Mammalogy BSC 409/509, 4 credits
Spring 2011
Dr. Suzanne Strait S274; Monday and Wednesday 9:00-11:50
Lecture BioTech 102; Lab: Science Building 360
Text: Mammalogy (4th edition) 2000 Vaughan, Ryan, and Czaplewski (available on MUOline)
PowerPoints and supplementary material (available on MUOnline)
Course Description: A study of the morphology, evolution and classification, ecology, zoogeography, behavior, and economic importance; survey techniques and recognition of mammals.
Prerequisites: BSC 121 with grade of C or better plus an additional 8 hrs. BSC
Attendance Policy: You are expected to come to class. If you miss class it is your responsibility to make up missed work and get notes from another student. Labs are especially difficult to make up since they are taken down shortly after class is over.
General Stuff: Cell phone ringers off. Please do not text or play Words with Friends during class it is rude and I don’t get to do it so it isn’t fair.
Date Reading
I January 10: Class Introduction; Vaughan Chs. 1, 25
Mammalian Diversity & Zoogeography
Lab: Discussion of class projects
II January 12: Taxonomy and Classification
Lab: In class exercise: distribution, keys, and taxonomy
III January 17: (No class MLK day)
IV January 19: Phylogenetic Reconstruction (Cladistics)
Lab: In class exercise: cladistics
V January 24: Mammalian Characteristics Vaughan Ch. 2
Lab: Skull and Skins
VI January 26: Mammalian Teeth are Fun: Diet
Lab: Teeth
VII January 31: How Do Mammals Move: Locomotion
Lab: Postcranial Skeleton
VIII February 2: Mammalian Origins & Classification of Mammals Vaughan Ch. 3 & 4
Lab: Lab Review
IX February 7: No lecture
10:30 Lab: Practical Exam
X February 9: Monotremata & Metatheria Vaughan Ch. 5 & 6
Lab: Monotremata & Metatheria
XI February 14: Eutheria & Insectivora Vaughan Ch. 7 & 8
Lab: Insectivora
XII February 16: Xenarthra & Pholidota Vaughan Ch. 9
Lab: Xenartha & Pholidota
XIII February 21: No class – exam study day
XIV February 23: Lecture Exam
Lab: Lab Review
XV February 28: Dermoptera & Chiroptera Vaughan Ch. 10
Lab: Dermoptera & Chiroptera
XVI March 2: Primates & Scandentia Vaughan Ch. 11
Lab: Primates & Scandentia; Review
XVII March 7: No lecture
10:30 Lab: Practical Exam
XVIII March 9: Carnivora Vaughan Ch. 12
Lab: Carnivora
XIX March 14: Cetacea Vaughan Ch. 13
Lab: Cetacea
XX March 16: Proboscidea, Sirenia & Hyracoidea Vaughan Ch. 14
Lab: Proboscidea, Sirenia & Hyracoidea
XXI March 21-25: No class Spring Break
XXII March 28: Tubulidentata & Perissodactyla Vaughan Ch 15 & 16
Lab: Tubulidentata & Perissodactyla
XXIII March 30: Specimen Collection and Preparation Martin et al. Ch 30 &31
Lab: Specimen Collection and Preparation
XXIV April 4: No Lecture
Lab: Specimen Collection and Preparation
April 6: No class (Assessment Day)
XXV April 11: Artiodactyla Vaughan Ch. 17
Lab: Artiodactyla
XXVI April 13: Rodentia Vaughan Ch. 18
Lab: Rodentia
XXVII April 18: Conservation Ecology TBA
XXVIII April 20: Lab Review
XXIX April 25: Final Lab Practical (cumulative)
XXX April 27: Lecture Exam
Cumulative Lecture Final: Friday May 6 8:00-10:00
Grading:
100-90: A; 89-80: B; 79-70: C; 69-60: D; >60: F
Undergraduates & Graduates:
45% Lecture Exam Grades
45% Lab Grades
10% Project
Class Project:
We will develop a web site devoted to West Virginia mammal to be posted on the Marshall University Vertebrate Museum web site. Each student will be responsible to writing up brief, fun species accounts for 3-4 species of West Virginia mammals. The class as a group will decide on the format and style of this web site. The graduate students will also be assigned to oversee the project to fact check, edit and maintain consistency from species to species.
Policy for Students with Disabilities: Marshall University is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students, including those with physical, learning and psychological disabilities. Please see link http://www.marshall.edu/disabled or contact Disabled Student Services Office at Prichard Hall 11, phone 304-696-2271.”
Policy of Academic Dishonesty: please see link: http://www.marshall.edu/academic-affairs/Academic%20Dishonesty%20Policy.pdf