Field Zoology BIOL 209 – Lecture – Fall 2015
Dr. Ingi Agnarsson
Marsh Life Sciences room 316
Ingi.Agnarsson@UVM.edu
Office hours: Monday 10:00-11:30 AM, or by appointment
Website: https://fieldzoologyuvm.wikispaces.com/ and blackboard
Lecture: 8:30-9:20 AM, MWF, LAFAYETTE HALL L107
Laboratory: Tuesday 1:15-4:15 PM or 4:35-7:35 PM, 202 Torrey Hall or out in nature!
Textbooks: (recommended for buying, but not required)
Insects and their Natural History and Diversity Marshall 2006 [ID]
Biology of Spiders, Foelix 2011 [BS]
Additional text on Blackboard [BB]
Objectives: To expose students to the field methodology, natural history, systematics,
evolution and ecology of terrestrial arthropods, some of the planet’s most diverse
lineages of life. Our focus in on systematics in its broadest sense, discussing biodiversity
its dimensions and measurement, phylogenetics and how we learn about relationships
among organisms, and taxonomy, putting names on this diversity. The course surveys all
major terrestrial arthropod groups, but places some emphasis on arachnids.
Exams: There will be four lecture exams (including the final) during the semester. All
regularly scheduled exams will be a combination of multiple choice, definitions, and
short-answer essay. The second and third exams are not cumulative. The final exam is
cumulative BUT OPTIONAL. It is your opportunity to make up for your worst mid-term
exam. If for some reason you cannot attend an exam, make-ups will be given for excused
absences arranged in advance. Make-up exams will be entirely essay format.
Extra credit: Wikipedia entries – make a lasting contribution by updating Wikipedia!
Grading:
Lecture (~60%)
Exam I
Exam II
Exam III
Final Exam
Presentation/ Participation
Total lecture
Lab (40%)
See lab syllabus
Points
100
100
100
100* (replaces your lowest exam score)
70
370
Total Points
Total Lecture and Lab
230
600
1
UVM’s Values and Policies
Learning Accommodation: If you need accommodation, you must notify me within the
first week of class. Adaptations and instructional supports are available through
consultation with the instructor and UVM’s Office of Accommodation, Consultation,
Collaboration & Educational Support Services (ACCESS:
http://www.uvm.edu/~access/). Only students properly registered with ACCESS will
receive learning accommodation. See policy on disability certification and student
support: http://www/uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/studentdisability.pdf
Religious Holidays: Students have the right to practice the religion of their choice. If you
need to miss a class to observe a religious holiday, you must submit the dates of your
absence to me in writing by the end of the first full week of classes (Friday September 6).
You will be permitted to make up work within a mutually agreed-upon time.
Preferred Name and Pronoun Information: Any student at the University of Vermont
can indicate a preferred first name and pronoun to the university community regardless of
whether there has been a legal name change. Utilizing this process will result in changes
in the following areas: CAtcard, Degree Audit Reporting System, Grade Reports,
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preferred name and pronoun are housed on the Registrar’s Preferred Name and Pronoun
Website. Also available are instructions for how to change your email address to use your
preferred name.
Student Responsibilities and Rights
Academic Integrity: UVM’s Code of Academic Integrity addresses plagiarism,
fabrication, collusion, and cheating. The code will be enforced. Please familiarize
yourself with it: http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/acadintegrity.pdf.
Grading Policies: For information on grading and GPA calculation, go to
http://www//uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/gradeappeals.pdf.
FERPA Rights Disclosure: The purpose of this policy is to communicate the rights of
students regarding access to, and privacy of their student educational records as provided
for in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974:
http//www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg
Date
Lecture Topic
Reference Chapter
August
31
Course Introduction……………………………………………………..………n/a
September
2
Field Zoology in action – research and opportunities in the Agnarsson lab........n/a
2
The Importance and Dominance of Arthropods …………....……......ID-Intro, BB
Labor Day (no classes)
Introduction to Systematics I..…..………………….……………………..........BB
Introduction to Systematics II..…..………………...……………………..........BB
Standardized sampling and biodiversity estimation, DNA barcodes………..D-14
(Add/Drop, Pass/No Pass, Audit Deadline)
16
R.I.P.: The Fossil Record, and the Origin of Arthropods……………………….BB
18
Good vibrations: Arthropod communication…………………………………. .BB
21
Insect Morphology, physiology (guest lecture Z. Yusseff)………………..…....BB
23
Summary and review for exam 1
25
Exam I
Begin Survey of Arthropod Diversity and Classification [ADC]
28
ADC: Arthropod relationships….……………………………………. BB, BS-10
30
ADC: Arachnida I (spiders, scorpions, daddy long legs etc).........ID-13, BS-1+10
October
2
ADC: Arachnida II (spiders, scorpions, daddy long legs etc).........ID-13, BS-1+10
5
ADC: Arachnida III spider silk, webs, and venom…………………….BS3, 5, 6, 9
7
ADC: Polyneoptera (termites, cockroaches, grasshoppers, and relatives …….ID-4
9
ADC: Polyneoptera (termites, cockroaches, grasshoppers, and relatives …….ID-4
12
ADC: Paraneoptera (bugs, thrips, and lice)…………..…..……....……….......ID-6
14
ADC: Paraneoptera (bugs, thrips, and lice)…………..…..……....……….......ID-6
16
ADC: Holometabola (most insects, those undergoing full metamorphosis..ID-7-12
19
ADC: Coleoptera/Strepsiptera (beetles and twisted wing parasites................ ID-10
21
ADC: Coleoptera/Strepsiptera (beetles and twisted wing parasites................ ID-10
23
ADC: Antliophora (flies, fleas, and scorpion flies) …....................................ID-11
26
ADC: Antliophora (flies, fleas, and scorpion flies) …....................................ID-11
28
Summary/review for Exam II
30
Exam II
November
2
ADC: Amphiesmenoptera (butterflies and moths, and caddishlies)..............ID-7-8
4
ADC: Amphiesmenoptera (butterflies and moths, and caddishlies)..............ID-7-8
6
ADC: Hymenoptera I (wasps, bees, and ants – most of the social insects )…ID-12
9
ADC: Hymenoptera II (wasps, bees, and ants – most of the social insects).. ID-12
11
ADC: Hymenoptera III (wasps, bees, and ants – most of the social insects). ID-12
13
Summary/catch up day
16
Research on hornets and yellowjackets (guest Lecture: Mr. Federico Osorio)..BB
18
At the field of crime: forensic entomology (guest lecture Z. Yusseff)………….BB
20
Guest Lecture: Ms Lisa Chamberland………………………………………..…BB
23-27 Thanksgiving break
30
Movie (and yes this will be on the exam)
December
2
Review for Exam III
4
Exam III
7
Student presentations (websites)
9
Final exam review
Note: This schedule is subject to change – it will change
4
7
9
11
14
3