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Zoology 173
COURSE PREREQUISITES: Zoology 116 (or instructor's permission).
COURSE OVERVIEW:
Zoology 173 (Mammalogy) builds upon the concepts and skills presented in Biology Core courses and Zoology 116 (Vertebrate Evolution and Natural History). I will assume that you have already taken these courses or have my permission to take the course.
Mammalogy is an intensive survey course to introduce you to various aspects of mammalian biology including a survey of California mammals.
Major topics covered in Mammalogy include: characteristics, origin and evolution, ecology and conservation, morphological and physiological adaptations, biodiversity (identification and classification of mammals), behavior, and systematics of mammals. Emphasis will be on understanding relationships and concepts that are grounded in scientific facts.
OFFICE HOURS: (or by arrangement) 4:00-5:20 MW, 3:30-4:20 T.
FIELD TRIP:
A weekend field trip is scheduled for the weekend of 21-23 September. It is designed to introduce you to some of the basic field methods used in the study of small mammals. A field journal/catalogue is to be kept and turned in for a grade (50 pts). More details later.
GRADING:
Exams will include information from lectures, labs, discussions, and reading assignments. Your grade for the course will depend upon your performance via several exams, reports, and class participation. It is to your benefit to meet deadlines. Make-up exams will not be given. You will be penalized for turning in late assignments (5% of the points possible for each lecture/lab period). Course grades will be based upon the following percentages (your total points accumulated divided by 450 points):
% % %
A = 92-100 B- = 80-81 D+ = 68-69
A- = 90-91 C+ = 78-79 D = 62-67
B+ = 88-89 C = 72-77 D- = 60-61
B = 82-87 C- = 70-71 F = below 60
Graded Assignments Dates
Oct. 1 Lab Exam #1 (Skull, Skeleton, Teeth) 50
Oct. 10 Field Journal 50
Oct. 22 Midterm (Characteristics-Rodents) 100
Nov. 28 Library Paper due 50
Dec. 5 Lab Exam #2 (California Mammals) 50
Dec. 10 Final Exam (Lagomorphs-Biogeography) 100
Active participation during lecture-discussion and lab,
approximately 2 pts/class 50
TOTAL 450
TEXTS:
Chapter readings in the schedule are from Vaughan, be familiar with the chapter content for each lecture topic. I will give you more specific reading assignments for each topic during lecture & labs. For the labs covering California Mammals you will use Ingles, and Jones and Manning:
Vaughan, T. A., J. M. Ryan, and N. J. Czaplewski. 2000. Mammalogy. 4rd edition. Saunders College Publishing.
Ingles, Loyde. 1965. Mammals of the Pacific States. Standford Univ. Press (available from amazon.com for about $15).
Jones, J. K., Jr. and R. W. Manning; 1992. Illustrated Key to skulls of Genera of North American land mammals. Texas Tech University Press.
University and Department policy require a serious and compelling reason to drop a course after the free drop period. Grades alone do not constitute a reason to drop a course (see University Catalog).
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