Introduction to Zoogeography

Introduction to Zoogeography

Zoology 370

Fall 2009

Lecture: T & Th 12:40-2:00 pm

Location: 204 Natural Science

3 credits

Prerequisites: ZOL 355

Instructor: Catherine Lindell, Associate Professor, Zoology/Center for Global Change and Earth Observations.

Office: 278 Giltner, 884-1241 or 353-9874, . If you have questions that require short answers, feel free to use email. However, if you have a detailed question, please talk with me, either in person or on the phone. I am happy to make appointments to talk with you if you are not available after lecture or during my office hours (Thursdays 2:15-3:15 pm).

Lecture Assistant: Maura Redding, a’s phone number is (708) 305-1430. Maura will hold office hours from 11:30-12:30 pm on Mondays in the Cybercafe in the main library.

Courseweb address:

I will try to put my lecture outline in this folder about a day before the lecture. I can't promise this will always happen but it should most of the time. Please do not think it is o.k. to skip class because the lecture outlines are on the web. The outlines include major points but not all the details I go over in lecture. The best strategy is to print the outlines and come to class with them. If you miss class, you will miss discussion of the material and exercises meant to help you learn the material.

Required texts: Biogeography: Space, time and life by Glen M. MacDonald. Available at MSU Bookstore.

Course Description:In this course westudy the past and current geographical distributions of animals and the ecological and historical processes leading to these distributions.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

1. describe the types of questions the field of zoogeography investigates;

2. describe several of the processes through which zoogeographers try to answer these questions, and develop methods for trying to answer any particular question;

3. explain several important concepts/events (e.g. plate tectonics, dispersal, the Great American Interchange) that are important in understanding the present distribution of numerous animal groups;

4. describe hypotheses that explain the present distributions of several specific animal species;

5. describe several important geographical patterns of community diversity;

6. gain experience with several software programs/geographic databases in laboratory sessions;

7. find references through electronic databases available through the MSU library web site;

8. make an oral presentation and write a short paper on a focused question in the field of zoogeography.

Computation of Grades

Exams and Quizzes

Exam and quiz dates are indicated in the course schedule. Exams will have multiple-choice, short answer, and several essay questions. The exams will cover material presented in lecture, and material from the readings and videos that I will point out to you as particularly important. The final exam will be based on material presented after the midterm but you must be familiar with the important concepts presented from the first part of the course as well. Your grade will be assigned based on your point total for the whole course and the distribution of grades of the whole class.

Make-up exams will be allowed only in the case of medical necessity (doctor’s note required) or other emergency to be discussed with the instructor in advance if possible.

Late Assignments will automatically lose 25% of the points available for that assignment and must be turned in the next class. For example, a paper that is worth 25 point would only be worth a maximum of 18.75 points if the assignment is turned in one day late. Assignments not completed by one class after the deadline will not be accepted and you will receive no points.

The oral presentation and short paper will be on the same topic and will be discussed more fully in class. It is extremely important that you adhere to deadlines with these assignments because the class schedule depends on your being ready to make your presentation.

Attendance

You are expected to attend all lectures. Attendance will be taken on all days on which there are student presentations and two to four other lectures over the course of the term. You will be responsible for all lecture notes and handouts, all reading assignments, and all announcements of schedule changes, whether you are in class or not. Attendance is also required in the computer labs and your completed work must be checked off before the end of the class for you to receive full credit.

Homework

At the end of each lecture I will hand out a sheet with one to several questions that relate to that day’s lecture and the readings, and which are the types of questions that might show up on exams. I encourage you to do this homework, even though it will not be graded. The next class, I will go over the answers to the homework questions. This is an excellent way to stay on top of the material.

Videos will only be shown during the class times below so it is important that you attend those classes.

All assignments are due at the beginning of class.

Special Circumstances

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

If there is a conflict between your observance of a religious holiday and a class requirement, please let me know at least one week ahead of time.

Academic Integrity Policy

Please see the following websitefor MSU regulations, ordinances, and policies regarding academic honesty and integrity: If I discover that any work you produce for this class, e.g. exams, quizzes, written or oral presentations, violates the policies on this website you will receive no points for that component of the course.

Classroom Behavior

Please be considerate of other students and me during class. Please do not eat, read the newspaper, check email, or carry on conversations unrelated to class. Also, please do not start to pack up your materials before I have dismissed the class.

Email Etiquette

If you email me, please start your email by addressing me as Dr. Lindell or Professor Lindell, rather than launching into your message with no greeting. This is a good policy to follow in any email correspondence with professors, supervisors, etc.

Reading assignments

You should complete the reading by the date indicated below.

Extra hand-outswill be available from the lecture assistant.

Honors Option—Students interested in an honors option will write an additional paper. You must talk with me during the first two weeks of class if you are interested in this option.

lecture schedule, reading and Other assignments in MacDonald--Thisschedule is tentative but I will let you know of any changes in advance of the date.