ObjectivesOn completion of the course, students should be able to appreciate the basic physiology, diversity and evolution of fishes. Diversity is especially prevalent; examples from diverse groups are used in order to provide a good overview of fish biology.
Academic titleThe course is pitched at Level 3, according to national guidelines. The course is awarded and accredited by the Institute for Animal Care Education. On completion of the course, students will be eligible for full membership of the Institute and consequently.
Course description Assessment
Assessment takes the form of basic questioning (30% of total mark) and report writing (70% of total mark). Students will be provided with guidance as to what is required in assessment. Assistance will be available from UK Open Learning via telephone or e-mail
Learning Outcomes
Lesson 1
To enable the student to appreciate the theories surrounding the emergence of animal life
To explain the order of the early fish groups
To understand basic fish distribution with regard to marine and freshwater systems and appreciate why this patterns occurs
To understand speciation and its contribution to diversity
To appreciate the rudimentary physical properties of water and air
Lesson 2
Appreciate modern forms of jawless fish.
Understand the two divisions of the chondrichthyes.
Appreciate factors affecting the extinction of the Ostracoderms.
To understand that the Acanthodians once existed and when they existed.
To understand certain aspects of modern shark diversity.
To appreciate the existence of the lobe finned fish.
To understand that swim bladder development was a major key in Ostiechthian evolution.
Lesson 3
To understand that buoyancy is controlled in a variety of ways
To appreciate how fin design can aid buoyancy control
To understand that dense substances are utilised in certain fish to control buoyancy
To appreciate that buoyancy control is a major contributor to fish diversity
To appreciate how some Osteichthyes have physoclistous and some have physostomous swim bladders
To understand the differences between the two swim bladder types
To appreciate that fish that swim deeply need physoclistous swim bladders and to understand why
To fully appreciate the diversity of bony fish and the relevance of the swim bladder in the creation of such diversity
Module 2
Lesson 4
To appreciate that pheromone ‘communication’ is used by many fish and appreciates what pheromones are used for.
To understand the term ‘fear scents’
To appreciate the role of anti predator communication in fish biology
To understand how colouration is utilised in communication
To understand how schooling and colouration interact
To understand the role of eyespots in fish defence
To appreciate the way that stripes effect fish communication and survival
Lesson 5
Appreciate the role of recombination in creating diversity
To understand the reasons why some fish change sex
To appreciate the diversity of fish reproduction via Balons classification
To understand the diversity of parental care
To appreciate the factors and theories regarding which sex takes care of the young
To understand the term fecundity
To appreciate and understand examples of the diversity of fish reproduction
Lesson 6
To enable the student to appreciate that some fish are able to orient to an electric field
To appreciate why fish often have separate juvenile and adult habitats
To understand the terms amphidromy, catadromy, diadromy, anadromy and oceanodromy
To appreciate that scent navigation occurs in some fish migration
Module 3
Lesson 7
To appreciate the relevance of gill filament thickness
To enable the student to understand the gill ventilation process
To appreciate ram gill ventilation
To understand the adaptive advantages of cutaneous gas exchange
To understand the anatomy of gills
Lesson 8
To understand the terms benthopelagic, bathypelagic and mesopelagic
To appreciate the different qualities of the marine polar environment
Understand nototheniod fish adaptation
To appreciate the benthic zone and the pressures put on fish that exist in such an environment
Appreciate the term endemic
Lesson 9
To understand the basic anatomy of fish
To appreciate electro reception as a hunting and environmental monitoring adaptation
To enable the student to understand the basics of fish hearing
To understand the basic anatomy and physiology of the lateral line system