Rhedir gan School of Ocean Sciences

20.000 Credyd neu 10.000 Credyd ECTS

Semester 2

Trefnydd: Dr Ian McCarthy

Fishes are the most diverse vertebrate taxa on Earth and the majority of fishes belong to the Teleostii (bony fishes). This module will examine the evolutionary history, taxonomic diversity and ecology of teleost fishes. Particular consideration will be given to zoogeography and evolutionary ecology of teleost fishes, the variety of life cycles observed, population dynamics, behavioural ecology and conservation strategies. Current research relating to various anthropogenic impacts such as habitat destruction, climate change, fisheries-induced evolution, ecosystem shifts, pollutants and invasive fish species will also be presented and discussed.

This module will provide a detailed introduction to the evolution, taxonomy and diversity of teleost fishes, a summary of the variation in life cycles, population dynamics and ecology and a review of the anthropogenic threats facing this diverse and widely distributed vertebrate group. The course will contain the following topics:

• The evolution and diversity of teleost fishes will be reviewed and placed within the broader context of fish evolution.

• The adaptive radiation and zoogeography of teleosts will be reviewed covering freshwater and marine distributions as well as the distribution and adaptations to more extreme environments such as intertidal, polar, deep sea, cave and arid habitats.

• The lifecycles and population dynamics of teleost fishes will be reviewed. Particular focus will be placed on the larval phase as the critical phase in the life cycle for most teleost fishes and the variability in life cycles and life history strategies observed amongst teleost fishes will be reviewed. Fish population dynamics will be reviewed including summaries of how patterns of population structure, growth, mortality and maturity are described. The models used to describe the dynamics of fish populations (including fisheries management models) will be described.

• The behavioural ecology of teleost fishes will be summarised to provide a summary of how fishes interact with each other and with their environment.

• The conservation ecology of teleost fishes will be reviewed with particular focus on extinction and biodiversity threats and the approaches adopted to conserve and restore threatened fishes.

• The anthropogenic impacts on teleost fishes will be summarised including exploitation impacts (ecosystem shifts and fisheries-induced evolution) and environmental impacts (pollutants, invasive fish species, habitat destruction and climate change)

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The students should be able to express a basic factual knowledge of at least some part of the core material presented in the module, and be able to show some level of understanding of the evolution and distribution of teleost fishes, their ecology and the anthropogenic threats faced by this taxa. The students should have demonstrated a basic ability to analyse and present data on fish population dynamics and to provide/present information on the impacts of a named anthropogenic threat on teleost fishes in a format suitable for public education / outreach.

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The students should demonstrate comprehensive factual knowledge, critical understanding of theory, evidence of extensive extra reading of primary literature and the ability to integrate this extra knowledge in a relevant manner thus demonstrating a clear and detailed understanding of the evolution and distribution of teleost fishes, their ecology and the anthropogenic threats faced by this taxa. The students should have demonstrated excellent numerical analysis skills and the ability to present their data in a clear and concise manner, and to show evidence of extensive extra reading from primary sources, discussing their own data in a wholly justified manner to high scientific standards. The “info-sheet” will clearly and concisely convey a comprehensive summary of the impacts of a named anthropogenic threat on teleost fishes and should be of a standard that would be good enough to be published and used for public education by agencies such as Wildlife Trusts or other Conservation NGOS, Cefas or Fisheries authorities.

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The students should be able to express a thorough factual knowledge of much of the core material presented in the module, and have a competent and detailed understanding of the evolution and distribution of teleost fishes, their ecology and the anthropogenic threats faced by this taxa. Some evidence of further reading and ability to integrate material from the full range of the lecture content will be shown. The students should have demonstrated good numerical analysis skills and the ability to analyse and present fish population dynamics data in a clear and concise manner, and to show a good level of additional reading; using a wide range of literature to make sensible inferences about the data. The students should have demonstrated good communication skills in producing a clear, concise and informative public education / outreach ‘info-sheet’ on the impacts of a named anthropogenic threat on teleost fishes.

1. Demonstrate an ability to summarise clearly and concisely the key facts about the impacts of a named anthropogenic threat on teleost fishes and to communicate this information in a manner suitable for engaging with the general public

2. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the population dynamics of teleost fishes and the ability to analyse and present population dynamics data

3. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the essential facts, major concepts, principles and theories associated with teleost evolution, diversity and ecology

4. Demonstrate an appreciation of the various anthropogenic threats faced by teleost fishes and the potential impacts of these threats

5. Understand and explain the evolutionary history and zoogeography of teleost fishes and the diverse ecology of the taxa

Math	Enw	Disgrifiad	Pwysau
	Fish population dynamics		25.00
	Fish info factsheet		15.00
	Exam		60.00

		Oriau
Workshop	1 x 4 hour workshop	4
Lecture	2 x 1 hour lectures per week	20
Private study	170 hours of private study	170
Laboratory	1 x 6 hour computer practical	6

• Llythrennedd - Medrusrwydd mewn darllen ac ysgrifennu drwy amrywiaeth o gyfryngau
• Rhifedd - Medrusrwydd wrth ddefnyddio rhifau ar lefelau priodol o gywirdeb
• Defnyddio cyfrifiaduron - Medrusrwydd wrth ddefnyddio ystod o feddalwedd cyfrifiadurol
• Hunanreolaeth - Gallu gweithio mewn ffordd effeithlon, prydlon a threfnus. Gallu edrych ar ganlyniadau tasgau a digwyddiadau, a barnu lefelau o ansawdd a phwysigrwydd
• Archwilio - Gallu ymchwilio ac ystyried dewisiadau eraill
• Adalw gwybodaeth - Gallu mynd at wahanol ac amrywiol ffynonellau gwybodaeth
• Sgiliau Rhyngbersonol - Gallu gofyn cwestiynau, gwrando'n astud ar atebion a'u harchwilio
• Dadansoddi Beirniadol & Datrys Problem - Gallu dadelfennu a dadansoddi problemau neu sefyllfaoedd cymhleth. Gallu canfod atebion i broblemau drwy ddadansoddiadau ac archwilio posibiliadau
• Cyflwyniad - Gallu cyflwyno gwybodaeth ac esboniadau yn glir i gynulleidfa. Trwy gyfryngau ysgrifenedig neu ar lafar yn glir a hyderus.

• Awareness of the concepts of spatial and temporal scale in understanding processes and relationships.
• Appreciation of the complexity and diversity of life processes through the study of organisms.
• Engage in debate and/or discussion with specialists and non-specialists using appropriate language.

Rhestr ddarllen

Helfmann – Diversity of fishes 2nd edition. Available as e-book through library

Bond – Biology of fishes 3rd edition, available as ebook through library

King – Fisheries Biology, Assessment and Management. Available as ebook through library

Plus lecture-specific references provided by teaching staff on Blackboard

Gorfodol mewn cyrsiau:

• C351: BSC Marine Vertebrate Zoology year 3 (BSC/MVZ)
• 2F11: BSc Marine Vertebrate Zoology (with International Experience year 4 (BSC/MVZIE)
• C168: MSci Marine Vertebrate Zoology year 3 (MSCI/MVZ)

Opsiynol mewn cyrsiau:

• C163: BSC Applied Marine Biology year 4 (BSC/AMB4)
• C166: BSc Applied Marine Biology (with International Experience) year 4 (BSC/AMB4IE)
• CC13: BSC Marine Biology/Zoology year 3 (BSC/BMZ)
• 8B76: BSc Marine Biology and Zoology (with International Exp) year 4 (BSC/BMZIE)
• CC1P: BSc Marine Biology with Zoology with Placement Year year 4 (BSC/BMZP)
• C160: BSC Marine Biology year 3 (BSC/MB)
• C16F: BSc Marine Biology year 3 (BSC/MBF)
• C165: BSc Marine Biology (with International Experience) year 4 (BSC/MBIE)
• CF17: BSC Marine Biology/Oceanography year 3 (BSC/MBO)
• 2W79: MMBiol Marine Biology (with International Experience) year 4 (MMBIOL/MBI)
• C167: MSci Marine Biology year 3 (MSCI/MB)
• F712: MSci Marine Biology and Oceanography year 3 (MSCI/MBO)
• F71P: MSci Marine Biology and Oceanography with Placement Year year 4 (MSCI/MBOP)
• C169: MSci Marine Biology and Zoology year 3 (MSCI/MBZ)