COURSE UNIT TITLE

: BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY AND TAXONOMY OF TURTLES AND TORTOISES

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
BIY 4106 BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY AND TAXONOMY OF TURTLES AND TORTOISES ELECTIVE 2 2 0 5

Offered By

Biology

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

PROFESSOR DOCTOR ÇETIN ILGAZ

Offered to

Biology

Course Objective

The aim of the course is to get knowledge about marine turtles, fresh water turtles and land tortoises of Turkey, identification of the species and their current taxonomic status, general biology and ecology of the marine turtles, fresh water turtles and land tortoises, distribution of the marine turtles, fresh water turtles and land tortoises in Turkey and their status and conservation

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   To be able to acquire knowledge about evolution, biology and ecology of chelonians
2   To be able to have a general knowledge about the extant chelonians of the world
3   To be able to have knowledge to identify turtles according to their habitats
4   To be able to have a detailed knowledge about the chelonians of Turkey
5   To be able to identify chelonians of Turkey

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Introduction to evolution, life history, biology and ecology of chelonians Examining samples in ethanol, shell and skull
2 Taxonomy of marine turtles and species identification To revise identification keys.
3 Biology, ecology and distribution of Eretmochelys imbricata, Lepidochelys olivacea, Lepidochelys kempii To introduce species in the world with photos and videos.
4 Biology, ecology and distribution of Chelonia agassizi, Natator depressus, Dermochelys coriacea To introduce species in the world with photos and videos.
5 Biology, ecology and distribution of Chelonia mydas and Caretta caretta: their nesting and Conservation status in Turkey To examine samples of species distributed in Turkey
6 Introduction to evolution, life history, biology and ecology of fresh water turtles To watch VCD related to topic
7 Taxonomy of fresh water turtles, distribution and species identification To revise identification keys.
8 Midterm exam
9 Biology, ecology and distribution of Trionyx triunguis, Rafetus euphraticus and their status in Turkey Examining samples in ethanol, shell and skull
10 Biology, ecology and distribution of Emys orbicularis, Mauremys rivulata, Mauremys caspica and their status in Turkey Examining samples in ethanol, shell and skull
11 Introduction to evolution, life history, biology and ecology of land tortoises To watch VCD related to topic
12 Taxonomy of land tortoises, distribution and species identification To revise identification keys.
13 Biology, ecology and distribution of Testudo graeaca and Testudo hermanni and their status in Turkey Examining samples in ethanol, shell and skull
14 Chelonian trade in Turkey To revise the studies conducted in recently

Recomended or Required Reading

Bonin, F., Devaux, B. ve Dupre, A. Turtles of the World. 2006.
Baran, I. ve Atatür, M.K. Türkiye Herpetofaunası, 1998.
Başoğlu M. ve Baran I. Türkiye Sürüngenleri Kısım I Kaplumbağa ve kertenkeleler, 1977.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

This course will be discoursed via various books and articles which were published related with the subject.

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 ASG ASSIGNMENT
2 FIN FINAL EXAM
3 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) ASG * 0.40 + FIN * 0.60
4 RST RESIT
5 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) ASG * 0.40 + RST * 0.60


*** Resit Exam is Not Administered in Institutions Where Resit is not Applicable.

Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

The student's performance will be evaluated by the questions that will be asked in midterm and final exams.

Language of Instruction

Turkish

Course Policies and Rules

Attendance to at least 70% for the lectures is an essential requirement of this course and is the responsibility of the student. It is necessary that attendance to the lecture and homework delivery must be on time. Any unethical behavior that occurs either in presentations or in exams will be dealt with as outlined in school policy. You can find the undergraduate policy at http://web.deu.edu.tr/fen

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

cetin.ilgaz@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

will be announced

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 13 2 26
Tutorials 13 2 26
Preparation for midterm exam 1 12 12
Preparation for final exam 1 14 14
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 13 4 52
Final 1 2 2
Midterm 1 2 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 134

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8PO.9PO.10PO.11PO.12PO.13PO.14
LO.1423344
LO.2423344
LO.3423344
LO.4423344
LO.5423344