About the laboratory

The goal of the lab is to provide hands-on experience with fish diversity, especially local fishes and their habitats and behaviors. Activities will include exercises on anatomy and identification, field trips to local lakes and streams, and a trip to the Toledo Aquarium. Examples of live fish seen in lab will be kept for study in the Museum aquarium room (Ruthven 4088). Labs will be conducted by Gerald Smith and Kevin Wehrly. We will learn about 50 species and 50 families of fishes.


The first lab of the semester, September 5, will be devoted to getting acquainted with external fish anatomy, use of identification keys, and representatives of families of local fishes to be encountered in the field. Weather permitting, the following four lab periods will be spent in the field at the Saline River, Raisin River, Cedar Lake, and Fleming Creek. Vans will depart from in front of the Dana Building 10 minutes after the end of lecture. Students may pick up waders from the lab in the basement, on the way to the vans.


An inexpensive lab "Guide to Michigan non-game fishes" is available at Michigan Document on Church Street around the corner from the Brown Jug. This booklet provides pictures, identifying features, and distribution maps for local nongame fish species.


The lab grade will be based on a final practical exam in which students will be asked to identify species seen during the semester and to provide information about their common name, genus and species names, family, and habitat.