GEOL/BIOL 309: VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
SPRING, 2011
Date
Lecture
Lab
Readings
W 1/19
F
Overview/ Geologic Time
Evolution/Systematics
M 1/24
W
F
Orig. Verts, Agnatha
Primitive Jawed Fish
Advanced Fish
SKULL BONES
M 1/31
W
F
Lobe Fins-Orig. Amphibia
Paleoz. Amphibians
*** HOUR EXAM I ***
FISH
M 2/7
W
F
Lissamphibians
Reptiles
Anapsids
AMPHIBIANS
M 2/14
W
F
Basal Diapsids
True Marine Reptiles
Prim. Diapsids
PRIM. REPTILES
Ch 8.7, 8.11
Ch 6.3, 8.10 Q5
Ch 8.9 (B8.8, 8.10)
M 2/21
W
F
Advanced Diapsids
Crocodilians
*** HOUR EXAM II ***
TURTLES II
Ch 6 (not 6.3), 8.6 Q6
Ch 8.7, (B 8.9)
M 2/28
W
F
Dinosaurs
Theropods I
Ch. 2 Q1
Ch. 1 & 3 Q2
Ch. 7 Q3
Ch. 4 Q4
Ch 5.1-5.3
Ch 5.4
MISC. REPT./PRIM. DIAPSID Ch 8.1-8.3, (B 8.5)
**** LAB EXAM I *****
*** SPRING BREAK ***
M 3/14
W
F
Theropods II-Birds
Sauropods
Ornithischia
ARCHOS-CROCS
Ch. 9 Q7
Ch 8.4-8.5, (B 8.6) Q8
Date
Lecture
Lab
M 3/21
W
F
Ornithischia
Mass Extinction
Synapsids I
M 3/28
W
F
Therapsids & Orig Mams
Primitive Mammals
*** HOUR EXAM III ***
M 4/4
W
F
Archaic Orders
Modern Mammals
M 4/11
W
F
Modern Mammals
Modern Mammals
TBA
II
III
M 4/18
W
F
Modern Mammals
Ice Age Mammals
Primates
IIII
M 4/25
W
***** LAB EXAM II *****
Review
Readings
ARCHOS-DINOS-BIRDS
Ch 8.12
Ch 5.5-5.7, (B5.3-5.5)
SYNAPSIDS
Ch 10.1-10.2 Q9
Ch 10.3-10.5 Q10
TRIP-ZOO
Ch 10.6-10.12
I
(MAMMALS I)
Ch 10.13-10.15 Q11
(MAMMALS I)
MAMMALS II
Ch. 11 Q12
NOTE: Class meets 1:10-2, MWF, Lab is 2-5 M
***** FINAL EXAM --- Tuesday, May 3th, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM *****
Email: wbartels@albion.edu (preferred) Phone: Office X0313 (0276)
Office: Palenske 024 Office Hours: W,F 9-10, 11-12; W 2-3; whenever (email)
Evaluation:
HOUR EXAMS 3 @ 100
READING QUIZZES 10/12 @ 10
LABS 10 @ 10
PRESENTATION
LAB MIDTERM
LAB FINAL
FINAL EXAM
300
100
100
50
100
150
200
COURSE TOTAL
1000
Scale: 900pts (90%) = A (4.0); 870pts (87%) = A- (3.7); 830pts (83%) = B+ (3.3), etc.
Other Information
Course description
The fossil record, evolution, morphology, adaptation and paleobiogeography of fish, amphibians, reptiles,
birds and mammals. The interactions of vertebrates with ancient floras, climates and plate
configurations will be emphasized. Lecture and laboratory. Counts as GEOL 309 or BIOL 309.
Course objectives
1. To gain an understanding by example and laboratory exercises of how paleontologists build and
test hypotheses based on observation.
2. To gain an understanding of the history of the Earth with particular emphasis on the history of
vertebrate animals.
3. To gain an understanding of how life evolves and what influences the evolution of the lithosphere,
hydrosphere, and atmosphere have had on the evolution of life.
4. To gain an understanding of the history of vertebrate life on Earth, how that history is preserved,
major crises in the history of vertebrates, and implication for future biological crises.
5. To gain a familiarity with the skeletal anatomy of vertebrates and how their skeletons relate to their
other organ systems and lifestyles.
6. To gain an appreciation for the interplay of biological and geological sciences in the study of fossil
vertebrates.
Attendance, behavior, and integrity
You are expected to attend all lectures and are required to attend (or make-up) all labs. You are
expected to be on-time for class and be dressed appropriately. You are expected to behave in an adult,
civil, and non-disruptive manner. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.
Disability Accommodations
If you have a disability and may require accommodations or modifications in class instruction or courserelated activities, please contact the Learning Support Center (LSC) staff who can arrange for reasonable
accommodations for students who provide documentation of their disability/condition. If you are presently
registered with the LSC and have requested accommodations through the LSC for this semester, please
plan to meet with me as early as possible to discuss the best way to implement these accommodations in
this class.