Introduction to the Fishes

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Introduction to the Fishes
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Focus

• 20,000 species
• will cover important species
• selected regional fishes
• representatives of major groups
• well-known fishes
• all higher taxa
• Order primitive to recent

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Goals

• how to identify fishes using a key
• how to recognize important fishes and taxa
• characteristics of important fishes and taxa
• the classification system and higher taxonomic
  categories
• logic of classification system
• how to identify newly encountered fish

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Details

• laboratory handouts will identify which species
  and taxa are to be learned
• goal to minimize without sacrificing a sound
  framework
• additional information will be presented during
  intro. and demonstrations
• room on handouts for notes
• learn either scientific or standardized common
  names (actual names of higher taxa)
• (2 points plus 0.5 extra credit for both)
• learn level if given (e.g. Class Chondrichthyes)

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Lab Handouts

ICHTHYOLOGY
Laboratory 6--Fishes Phylum Chordata
chordates Subphylum Craniata (Vertebrata) Cl
ass Myxini - one familyhagfishes Order
Myxiniformes Family Myxinidae - hagfishes
(32 spp)

Eptatretus stouti - Pacific
hagfish __________________________________________
______________________________________
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Final Exam on the Fishes

• 120 point exam
• practicalusing specimens and slides

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Two Steps to Learning the Fishes

• learning to recognize an individual
• knowing the name (sci or common) and higher taxa

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Fishes Learning Program

• The traditional method of learning fishes in this
  course and other ichthyology courses primarily
  involves direct examination of preserved
  specimens.
• limitations
• challenge to remember characters from fish keys
• insufficient time to develop patterns of
  recognition for the species

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Consider

• recognizing your friend at the airport versus
  recognizing someone else's friend
• analogous to recognizing a fish using subtle
  patterns versus memorizing series of characters

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Fishes Learning Program Goals

• to help students learn to recognize patterns
• aid long-term retention

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Fishes Learning Program

• designed to allow quick viewing of the species
  presented in each lab. This aids in seeing each
  species numerous times
• three or more slides of each species so less
  likely to end up leaning photographic details
• FLP allows the slide order to be randomized with
  the click of a button
• view the fish, attempt to identify it, and then
  quickly see the correct identification using the
  mouse cursor to see if correct

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Program Evaluation

• Students will be divided into two groups
  systematically A and Z
• Each lab will consist of an introduction by the
  instructor after which students will be divided
  into the two groups
• student groups will alternate examining specimens
  and using the FLP
• Testing The data used for comparisons 1 and 2
  below will consist of a 10 question quiz given at
  the end of each laboratory period
• five extra-credit points will be awarded each lab
  for submitting data forms, taking the quizzes,
  and completing a short survey
• students will be able to earn up to 5 additional
  points for performance on the quiz, 0.5 points
  per correct answer
• quiz results will be used to evaluate the
  effectiveness of the programbetter, worse, or
  the same as the traditional method
• evaluating program not students

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DemoFishes Learning Program
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Information for Participants

• Collective results from quizzes, data forms, and
  the survey may be published on the effectiveness
  of this learning method.
• Students will not be identified in anyway, no
  individual results will be published, and all
  such results will be kept strictly anonymous.
• Students will receive extra credit in
  Ichthyology for submitting data forms, a survey,
  and completing quizzes.

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Ichthyology 425--Orders and higher taxa
Phylum
Chordata
Subphylum
Myxiniformes Petromyzontiformes Chimaeriformes
Squaliformes Lamniformes Rajiformes Myliobatifo
rmes Lepidosireniformes Coelacanthiformes Polyp
teriformes Acipenseriformes Lepisosteiformes Am
iiformes Hiodontiformes Elopiformes Anguillifor
mes Clupeiformes Cypriniformes Characiformes S
iluriformes Esociformes Salmoniformes Percopsif
ormes Gadiformes Lophiiformes Atheriniformes
Cyprinodontiformes Gasterosteiformes Scorpaeni
formes Perciformes Pleuronectiformes Tetraodont
iformes
Craniata
Superclass
Gnathostomata
Class
Acanthodii
Cephalaspid- omorphi
Myxini
Placodermi
Osteichthyes
Chondrichthyes
Actinoptergyii
Subclass
Holocephali
Sarcopterygii
Elasmobranchii
Division
Teleostei
Superorder
Ostariophysi
Acanthopterygii
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