Biology of Fishes ENV 422/NRE 422/EEB 440

Instructor: Solomon David

GSI: Anat Belasen

Overview

Background & Introduction

Instructors

Objectives

Assignments

Course Topics

Background & Intro

Instructors

Solomon David

Anat Belasen (GSI)

Objectives

Develop an understanding of the major groups of fishes, their phylogeny, evolution, and adaptation to life in aquatic environments.

Gain an appreciation for the diversity of fishes, their importance to human cultures, and their role in the evolution of all other vertebrates.

Explore contemporary issues related to the biology and conservation ecology of fishes.

References

Website: http://umichfishes.wordpress.com

Textbook (not required) :

The Diversity of Fishes

(Helfman et al 2010)

Assignments

Species capsule write-up

Journal article review

Presentation

Course Topics

Classification

Anatomy & Physiology

Biogeography

Conservation Ecology

Fisheries Management

Aquaculture

Phylogeny of Lepisosteiformes

Vertebrates Gnathostomes

Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes) Osteichthyes (bony fishes)

Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fishes)

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

Polypteriformes (bichirs) Chondrostei (sturgeons, paddlefishes)

Neopterygii

LEPISOSTEIFORMES (gars) Amiiformes (bowfins)

Teleostei (catfishes, pike, perch…)

Combined data for all 3 genes

Great Lakes uniform

Mississippi diverse

W. Gulf Coast divergent

Wetlands & fluvial habitats

Species & habitat analyses

Muskegon Lake (Lake Michigan)

Crane Creek (Lake Erie)

Questions?