Biology 3405 - Vertebrate Zoology

schedule

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 BIOLOGY 3405 -VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
Fall 2006
Dr. Jon A. Baskin
Office: Kleberg Engineering 116 -- Telephone: 361 593-3580 -- e-mail: kfjab02 at tamuk.edu
Baskin's home page:  http:/users.tamuk.edu/kfjab02/

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AN01360A.gif (1898 bytes)  Office Hours: 9-11 MWF; 9-11 TR; or by appointment. 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 me at the office for an appointment.

Course description:  Anatomy, classification, and natural history of the vertebrates; methods of collecting, preserving, and identifying local vertebrates.

OBJECTIVES:  The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with the identification, systematics, life history, anatomy, and adaptive strategies of the vertebrates and to expose them to field techniques used in their study.

AN00130A.gif (2335 bytes) THE INTERNET:  You should visit this website regularly for further information, outlines, handouts, and links to other sites of interest.  Here are a few of the more important  Internet resources for vertebrate zoology.

AN01344A.gif (2340 bytes)  Texts

AN00020A.gif (1492 bytes)  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
Lab Midterm ....................    50 points
Lab Final ..........................    50 points
Field Trip Participation.......    50 points
                             Total                                       550 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 58 of the 2006-2008 catalog. The last day to drop the course with an automatic grade of Q is November 16. After November 16, you must talk to me before dropping the course. The last day to drop the course with a Q if you have a passing grade is December 4. It is up to you to take care of all the necessary paperwork.

Lecture Exams: The FOUR lecture exams 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 short answer questions, definitions, characterizations, lists, and annotated classifications. The four exams will be over material covered during the preceding exam period.

  Here are my old examinations. 

Laboratory Grade: The laboratory grade is based on the lab midterm and final.

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.

FIELD TRIPS Several field trips are planned.   See the Laboratory Schedule.

OTHER 

Talking or other disruptive behavior during lecture will not be tolerated.

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.

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.

Tentative Lecture and Reading Schedule

WEEK of

TOPICS

CHAPTER
7th edition       6th edition

Aug 28

  Vertebrate Diversity, Classification and Evolution
  Vertebrate Relationships

 1
2		 1
2

Sept 5

  Origin of the vertebrates Jawless Fishes

 4 3

11

  Homeostasis: Living in Water

 4 4

    Exam 1

  

18

  Cartilaginous Fishes

 5 5

25

  Bony Fishes

 6 6

Oct 2

  Tetrapod origins, evolution, diversity

 8, 9 8

9

  Amphibians;

 10 9

    Exam 2

  

16

  Amniote origins; Turtles

 11, 12 8, 10

23

  Lizards and Snakes

 13, 14 11, 12

30

  Crocodilians and other archosaurs

 16 14

    Exam 3

  

Nov 6

  Birds:   characteristics: flight

 16, 17 15

13

  Birds: ecology, behavior

 17 16

20

  Mammals: characteristics and diversity

 20 16

27

  Mammals: behavior and ecology

 23 22

Dec 4

  Conservation 

 25 24

13

  Exam 4 - 8:00 am

  


Tentative Laboratory and Field Schedule for Vertebrate Zoology

NOTE: There will be additional field trips that will be announced in class.   Field trips may be rescheduled as a result of weather or other factors.

Week of

EXERCISE

Comments

Aug 29

  Key/Field Notebooks/Cladograms

Sept 5

  Fish

12

  Fish

 

19

  Fish/Amphibians

26

  Amphibians/Turtles

 

  Field trip  

Oct 3

  review

10

  PRACTICUM

 

17

  Lizards

 

24

  Snakes

 

 

  Southmost/Brownsville Zoo

 

31

  Birds

 Field Trip

 

Nov 7

Lizards/Snakes

14

 Mammals

21

  Birds

 

28

Review

  

5

LAB FINAL

 

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