WFSC 448 - Fish Ecophysiology

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INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Thomas J. DeWitt
Associate Professor
Department of Ecology & Conservation Biology
Texas A&M University

E-mail tdewitt"@"tamu.edu
DeWitt Office: 214 WFES
Office hours: 1 - 3 pm, Fridays

This course is centered on ecological domains and the demands they place on physiological performance. This course centers on several related themes: (1) physiological mechanisms and control in fishes, (2) interaction of physiological mechanisms with the environment, and (3) adaptive value of physiological traits. The latter are ultimately emphasized. I also emphasize analysis of physiology and adaptation with models. We therefore will be doing some process and functional modeling. Each week we will quickly refresh background from other courses and extend that knowledge to new domains. As this is a senior level course, learning goals will emphasize higher order skills as detailed below, in addition to informational content of the course.

Learn to think integratively. (build conceptual framework with information from different domains)
Learn to think creatively. (come up with ideas no one else has thought)
Learn to think thoroughly. (carry through logical scenarios to distant yet probable ends)
Learn to think about connectedness of physiological systems, ecological systems, and physio-eco couplings.
Read a lot of scientific literature. (gain facility extracting information; gain information)
Learn to critically evaluate experimental designs. (understand replication within treatments, time frames, dosages, interactions, and power)
Learn to think quantitatively. (e.g. understand statistics, modeling)
Learn some ecology and physiology of fishes.
Practice preparing an oral presentation.
Practice giving an oral presentation.
Practice participation in scholarly oral discourse.
Spark and feed your sense of wonder about nature.