BIOLOGY 4429 –MAMMALOGY Fall 2014

Dr. Jon A. Baskin

Office: Kleberg Hall 116 -- Telephone: 361 593-3580 -- e-mail:
Baskin's home page: users.tamuk.edu/kfjab02/

OFFICE HOURS:9-11:30 M, W, F; or by appointment. I may be available during the mammalogy laboratory (KLBH 120) M afternoon, if time permits. University duties, such as committee meetings, may prevent me from being in my office. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to me before or after class or phone or email me at the office for an appointment.

THE INTERNET:You should visit the course website regularly for further information, outlines, handouts, and links to other sites of interest users.tamuk.edu/kfjab02/Biology/Mammalogy/b4429_mammalogy__tamuk.htm

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Classification, distribution, life histories, economic importance, techniques of field study, method of collection, and preservation of mammals.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with the identification, systematics, life history, and adaptive strategies of the Mammalia and to expose them to field techniques used in their study. This will include understanding the following topics:

1.Characterization of Mammalogy and mammalian traits.

2.The evolutionary history of the various mammalian lineages

3.Characterization of the orders and families of the extant mammals.

4.Morphological adaptations of mammals for feeding, locomotion, reproduction, etc.

5.Physiological adaptations of mammals for homeostasis and reproduction.

6.Behavioral adaptations of mammals for feeding, homeostasis, reproduction, etc.

Examination 1 will assess objectives 1 and 2, and objectives 3-6 for monotremes, marsupials, and insectivorans. Exams 2 and 3 will assess objectives 3-6 for the orders shown in the schedule. The final will evaluate the ability to synthesize all the objectives. The laboratory practicals will assess the ability of the students to identify mammals

REQUIRED TEXT

  • Vaughan, T. A., J. M. Ryan, and N. J. Czaplewski. 2014. Mammalogy. 6h edition Jones and Bartlett; ISBN-13: 9781284032093 . Paperback756 pages
  • For book orders directly through Jones & Bartlett at 30% off your book order + free shipping when typing in this coupon code: FALL14 at checkout. Coupon code will expire at the end of the year 12/31/14.
  • Available as an e-book from Amazon;
  • 180 day e-book rental CourseSmart;
  • The 5th edition(Vaughan, T. A., J. M. Ryan, and N. J. Czaplewski. 2010. Mammalogy. 5th edition Jones & Bartlett Publishers; ISBN-13: 9780763762995) is adequate. Older editions are not useful.

Recommended Texts

  • Schmidly, D. J. 2004. The Mammals of Texas. University of Texas Press.
  • The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition -
  • Martin, R. E., Pine, R., and DeBlase, A. F. 2000. A Manual of Mammalogy, 3rd edition.
  • Jones, J. K., Jr. and R. W. Manning. 1992. Illustrated key to skulls of genera of North American mammals. TexasTechUniversity Press, iv + 75 pp.
  • Lawlor, T.E. 1979. Handbook to the orders and families of living mammals. Mad River Press, Eureka, CA

GRADING: Your grade will be determined in the following manner:

Exam 1 ...... 100 points

Exam 2 ...... 100 points

Exam 3 ...... 100 points

Exam 4 ...... 100 points

Final Exam ...... 200 points

Lab Midterm ...... 100 points

Lab Final ...... 100 points

Total 800 points

Please keep all of your tests and assignments, in case there is a question concerning your grade in the course. Grades will be awarded according to the regulations on page 65 of the 2012-2014 catalog. The last day to drop the course with an automatic grade of Q is Oct 30. After Oct 30, you cannot be awarded a Q and you will receive a grade based on your average. It is up to you to take care of all the necessary paperwork.

Lecture Exams: The FOUR lecture exams and the FINAL exam will cover notes given in class and pertinent information from the textbook. Some notes will come from sources other than the text. The examinations will consist mainly of multiple choice and short answer questions, definitions, characterizations, lists, and annotated classifications. The first three exams will be over material covered during the exam period. The final lecture exam is COMPREHENSIVE, giving you the opportunity to synthesize various topics covered during the semester.My previous lecture exams 1, 2, and 3 are posted on my web page.

Laboratory Grade: The laboratory grade is based on the lab midterm and final. Identifying a ruminant artiodactyl (e.g., deer, antelope) or any other placental mammal as having more than three lower incisors (per side) will result in a grade of zero for that exam.

Lab Safety: You are required to complete the current version of on-line safety training. You will be dropped from the course on the 12th class day if you have completed the training. Follow the instructions on the course web page to access Blackboard.

MAKE UP POLICY There will be NO make-ups for missed lecture or laboratory exams. It takes a significant amount of time to set up a lab practical and we are only willing to do it one time per exam. If you miss one lecture examination, the percent score on the final will be substituted for the missed test. You will receive a zero for any additional missed exams. In the case of crises and emergencies (that you can document and that are considered a valid excuse by your instructor), talk to me (or phone me) before the exam and more flexible arrangements can be scheduled.BONUS: If you take all three lecture exams, you may substitute your lowest grade with the final exam grade, if the final exam grade is better.

FIELD TRIPS: Field trips are optional. Before participating, you are required to sign the waivers of liability and complete the exercise demonstrating that you are aware of and accept the potential dangers associated with this sort of activity

Southmost Nature Conservancy and Brownsville Zoo: a Saturday and Sunday fieldtrip,

Kleberg County, Site 55: Live trapping of rodents. We will be doing population estimates using the Lincoln-Peterson Method for capture/recapture. Traps will be set out Friday or Saturday evening and collected Saturday or Sunday Morning. TENTATIVE DATES: will be announced in class

Up to 50 extra credit points may be available based on a field trip report analyzing the data collected. You will only be allowed to analyze data for field trips that you attended.

OTHER:

The student handbook is available online.

Academic misconduct (See Student Handbook): Academic dishonesty includes giving, receiving, or using unauthorized aid on any academic work. This includes a person who has taken a test discussing what was on a test with a person who has not taken the test. Any student guilty of cheating or plagiarism will receive a grade of F.

Nonacademic misconduct (See Student Handbook): Turn off your cell phones. Talking or other disruptive behavior during lecture will not be tolerated. “The university respects the rights of instructors to teach and students to learn. Maintenance of these rights requires campus conditions that do not impede their exercise. Campus behavior that interferes with either 1) The instructor’s ability to conduct the class 2) The inability of other students to profit from the instructional program, or 3) Campus behavior that interferes with the rights of others will not be tolerated. An individual engaging in such disruptive behavior may be subject to disciplinary action. Such incidents will be adjudicated by the Dean of Students under nonacademic procedures.”

Sexual misconduct (See Student Handbook): “Sexual harassment of students and employers at Texas A&M University-Kingsville is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Any member of the university community violating this policy will be subject to disciplinary action.”

Students with disabilities, including learning disabilities, who wish to request accommodations in this class, should notify the Services for Students with Disabilities Office early in the semester so that appropriate arrangements can be made (see Student Handbook).

6 drop rule: If you enrolled Fall 2007 or later and you drop more than 6 courses during your undergraduate career, the state legislature has mandated that in most instances you will be punished. provides information on Senate Bill 1231 that you should consult before you drop a course.

Tentative Lecture Schedule

Week of / Topic / Vaughan Chapter, [Pages]
Aug 25 / Introduction
Classification
Phylogeny relations
Biogeographic regions
Convergence / 1
1
1
[577-579; 594-596
1, [myrmecophagy: Fig. 25.7]
Sept 3 / Mammalian Origins / 2
Sept 8 / Mammalian Characteristics / 3
Sept 15 / Mammalian Classification
Monotremes
reproduction
Marsupials
locomotion
feeding
reproduction
The Marsupial Placental dichotomy
EXAM 1 / 4
5
5, [373-376]
6
6, [433-436]
6
6, [376-377, 381-382]
6
Sept 22 / Eutherian Mammals
The Xenarthra: Cingulata & Pilosa
myrmecophagy
folivory;
reproduction
Pholidota / 7
10: [145-149]
Fig 25-7
[149]
[147]
10: [150]
Sept 29 / Rodentia
feeding
water conservation
behavior, population cycles
Lagomorpha / 13: [188-230]
[529-530]
[438-444]
[494-497, 554]
13: [224-229, 494]
Oct 6 / Dermoptera
gliding (glissant)
Scandentia
EXAM 2 / 11: [154-156]
11: [156-157]
Oct 13 / Primates
feeding, locomotion
conservation / 12
12
[]
Oct 20 / Insectivora:
Erinaceomorpha & Soricomorpha
Eimer's organs
Fossorial Adaptations
Insectivory /
14
Figs. 14-15, -16
Figs. 14-13, -14
Oct 27 / Chiroptera
flying (volant)
diet
adaptations to cold
reproduction
EXAM 3 / 15
[247-254]
15
[246, 393]
[393-396]
OCT 30 / Last day you can drop the course with a Q
Nov 3 / Carnivora
feeding, locomotion
adaptations to cold
reproduction / 16
Figs. 16-7; 17-6; 17.8
[419]
[392-95, 397-398]
Nov 10 / Perissodactyla
feeding
Locomotion
conservation / 17
[317]
Figs. 17-6, 17-7
.
Nov 17 / Artiodactyla
feeding
adaptations to heat
conservation
EXAM 4 / 18
[333-34]
[436-438]
Cetacea
Classification / 19
Nov 24 / Cetacea
Conservation
Thanksgiving / 19
Dec 1 / Afrotheria
Afrosoricida
Macroscelidea
Tubulidentata
/ 8
[113-117]
[117-120]
[120-122]
Proboscidea,
Hyracoidea
Sirenia / [124-131]
[131-134]
[134-137]
Dec 9 / Final Exam: 8:00 am
(check the final exam schedule yourself to make sure)

Tentative Laboratory Schedule

Week of / Topic / Pages
Aug 25 / Lab Safety
Sept 1 / LABOR DAY
Sept 8 / Skull and Skeleton download a Word copy / M1: 6-1, 36-40.
Sept 15 / Dentition:
download a Word copy of today's lab
and the feeding/locomotor adaptations handout: wordadobe
Field Notes; Lincoln-Petersen Method; an applet from Dr. James Ryan at Hobart and William Smith / M: 13-20. ; 188-199.
Sept 22 / Orders & Families: monotremes, marsupials, xenarthrans, pholidotes
Download a Word copy / M: 61-77, 103-108.
Sept 29 / Orders & Families: rodents, lagomorphs. Download a Word copy / M: 138-161, 135-137.
Oct 6 / Texas mammals: rodents NMNH field guides to Texas rodents / S: 295-457
Oct 13 / LAB EXAM 1
Oct 20 / Orders & Families: dermopterans, tupaiids, primates. Download a Word copy / M: 83-84, 94-102
Oct 27 / Orders & Families: insectivorans, chiropterans, Download a Word copy
Texas Mammals: opossum, armadillo, bats, insectivores, rabbits
Download Smithsonian NMNH field guides to Texas opossum, armadillo, insectivores, bats, rabbits / M: 78-82, 85-93.
S2: 38-137.
Nov 3 / Orders & Families: Carnivorans. Download a Word copy / M: 109-120
Nov 3 / Texas Mammals: carnivorans NMNH fieldguide to Texas carnivores. / S2: 137-210
Nov 10 / Orders & Families: ungulates, afrotheres. Download a Word copy / M: 121-134, 162-179.0
Nov 17 / Texas Mammals: ungulates; NMNH field guides to Texas artiodactyls, / S: 137-295
Nov 24 / Review
Dec 1 / LAB EXAM 2

1 Martin, Pine, DeBlase 2 Schmidly