Lab Schedule
The laboratory portion of Biology 337 is a hands-on opportunity to learn about the structure and function of the major invertebrate body plans. You will examine living and preserved specimens, many collected locally and some sent from other biological field stations. Each week you will complete exercises consisting of observations, dissections, drawings, and thought questions. A handout will guide you through these exercises; additional paper will be available for you to complete drawings. There is a lot of material, and you must try to use your time efficiently. Keep all handouts, exercise sheets, and drawings, organized in a notebook to use when studying for the lab practical exams (guidelines available at the course website).
We will meet for lab once a week for three hours. You are expected to attend every lab and to remain for the duration. Given the nature of the material and its display, there will be no opportunity for make-up labs, and the lab day is the only day you will have access to the material. The scheduled labs are therefore your only chance during the semester to create a study guide that will help you to study for exams and to recall information in the future. The material may be wet and/or dirty, so dress appropriately. On weeks with field trips (toward the end of the course) you will be notified in advance of appropriate gear to bring.
Worksheets: Lab worksheets will be available for printout at least one day before the lab, and must be printed out before the lab start time. Use the links below to download for printing. You must work efficiently to complete as much as you can on the day of the lab. In a typical week, you can turn in labs on the lab day or at the following lecture.
Feedback: Your completed worksheet will be evaluated each week. The TA will look over answers to select thought questions (TQs) and at drawings, and assign a grade based on (1) your level of effort in creating extensive, labeled, scaled, and informative drawings and (2) your thoughtfulness in answering TQs. Your answers and drawings will not be evaluated in depth, so it is your responsibility to ask for specific feedback on drawings, ideas, and progress. The handout will be returned to you at the following lab meeting or earlier.
Look here for suggestions about how to make the most of your laboratory experience.
Please print handouts double-sided if possible.
Files require username ("biol337") and password (available on syllabus and at OAKS class site).
Wk Date Laboratory topic Handout 1
Jan 12
F
Phylogenetics & the Boltozoa
Lab A 2
19
F
Porifera, Cnidaria I (Cl. Hydrozoa)
Lab B 3
26
F
Cnidaria II (Anthozoa/Scyphozoa/Cubozoa); Ctenophora; Worms I (Platyhelminthes)
Lab C 4
Feb 2
F
Worms II (Nemertea, Nematoda, Annelida)
Lab D 5
9
F
Midterm exam I (Lecture/reading and laboratory portions)
6 16
F
Mollusca I (Polyplacophora, Gastropoda)
Lab E 7
23
F
Mollusca II (Bivalvia, Cephalopoda)
Lab F, Dissection F 8
Mar 2
F
Arthropoda I (Trilobitomorpha, Crustacea) Lab G, Dissection G 9
9
F
Echinodermata
Lab H, Dissection H 10
16
F
Urochordata, Lophophorates (Brachiopoda, Bryozoa, Phoronida)
Lab I 11
23
F
--spring break--
12
30
F
Midterm exam II (Lecture/reading and laboratory portions)
13
Apr 6
F
Terrestrial communities: Arthropoda II (Chelicerata, Tracheata), Tardigrada [field collection]
Lab J 14
13
F
Benthic communities [boat trip for benthic sampling]
Lab K (I will provide printout in lab) 15
20
F
Planktonic communities & larval biology [plankton sampling]
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