- Course Code
- BI 25Z1
- Credit Points
- 15
- Course Coordinator
- Dr C S Jones
Pre-requisites
Overview
Ninety-seven percent of living organisms are invertebrates belonging to around 31 phyla. Their diversity of form and organisation is astonishing and their classification complex and controversial. Their life styles and life histories are frequently bizarre and their occupation of diverse, often hostile, environments spectacular. They are a major food resource for many vertebrates, including man; some wreak havoc through parasitism whilst others inflict enormous damage as agricultural pests. This course briefly reviews classification of invertebrate animals and examines functional aspects of their biology: locomotion, nutrition, reproduction, and nervous co-ordination and control. Weekly practicals address the important biological principles and encourage development of basic scientific skills including experimental design, hypothesis testing and data analysis in the context of individual and group learning.
Structure
12 weeks - 3 lectures and 1 three-hour laboratory per week.
To pass this course a pass must be achieved in BOTH the theory exam and the in-course assessment there will be a 1 hour exam on in-course material.
Assessment
1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (50%) and in-course assessment of laboratory work (50%).
Resit: A resit exam, in the same format as the main exam. This may contain material from both the practical and lecture components of the course.