Syllabus Powerpoint PresenTations Announcements Sample ?s LAB
Biology 4409 – Mammalogy – Spring 2006
Lecture T-R 11:00-12:15 WSB 114
Syllabus
Instructor: Dr. Chris M. Ritzi
Office: Warnock Science Building - 208
Phone: 837- 8420
Email: critzi@sulross.edu
Office hours: TW 3:00-5:00, F 10:00-11:00 or by appt.
Class Website: http://faculty.sulross.edu/critzi/
Text: Feldhamer et al., 2003. Mammalogy: Adaptation, Diversity, and Ecology 2nd Edition.
Course Description: This course is designed to introduce one to mammalogy, the study of mammals. By the end of the course, all students are expected to have a functioning understanding of mammalian taxonomy, systematics, ecology, conservation, and mammalian relationships to humanity. A heavy emphasis will be placed on learning both traditional and modern techniques that are used to study mammals. We will place a particular emphasis on the mammal species found locally, but we will also introduce other species that are found in North America and around the world.
Tests: There will be three exams over the course of the term, each covering material that has not been tested on prior. There will also be a comprehensive final exam, covering material previously tested on during the term in addition to the last untested material.
Grading: Your grade will be assigned based on the percentage of points you get out of total possible. Each lecture exam will be worth 100 points. Additionally, periodic quizzes will be offered to assess knowledge in between exams. Finally, a research paper (to be discussed later) will be assigned following the first exam. The total points for the lecture is to account for 600, which when combined with 400 points from lab, will constitute the final grade in the class.
Attendance: Students missing 20% of lectures (6 lectures) shall be dropped from the class per the SRSU catalog. Any student dropped for excessive absences will receive an F for the course grade. Please notify your instructor BEFORE missing class for authorized activities, death in the family, or illness. Exams missed for any reason must be made up within one week of the originally scheduled date. REGARDLESS OF WHY AN ABSENCE OCCURS, YOU MAY BE GIVEN AN F FOR THE COURSE GRADE IF YOU ACCUMULATE SIX ABSENCES.
Lecture courtesy: The general rules of classroom etiquette are below.
1) Please do not talk to others in class while the instructor is lecturing. If you have a question, ASK THE INSTRUCTOR! That’s what I’m here for.
2) No eating, chewing, dipping, etc.
3) Please turn cell phones and pagers to silent while in class. They are disruptive to the entire class, and detract from learning.
Students with disabilities will be provided reasonable accommodations. If you would like to request such accommodations because of physical, mental, or learning disability, please contact the ADA Coordinator for Program Accessibility at 837-8178, UC 211.
Subjects to be Covered
Date Lecture topic Chapter
Jan 19-20 Introduction, Characterisitics of Mammals 1
Jan 23-27 General evolutionary trends, Monotremes, Marsupials 4, 10
Jan 30-Feb 3 Insectivores and other archotonans, Chiroptera 11, 12
Feb 6-10 Primates, Things that eat ants, and Exam I 13, 14
Feb 13-17 Carnivora, Cetacea 15, 16
Feb 20-24 Rodentia, Lagomorphs 17
Feb 27-Mar 3 Big Ugly Things, Persodactyla, Artiodactyla, and Exam II 18, 19
Mar 6-10 Spring Break – No Class
Mar 13-17 Domestication, Conservation, and Management of Mammals 28, 29
Mar 20-24 Interactions Between Mammals 20, 22
Mar 27-31 Mating and Reproduction 21, 9
Apr 3-7 Dispersal, Habitat Selection, Migration and Exam III 23
Apr 10-14 Zoogeography 26
Apr 17-21 Populations and Life History 24
Apr 24-28 Community Ecology, Commensal Organisms 25, 27
May 1-3 Techniques for Studying Mammals, Practical Mammalogy 3
May 9 10:15 am Final exam – Chapters 11-15
Note – This outline is subject to change for reasons of course interest, time constraint, or instructor whim. The exams will be administered on the dates given, unless material relevant for a given exam has not been covered. Under such cases, an exam may be moved a class period or two to aid in the clarity and understanding of the material.
Lecture Powerpoint Presentations
What is a Mammal? Carnivores Domestication
Mammal Evolution Cetaceans Conservation
Marsupials Glires Parasites and Disease
Marsupials II and Insectivores Subungulate Techniques in Mammalogy
Bats and Phylogenetics Perissodactyla
19 Feb Since we have our lab practical this Thursday (23 Feb), we will have Exam I rescheduled for the following Thursday (March 2). I will be at the TAS meeting, but a TA will disperse the exams (and the Take-home exams for graduates).
Exams and Exercises
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