Bio3950                                                                                                                 Autumn 2009

Vertebrate Natural History

Professor:  Stephen Mullin                                                                                 Office: LS 2070

tel: 217.581.6234                          E-mail: <sjmullin@eiu.edu>                       mailbox: LS 2070

Office Hours: Mon. & Wedn. 1500-1630 h; or, by appointment.

Synopsis – This course features a survey of the vertebrate subphylum, with emphasis on the natural history of the extant tetrapods of Illinois.  Material presented in lecture will be supplemented with laboratory examinations of preserved specimens and several field trips to regional sites for surveying local vertebrate fauna.  Evolutionary relationships between major taxonomic groups within the Subphylum will be emphasized throughout the semester.

 

Prerequisites – Prior to taking this course, you should have successfully completed bio1300.  Concurrent enrollment in a laboratory section is required.

Click here for a brief outline of the lecture notes.

Note, that there is a course fee of $35¡¡ that will appear on your tuition bill (i.e., you do not pay me or the dept. directly).  This fee is assessed to all students to partially defray expenses associated with laboratory supplies and field trips.

 

Required Materials – lecture:

Pough, F.H., C.M Janis, & J.B. Heiser.  2009.  Vertebrate Life, 8th ed.  Benjamin-Cummings, New York.

– lab/field:  Your choice of a field guide to reptiles & amphibians of Eastern North America

Your choice of a field guide to birds of North America

Your choice of a field guide to fishes of Eastern North America

Your choice of a field guide to mammals of North America

Loose-leaf notebook, w/ non-flexible cover and ruled paper, Å  6" x 9"

Black pen with waterproof ink

Course reader packet (available from BGSA, in the Grad. Pit – LS1120)

Optional Materials – lab/field:

Gergus, E.W.A. & G.W. Schuett.  1997.  Labs for Vertebrate Zoology: An Evolutionary Approach.  Cooper Publishing Group, Carmel, IN.

A pair of binoculars (7- or 8-x recommended)

Magnifying lens (4- to 10-x, hand-held)

Small clear-plastic ruler (metric, of course)

 

Reserve Materials – In addition to the holdings in Booth Library, several resources are available to help you with information presented throughout the course. I will have them available for check out during my office hours:

Linzey, D.  2001.  Vertebrate Biology.  McGraw-Hill Inc., New York.

Pough, F.H., R.M. Andrews, J.E. Cadle, M.L. Crump, A.H. Savitsky, & K.D. Wells.  2004.  Herpetology, 3rd ed.  Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Remsen, J.V., Jr.  1977.  On taking field notes.  Amer. Bird 31:946-953.

Vaughan, T.A.  1986.  Mammalogy, 3rd ed.  Saunders College Publ., New York.

Welty, J.C. & L. Baptista.  1988.  The Life of Birds, 4th ed.  Saunders College, New York.

Attendance – Lecture

  With the exception of school holidays, lecture sections will meet on Mon. & Wedn. from 1400-1450 h; please avoid the embarrassment of arriving late.  I won't take attendance regularly, but I can guarantee that anyone noticeably absent during the semester will not receive any leniency from me should I decide to curve grades at the end of the term.  At my discretion, Òpop quizzesÓ will be given in lectures that are poorly attended; make-up quizzes are not an option.  [Also, see note about make-up exams, below.].

– Laboratory

  Attendance is mandatory for the lab section (Tues. 1400-1650 h): more than two unexcused absences during the term will result in your receiving a failing (ÒFÓ) grade for the entire course.  If you expect to miss a particular lab meeting because of a university-related function, see me in advance of that week, as you will be responsible for the material taught during at that time.  Several of the lab periods will be used for field trips – please dress appropriately for field exercises (rain or shine).  If possible, please avoid scheduling activities immediately following labs.

  I would like to discourage distractions during our meeting times.  Therefore, any student will be penalized ten (10) points if their pager/cellular telephone/alarm emits any audible noise (buzzing, humming, catchy tunes, etc.) during any class meeting.  The same holds true if I observe you ÒtextingÓ anything to anyone at any time during class meetings.

 

Grading – Lecture

  There will be 3 exams given over the course of the semester, plus a final exam.  Each of the midterms is worth 70 points and covers only the portions of the course prior to its test date (i.e., none are comprehensive).  The final exam is worth 140 points and is comprehensive –although the last 20% of the course will be emphasized, this exam includes questions concerning material presented throughout the semester.

– Laboratory

  There will be 3 practical exams given over the course of the semester during lab periods – none of these exams will be comprehensive (each covering only material directly preceding the exam date).  Periodically, you will be asked to turn in your field notebooks for evaluation of their completeness (i.e., your participation in the field exercises).

Proper English counts!  One point will be deducted from your point total for every 5 spelling/grammatical errors on any written assignment or exam (except the field notebook).

 

Mid-term exams (3 @ 70 points each)                           210 points

Laboratory practicals (3 @ 50 points each)                    150

Lecture final exam                                                          140

Field Research Project                                                    155

Miscellaneous (field notebook, "pop quizzes," etc.)          45

TOTAL                                                                           700 points

Thus, your awarded grade for the class will be determined on a 700-point scale.  The grade distribution might be curved at my discretion, and only for your performance in the entire course at the end of the semester.  Generally, however, I will follow the standard 10-%age point scale (90-100 % = ÔAÕ, 80-89 % = ÔBÕ, etc.).

Exams – Unless otherwise noted, the lecture exam format will generally consist of matching, short answer and essay questions. If you miss an exam, it is your responsibility to contact me before the next class meeting – failure to do so will result in a zero grade for that exam.  Written make-up exams are not an option – if you miss an exam with an excused absence, the make-up will be administered as soon as is mutually convenient and will be comprised of oral responses to my questions.

  There are no make-up exams for laboratory practicals, for any reason.

 

Field Research Project – Each student will be required to complete a research project that examines the natural history of a vertebrate species of their choosing (exceptions: no captive or domesticated animals).  This project will require plenty of advance consideration (i.e., procrastination will cause you to fail this part of the course).  I would prefer that all students develop a project topic that doesn't involve the permanent collection (i.e., killing) of any specimens.

  Your grade on the project will be based on a scientific manuscript (in the proper format) submitted towards the end of the semester, a peer review, and your submitted journal entries that document your work on the project.  Late projects will not be accepted.  See the course schedule for due dates of the project components.

 

 

Academic Integrity -- I expect that you will never passively or actively cheat on any of my exams, or those administered by your other instructors.  Any documented incidence of cheating or plagiarism will result in a failing grade (ÒFÓ) for the course, and notifications to the DeanÕs office and Judicial Affairs.  Please feel free to speak with me, or consult your Student Handbook, if you have any questions concerning this matter.

 

 

Disabled Students should contact the Office of Disability Services (9th St. Hall 2002; x6583) for any arrangements that need to be made in order to ensure that you get the most out of this course.  Within reason, I am willing to make whatever accommodations are necessary to facilitate your learning of this material.  Note, however, that this is a field-based course – participation in field trips is essential to your understanding much of the course information.

 

 

Handling Vertebrate Animals:  The Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) mandates that all individuals who work with vertebrates in the process of completing research or their coursework be appropriately trained.  During this course, you will receive instruction concerning the safe and ethical handling of animals.  You will be asked to review federal guidelines describing animal care and complete a release stating that you understand these guidelines.  Furthermore, you will be asked to complete a disclaimer stating that you will not participate in any activity that disrupts this class because of its use of vertebrate animals.

 

 

Further Assistance with course material – If you suddenly find yourself with a question that is burning a hole in your brain, and cannot reach me, there are several ways of obtaining the answer.

In addition to the material on reserve in the library, here are some examples:

1.  The authors of your text have thoughtfully provided a variety of resources for you to follow up on presented material.  The citations are listed at the end of each chapter.

2.  IÕll have my lecture outlines on a website accessible through the following address:  <www.ux1.eiu.edu/~sjmullin>  [Note, that this information is in outline format and I will expect you to have a greater understanding for the material when taking exams.].

3.  Help each other -- get to know your fellow students!  Active learning through testing each other on the material is one of the most effective ways of discovering where your weaknesses lie with this subject matter.

 

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Assignment #1:  (5 points; due 28 Aug. by 1600 h)

Send me an email message containing the following information, each item (un-numbered) on a new line of text:

á      your name as you wish to be addressed

á      your e-number

á      a version of the following statement:

"Yes/No you may/may not post my grade by special code."

[If "yes," then provide 6-digit code -- you may use any sequence of numbers or letters].

á      your phone #

á      a version of the following statement:

"Yes/No you may/may not release my phone number to the rest of the class."

á      your class standing

á      your major

Bio 3950 – Mullin                                                                                                      Autumn 2009

Vertebrate Natural History

                                                             Lecture Schedule        

Week       Topic                                                                                                              Readings

1               Introduction; How do you define yourself?                                                          Ch. 1

                 Distinction and classification                                                                                        

2               Evolutionary history & Biogeography                                                       Ch. 7, 15, 19

                 The unity of structure                                                                                            Ch. 2

3               The unity of function                                          (+ sections from ChÕs. 4, 8, 11 & 14)

                 The unity of regulation                                                                                                 

4               Functioning in an aquatic realm                                                                            Ch. 4

                 1ST Mid-term examination

5               Cyclostomata – life with a tripartite brain                                                              Ch. 3

                 Gnathostomata – life with jaws                                                                             Ch. 5

6               Osteichthyes – life with a bony skeleton                                                               Ch. 6

                 Fun-filled facets featuring fish

7               Tetrapoda – the fin-to-limb transition                                                                    Ch. 9

                 Amphibia – life on land (sort of)                                                                         Ch. 10

8               When is a frog not a frog? – amphibian diversity

                 Amazing anecdotes about amphibians

9               2nd Mid-term examination

                 Reptilia – life with an amniotic egg                                                              ChÕs. 9, 16

10             Reptiles know they're "cool" – reptilian diversity                                        Ch.'s 12, 13

                 Rapturous reports regarding reptiles                                                                             

11             Throwing out the thermometers – life as an endotherm                                       Ch. 22

                 ÒAvesÓ – life with feathers (a.k.a. Òglorified reptilesÓ)                                     Ch. 16

12             Birds of a feather don't necessarily flock together – avian diversity                    Ch. 17

                 Breath-taking bits 'bout birds                                                                                        

13             3rd Mid-term examination (+ project paper due on 19 Nov. at 1600 h)

                 Catch-up day (brought to you by Heinz¨!)

Turkey Week!

14             Mammalia – life with milk production                                                                Ch. 18

                 What can you do with 12 cranial nerves? – mammalian diversity            Ch. 20, 21, 23

15             Marvelous morsels mentioning mammals

                 The unity of oppression – the impact of Homo s. sapiens                            Ch. 24, 25

16 Dec. (Wednesday)  Final exam at 1445 h.

                                                                                                                                                      


Bio 3950 – Mullin                                                                                                      Autumn 2009

Vertebrate Natural History

                                                     Field/Laboratory Schedule         

Date                    Subject matter

25 Aug.                Introduction; Field gear, notebook, & research project

1 Sept.                 Field trip

8 Sept.                 Amphibian survey + Field Research Project Proposals due!

15 Sept.               Reptilian survey (click here for a .pdf of Durso's pre-lab lecture material)

22 Sept.               Open date – use for Field Research Project!

29 Sept.               Field trip

6 Oct.                   1st practical exam

13 Oct.                 Fish survey

20 Oct.                 Field trip

27 Oct.                 Avian survey

3 Nov.                  Field trip  + Project "rough" draft due on 9 Nov. in lecture.

10 Nov.                2nd practical exam + Peer reviews due on 13 Nov. by 1600 h

17 Nov.                Mammalian survey + Field Research Project due on 19 Nov. @ 1600 h!

24 Nov.                no lab:  Gobble, gobble!

1 Dec.                  Field trip

8 Dec.                  3rd practical exam

                                                                                                                                                      

            Note:  Lab practical exams will commence at 1500 h on the scheduled day.