James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2002

MB5380:03

Marine Invertebrate Biology

Townsville

HECS Band 2

26 hours lectures, 5 hours tutorials, 33 hours practicals, 8 hours field work. Semester 2. Students will be required to attend lectures, practicals, tutorials and field trips in MB2080.

Available to GDipResMeth, GCertResMeth, GDipSc, MAppSc and MSc students.

Staff: Ms G Brodie.

This subject covers the biology and taxonomy of those invertebrate groups that have a significant representation and diversity in the marine environment. Field and laboratory techniques for identifying difficult groups will be included and there is a strong focus on tropical fauna. A diversity of marine invertebrate phyla will be studied through an integrated series of lectures, practicals, tutorials and field trips.

Learning Objectives:

  1. become familiar with a wide range of marine invertebrate phyla and their tropical representatives;
  2. develop a working knowledge of the features used to identify marine invertebrate groups;
  3. recognise the biological and environmental significance of invertebrates;
  4. develop a high level of information retrieval and oral discussion skills.

Assessment by a practical/field book, group discussion tutorials and course project.