Spring 2015
ZOOLOGY 469/669: VERTEBRATE ADAPTATIONS
(Spring 2015)
Instructor:
John Scheibe
125 MaGill Hall
Electronic mail: jscheibe@semo.edu
Web Address: www.sabrinus.com
Office Hours: M 10-11 AM, TR 1-2 PM
Lectures:
Monday, 2:00-3:50 PM, 121 Magill
Laboratories: Wednesday, 2:00-4:50 PM, 121 Magill
Prerequisite: BI 154 Genetics and Cell Biology
Textbook:
Vertebrate Life, any Edition
Pough et. al.
Catalog Description
ZO469/669 Vertebrate Adaptations. Survey of vertebrate adaptations to various
environments. Topics include mechanistic amd morphological adaptations for feeding,
thermoregulation, locomotion, reproduction, and sensory systems. One lecture, two twohour labs. Prerequisite:BI 154. (3)
Course Organization
Lectures on Tuesday, Lab prep on Tuesday and labs on Thursday. The lecture and lab
are combined, and no one may take one part without the other.
Purpose or Objectives of the Course:
To provide the student an opportunity to study the ways in which vertebrates are adapted
to life in the major divisions of the biosphere. To bring the student to an awareness and
understanding of convergence and divergence among vertebrates.
Expectations of Students:
Undergraduates are expected to attend all lecture/discussion sessions, participate in the
laboratory exercises, complete all homework assignments, complete a course project, and
pass all examinations and quizzes. Graduate students are expected to produce a more
comprehensive course project containing a literature review, and attend the departmental
graduate seminar.
Spring 2015
Evaluation of Undergraduate Student Performance:
Point Breakdown
Examinations 2 @ 100 pts each
Laboratory Exams 2 @ 75 pts each
Homework
Quizzes
Project
200
150
100
50
200
TOTAL POINTS
700
Grades:
A (superior)
B (above average)
C (average)
D (below average)
F (failing)
92%
80%
70%
50%
<50%
Course Project:
All students will be required to complete a course project. The project will entail 40
hours of science, plus whatever time is required to put together a report. You should treat
the project as a formal scientific project, and the report should be written as a manuscript
for submission to a scientific journal. That means, it will consist of an Abstract,
Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Literature Cited section. The project can
cover almost any aspect of vertebrate natural history. Listed below are examples of
possible fall projects. All projects must be cleared with me.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
14)
15)
Behavioral thermoregulation in herps.
Temperature dependent sprint performance in turtles.
Time-energy budgets of alpha and beta males in baboon dominance
hierarchies.
Population densities and the transition from territoriality to dendritic
hierarchies in salamanders or fish.
Habitat selection in frogs.
Territoriality and call order in frogs.
Homing in frogs.
Territory size and quality in red-winged black birds.
Nocturnal activity in flying squirrels or sugar gliders.
Surveillance behavior as a function of disturbance history in flying
squirrels.
Form and function in the mammalian jaw.
Form and function in the scapula of Peromyscus.
Comparative gait and performance analysis of turtles on inclines.
Comparative gait and performance analysis of flying squirrels/sugar
gliders on dowels of different diameters.
Tannin content and diet selection in squirrels.
Spring 2015
Lecture Topics:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Overview and Introduction
Natural selection, evolution, and phylogenetic inertia. The 4 biases. Ch 1.
Vertebrate Origins. Ch 2.1, 2.2, 3.
Evolution of vertebrate morphology and physiology (homeostasis,
thermoregulation, and jaws)
The evolution of fishes. Ch 3, 4, 5, 6.
Terrestrialization and its consequences. Part 1 – 2 radiations of the
Amphibia. Ch 7, 8, 9, 10.
Terrestrialization and its consequences. Part 2 – Early reptiles. Ch 11, 12.
Terrestrialization and its consequences. Part 3 – Late reptiles. Ch 13
The consequences of size, ectothermy, and endothermy. Ch 14, 15, 16.
The evolution of birds. Ch 16.
The evolution of flight. Ch 17.
The evolution of mammals. Ch 18, 20, 21, 22.
Ethology and sociobiology of vertebrates. Ch 22
Migration, orientation, homing, and navigation in vertebrates.
Lab Topics:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Skeletal mechanics
Animal locomotion
Fish systematics.
Herptile systematics
Census techniques
Mammal systematics
Thermoregulation
Avian systematics.
Student Conduct
Since students are paying hundreds of dollars to take this course, each person deserves an
uninterrupted educational experience. Please make every effort to be on time. If you
must come late or leave early please do so in an unobtrusive manner. Like in a movie
theater, if someone is carrying on a conversation you have every right to ask him or her to
be quiet. Please turn off your cell phone. If your cell phone interrupts class, please
give everyone your number so they can return the favor. Please don’t text-message
during class – it is very disrespectful. If you are having trouble seeing the board, or
hearing me I’ll be glad to try and correct the situation. In some cases there is little I can
do. Your best bet is to sit towards the front of the room.
Spring 2015
Student Learning Objectives
1. Students will be able to describe the phylogenetic relationships amongst the
vertebrate classes.
2. Students will be able to describe the evolutionary transitions amongst vertebrate
classes and select orders.
3. Students will be able to compare and contrast the natural histories of vertebrates.
4. Students will be able to identify common Missouri vertebrates to species, using
common names.
Questions, comments or requests regarding this course should be taken to your instructor.
Unanswered questions or unresolved issues involving this class may be taken to Dr. Chris
McGowan, Dean of the College of Science, Technology, and Agriculture
(cwmcgowan@semo.edu, 301 Seabaugh Hall, 651-2163).
Spring 2015
From the Bulletin
Attendance
Students are expected to attend all classes and to complete all assignments for
courses in which they are enrolled. An absence does not relieve the student of the
responsibility to complete all assignments. If an absence is associated with a universitysanctioned activity, the instructor will provide an opportunity for assignment make-up.
However, it is the instructor’s decision to provide, or not to provide, make-up work
related to absences for any other reason.
A student not present for class during the entire initial week of a scheduled course
may be removed from the course roster unless the student notifies the instructor by the
end of the first week of an intention to attend the class. Questions regarding the removal
process should be directed to the Registrar.
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is one of the most important qualities influencing the character
and vitality of an educational institution. Academic misconduct or dishonesty is
inconsistent with membership in an academic community and cannot be accepted.
Violations of academic honesty represent a serious breach of discipline and may be
considered grounds for disciplinary action, including dismissal from the University.
Academic dishonesty is defined to include those acts which would deceive, cheat, or
defraud so as to promote or enhance one’s scholastic record. Knowingly or actively
assisting any person in the commission of an above-mentioned act is also academic
dishonesty. Students are responsible for upholding the principles of academic honesty in
accordance with the “University Statement of Student Rights” found in the STUDENT
HANDBOOK. The University requires that all assignments submitted to faculty members
by students be the work of the individual student submitting the work. An exception would
be group projects assigned by the instructor. In this situation, the work must be that of
the group. Academic dishonesty includes:
Plagiarism. In speaking or writing, plagiarism is the act of passing someone else’s work
off as one’s own. In addition, plagiarism is defined as using the essential style and
manner of expression of a source as if it were one’s own. If there is any doubt, the student
should consult his/her instructor or any manual of term paper or report writing.
Violations of academic honesty include:
1. Presenting the exact words of a source without quotation marks;
2. Using another student’s computer source code or algorithm or copying a laboratory
report; or
3. Presenting information, judgments, ideas, or facts summarized from a source without
giving credit.
Spring 2015
Cheating. Cheating includes using or relying on the work of someone else in an
inappropriate manner.
It includes, but is not limited to, those activities where a student:
1. Obtains or attempts to obtain unauthorized knowledge of an examination’s contents
prior to the time of that examination.
2. Copies another student’s work or intentionally allows others to copy assignments,
examinations,
source codes or designs;
3. Works in a group when she/he has been told to work individually;
4. Uses unauthorized reference material during an examination; or
5. Have someone else take an examination or takes the examination for another
When there is credible evidence of cheating on a an assignment or test the student will receive a
grade of zero on that assignment.
Civility
Every student at Southeast is obligated at all times to assume responsibility for his/her actions,
to respect constituted authority, to be truthful, and to respect the rights of others, as to respect
private and public property. In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high
standards of honesty and integrity and abide by the University’s Policy on Academic Honesty.
Alleged violations of the Code of Student Conduct are adjudicated in accordance with the
established procedures of the judicial system.
Disabilities
Southeast Missouri State University and Disability Support Services remain committed to
making every reasonable educational accommodation for students with disabilities. Many
services and accommodations which aid a student’s educational experience are available for
students with various types of disabilities. It is the student’s responsibility to contact Disability
Support Services to become registered as a student with a disability in order to have
accommodations implemented. Accommodations are implemented on a case by case basis. For
more information visit the following site: www.semo.edu/lapdss or contact Disability Support
Services at 573-651-2273