity
preferably). The current event must be current, meaning the information must be from within three months of the date in
which it is presented. Students are limited to one current event.
Field Trip Information
In the field component of this course you will explore and perform sampling studies along several coastal habitats.
Promptness and participation in field activities is critical – mark your calendars with field trip dates now and prepare ahead
of time by following the guidelines provided by your instructor. Field trips will take place during the scheduled class time. If
you have a class immediately following the lab period, please see me to make arrangements to ensure your timely arrival
back to campus.
The following suggestions regarding field trip apparel and precautions are made so that you may prepare ahead of time
for each field exploration: 1. You must wear appropriate clothing and shoes on all field trips. It is recommended that you
bring a spare pair of sneakers with you to the field. 2. If you own a wet suit or wading boots, bring them to any field site in
which sampling in or near the water may occur. 3. Bring a towel, jacket, snack, and proper sun protection (hat and
sunscreen).
Note: Due to the dependency of field activities on tides and weather, it may be necessary for field trips to be rescheduled
at the last minute. In the case of unsafe weather conditions, the lab exercise will be rescheduled.
Attendance / Make-up Policy
Being present and on time to class will greatly enhance your ability to succeed in this course. If you are late to class,
please respect the instructor and your classmates by entering quietly. If you must miss a lecture keep in mind that a
portion of the material covered in this class may not be found in the textbook but will be on the exams so please make
sure you obtain the notes and other material from a classmate. WITHDRAWAL FROM THIS COURSE IS YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY. Students who do not show up for lecture will not be automatically dropped (except for during the first
week of class). If you must drop or withdraw from this class, please be aware of deadlines and college policy regarding
these issues. Before deciding to drop, please come and see me either in office hours or at the beginning or end of class.
ATTENDANCE IN LAB IS REQUIRED. There are no make-up opportunities for exercises performed in the lab or
field. Like any performance-based course, attendance will be taken during lab and any STUDENTS MISSING ANY
PORTION OF MORE THAN THREE LABS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY DROPPED from the course.
Academic Resources
The MiraCosta College faculty librarians assist students with their research questions, whether academic or
personal. Students may obtain assistance from librarians either one-on-one at the reference desk, through class
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orientations, group workshops, individual appointments, or online. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of library
resources. More information regarding the library may be found at their webpage: www.miracosta.edu/library.
The Tutoring and Academic Support Center (TASC) and the Writing Center (WC) assist students by providing individual
and group tutoring, WC drop-ins, learning communities, self-help materials, and student success workshops. Services are
free and available to all students during day and evening hours at all MiraCosta College campuses. I recommend that you
take advantage of these academic support services. For more specific information, please call (760) 795-6682.
Academic Honesty Policy
All students are expected to abide by the rules for academic honesty outlined by the college. Any breach of academic
honesty (cheating or other dishonest practice) in this course will result in a zero on that assignment and may result in
dismissal from the class. Plagiarism is using someone else’s ideas or words without proper attribution. Copying of exams,
homework assignments, lab reports, or having another person do your work for you constitute plagiarism. Even though
you may work in groups, each individual must have their own copies of the material and must write their own answers to
questions posed on handouts and in class. For a complete description of all academic policies, please refer to the
MiraCosta College catalog (although hard copies are available, it is also online for your convenience).
Disabled students
If you have a hidden or visible disability, which may require classroom, field trip, or test accommodations, please see me
as soon as possible during a scheduled office hour. If you have not already done so, please register with Disabled
Students Programs & Services at (760) 795-6658. Their office is located in Building 3000, adjacent to parking lot 3C.
Clarification of Performance Expectations
What can you expect from me? Respect for students is demonstrated by…
1. To begin and end class on time.
I start lecture and lab promptly. Lectures are scheduled for 1 hr and 15-20 minutes and labs are scheduled for 2
hrs 50 minutes. If you commute between campuses, allow yourself at least 45 minutes of travel time.
2. To be organized.
All due dates for assignments and exams are stated here in the syllabus. All course materials will be provided or
be made accessible to you in a timely fashion. (Timely means homework assignments are provided two weeks
ahead of their due date and labs are provided one week before they are to be completed). If you need clarification
on any due dates at any time throughout the semester, feel free to ask me.
3. To treat all students fairly.
My policy for turning in late assignments, and the exam make-up policy are both stated above. To remain fair to
all students, I adhere strictly to these policies and you can trust that I give no special treatment to any one
student. I will answer anyone’s questions and help facilitate everyone’s learning to the best of my abilities.
4. To return students’ work in a timely fashion and to grade equitably.
My primary concern when grading is to remain fair, equitable and consistent among all students. Due to the large
volume of grading and the fact that I read carefully your answers in all course assessments, I require some time
to return your work. I usually devote my weekend time to grading your assessments (yes, this means I have “no
life”), so a minimum one-week turn-around time for grading exams is a reasonable expectation while homework
may take a bit longer. Exceptions to this prompt return of work may occur, as I am human and life does not
always go as smoothly as one would hope.
5. To make sure that the workload of the course is appropriate
As in any biological science course, there will be a significant amount of work involved in this class. The amount
of work required by me is equivalent to (and consistent with): (1) that of all other sections of this course taught
here at MiraCosta, and (2) the same class at any other community college, liberal arts college, or four-year
university. This course covers similar curriculum, including vocabulary and conceptual-based issues, to what you
will find at any other academic institution. The workload of this course is reasonable; I do not assign “busy work”.
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The homework assignments are designed to reinforce concepts covered in lecture, to guide you thru the textbook
reading, and to prepare you for the exams.
6. To be responsive to your individual learning needs and to communicate effectively.
I will do my best to accommodate the various learning needs of all of my students. Visuals, in-class activities and
discussions, use of analogies to explain concepts, and standard lecture “chalk-talk” are all provided in order to
communicate effectively with the greatest diversity of students. To meet this end, I vary my teaching style
throughout a lecture or from day to day.
If you require a specific accommodation, communicate this with me early in the semester so that we can make
sure that you have all of the tools necessary for you to succeed.
If you would like clarification on a specific topic or term, please ask. I am always willing and ready to review
material. If the amount of material that must be reviewed is too large for the allotted lecture time, a supplemental
meeting time/place will be established or I will refer you to an appropriate source for further information.
I encourage your questions, comments, and discussion in class and hope that you will engage in class
participation on a regular basis. I do ask that you keep your contributions relevant to our inquiry into marine
biology and appropriate for the setting.
7. To be available and accessible to my students.
Regular office hours, additional appointments to meet and discuss academic issues, and of course my email
address are all available to you. If you email me, allow 24 hours for me to return your email, 48 hours on the
weekend.
What do I expect from you in return? Respect for me and your classmates is demonstrated by…
1. Arriving on time to lecture and lab.
If you are late, please enter quietly.
2. Turning your cell-phone and other electronic devices OFF.
No cell-phones, PDAs, I-Pods, etc. are allowed in class. Bleeps, rings, and all other noises during class are
distracting to your fellow students, disrespectful, and rude.
3. Coming to class prepared. This includes the following behaviors:
(a) Know what the assignments are and when they are due (see Blackboard);
(b) Read the textbook chapters and assigned articles (see your syllabus for the course schedule of reading);
(c) Bring your textbook and lecture questions to class daily.
4. Engaging in proper classroom etiquette as follows:
(a) Be courteous and respect other peoples’ opinions.
(b) Never speak while others (including your instructor) are trying to speak.
5. Participating fully in all class activities.
6. Turning your work in on time.
Please do not ask for personal exceptions; the due dates and exam dates are explicitly stated in the syllabus and
may only be adjusted (in rare circumstances) for the good of the entire class as judged by the instructor.
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