Herpetology BI413 (BI513)

Summer 2011 8:00-11:20 MTWTh

Credits: 6 (lecture and lab must be taken concurrently)

Instructors: Ed DeGrauw

Email:

Welcome to the wonderful world of Herpetology. During the next few weeks we will try to dispel the notion of Linneaus that these are "These foul and loathsome animals are abhorrent because of their cold body, pale colour, cartilaginous skeleton, filthy skin, fierce aspect, calculating eye, offensive smell, harsh voice, squalid habitation, and terrible venom....". These are fascinating creatures that represent some of the greatest evolutionary adaptations seen in vertebrates. During this course we will examine the evolution, ecology, physiology, morphology, and behavior of these amazing animals

BIOLOGY 413 (513) is a one term introduction to the fundamental concepts of herpetology. The central goal of modern biology is to understand the organization of the living world and its underlying mechanisms. The study of herpetology is one aspect of understanding how animals adapt to environmental pressures, metabolism problems (nutrient utilization and transport, homeostasis, etc..), locomotion, and a wide variety of other problems. Herpetology is a broad, deep and complex subject with scientists spending their entire careers dealing with one small aspect of physiology or behavior or some area of interest in a specific animal group or sometimes a single species. In this course we will take a comparative approach to study how different reptiles and amphibians have adapted to the environmental pressures they live with. This course will INTRODUCE you to a small part of the diversity of the reptiles and amphibians used by animals in their daily survival. One "rule" to keep in mind is that "form fits function" and in a comparative approach this rule is still true even when different organisms find different "forms" to solve the same functional problems. As a prerequisite for this course it is necessary to have a basic understanding of general physiological processes and the physical laws that constrain them.

The major objectives for this course are to:

1. Introduce you to the basic principles of the ecology, physiology, behavior and morphology of reptiles and amphibians

2. Begin building a broad background in physiology and provide a basis for

sustained professional development in animal sciences.

3. Further develop your power of scientific reasoning and analysis.

4. Relate these principles to your own existence as an individual and as

one of the many living organisms occupying Earth.

Required texts: Herpetology, 3rd ed. Vitt and Caldwell

Recommended texts: Reptiles of Washington and Oregon, Seattle Audubon Society

Amphibians of Washington and Oregon, Seattle Audubon Society

Or some appropriate filed guide e.g. Peterson’s A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians by Robert Stebbins

Audubon’s Field Guide of North American Reptiles and Amphibians

Course Mechanics

Lectures and labs

Lecture and lab meets MTWTh 8:00-11:20 in SB2 219 and SB 2 166. I will use the lecture to present some of the more difficult and important topics as well as to bring out information not available in the text and to present "real-life" uses.

Readings

The readings in the text are listed on the course schedule and are to be read before they are covered in class. When reviewing for exams, concentrate more heavily on the topics covered in lecture, but you are responsible for all readings from the text and the supplemental readings as assigned. Please take this seriously, many of the exam questions may be taken from figures and the text of your reading that were not directly covered in lecture. The textbook contains more information than can be completely covered during lecture, but you will still be held responsible for that material. If you do not understand a topic from the readings, be sure you ask about it. If you ask no questions I will assume you understand everything and will expect you to score at least 90% on all your exams.

Exams and Grading

Exams will deal primarily with material covered in lecture, but may include general questions from the readings. The format for exams will consist of essays that will require you to integrate and apply what you have learned, but may also include definitions, multiple choice, matching, and completion ("fill in the blank") to assess your knowledge of basic information. There will be two 100 point exams and a 200 point final. The final will be divided so that 100 points will cover just new material and 100 points will be cumulative for the semester. There are NO makeup Exams. In cases of Documented medical or family emergency the percentage of your score on the final can be substituted for a missed exam. I do maintain the right for some subjectivity in assigning final grades based on improvement.

Any Assignments turned in late will receive a 20% penalty per day.

Failure to complete an assignment will result in a failing grade for the course.

Budget your time wisely and plan ahead to avoid penalties, I am a nice guy, but I have no sympathy for broken computers, printers, exams in other courses, etc...

Grading

Grades will be based on the final cumulative total points and the following percentages.

A =93-100% Points:

A- =90-92% Lecture

B+ =87-89% 1 midterm 100

B =83-86% 1 final 200

B- =80-82%

C+ =77-79% Subtotal 300

C =73-76%

C- =70-72% Lab 2 practical exams 100

D+ =67-69%

D =63-66%

D- =60-62% Subtotal 200

F =<60%

Total 500

For those students taking this course for graduate credit an additional project is required.

This will be a ten minute Powerpoint Presentation and a report. The details will be discussed in class.

Helpful Hints

Do not fall behind in the readings, in fact try to stay ahead. Not only will this be beneficial for the exams, but it will allow you to ask intelligent questions on lecture material that may not be clear to you.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

DATE

/

TOPIC

/

READING

/

LAB

/

LAB

6-20 / Introduction, Evolution and systematics / Chap. / Identify
6-21 / Reproduction and mating systems / Chap. / Identify
6-22 / Water balance and thermoreg / Chap. / Identify
6-23 / Respire, cardio, metabolism, locomotion / Chap. / Identify
6-27 / Movement, orientation, communication / Chap. / Identify
6-28 / Midterm / Chap. / Identify
6-29 / Feeding, parasites, predator-prey / Chap. / Identify
6-30 / Ecology and conservation / Chap. / Identify
7-5 / Lissamphibian diversity and amniota / Chap. / Identify
7-6 / Amniota / Chap. / Lab Practical
7-7 / Final Exam / Chap.