Course Coordinators
Prof. Hudi Benayahu, School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University.
Lecturers
Prof. Hudi Benayahu, School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University.
Prof. Boaz Yuval, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem .
Dr. Noga Sokolover, The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University.
Dr. Yael Edelman-Furstenberg, Geological survey of Israel.
Prof. Noa Shenkar, School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences and the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University.
Course Brief Description
A 6-day course. The course includes lectures, labs, and research projects.
The aim of the course is to provide basic knowledge on selected taxonomic groups of Red Sea invertebrates. Each year, the course deals with the study of about five groups. The course includes aspects of morphology, anatomy, taxonomy, phylogenesis, biology and ecology, while studying and recognizing these organisms in the field and in the laboratory. The course emphasizes the importance of taxonomic knowledge for conducting a thorough and innovative research on the coral reef.
Key topics covered in the course: Knowledge of major groups of marine invertebrates from the tidal zone and the coral reefs in Eilat: octocorals, molluscs, echinoderms, bryozoans and ascidians. Examination of the unique adaptations of each group to the environment. The course focuses on studying the morphological and anatomical structure, functioning, and biology of each group, while recognizing the principles of classification and systematization. The study is based on lectures, labs and work at sea. In addition, students conduct a research project under the guidance of a teaching assistant, during which they are asked to formulate and answer research questions relevant to the group of invertebrates studied. The projects combine knowledge learned in the course as well as ecological and biological principles that are important for being familiar with the studied groups. The course will be accompanied by work at sea, diving and snorkeling, including a nocturnal entrance to the coral reef. At the end of the project it will be summarized on the basis of the project data and the reading of appropriate scientific literature and the written summary will be submitted within one month of the end of the course for determining the grade. Note: The course is not intended to teach its participants all the invertebrates in the Gulf of Eilat.
Prerequisites
Basic course in knowledge of invertebrates.
* The course will include a lot of activity at sea. The course is not recommended for students who do not swim well.
The grade structure
• Exam (24%). The exam takes place during the course.
• A report on the group research project (51%) - in the format of a scientific paper that includes an abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, conclusions and references. The report will be submitted one month after the course ends, the exact date will be set during the course.
• Discussion on the results of the group research project (25%) - the discussion will be written personally, submitted separately by each student.
Audience
The course is for graduate students. Third-year undergraduate students will be accepted on the basis of available places. The course is limited to 22 students.
Language
The language of instruction is Hebrew, however, if students who do not speak Hebrew will take part in the course, the language of instruction will be English. If the language of instruction is English, Hebrew speakers will be given the opportunity to take the exam in Hebrew but the rest of the assignments will be submitted in English.