	Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
	Canada's premier coastal and marine facility for teaching and research

Biology of Marine Fish 2009

Instructor Dr. Tim Higham from Clemson University, TA Heather Alexander, and six enthusiastic students enjoyed an action-packed 6 weeks of Biology of Marine Fish.

Dr. Tim Higham writes:
“Biology of Marine Fishes 2009 was an amazing class set in one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places on earth. The highly motivated students explored the incredible diversity of fishes that persists on the west coast of Vancouver Island by beach seining, hook-and-line fishing, and bottom trawling. With over 30 species of fishes identified during field trips, students were exposed to almost all of the major groups of fishes in the world. In addition to trips to various islands in Barkley Sound, we went to the Nitinat River Hatchery, the Great Tide Pool, and fresh water streams. One Saturday we hiked to Cape Beale, which provided a phenomenal view of the Pacific Ocean. In addition to a few laboratory exercises, the class was treated to exciting guest lectures. Dr. Robert Shadwick (UBC) discussed patterns of convergence in tunas and lamnid sharks. Dr. Gene Helfman (recently retired from the University of Georgia) gave a lecture on white shark behaviour and conservation, and a lecture on why fishes like shade. The latter half of the course was devoted to independent projects, which were extremely original and utilized the diverse resources available at the marine station. Projects included habitat selection by silverspotted sculpins, parasite assemblages in spiny dogfish sharks, the ability of hagfish slime to limit odor release from dead prey, pectoral fin functional morphology of ratfish, the effects of exercise and salinity on blood pH and red blood cell concentration in spiny dogfish sharks, and the effects of body size on escape performance of sliverspotted sculpins.

The students experienced firsthand the rewards and difficulties associated with scientific research – something extremely valuable to learn! This course was also a wonderful learning experience for me!”

Click here for photo gallery.

Meet the students and instructors on the way to Dixon Island.

Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
100 Pachena Rd, Bamfield, BC
Canada, V0R 1B0
Phone: (250) 728-3301
Fax: (250) 728-3452

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