Biology 459/459G Mammalogy Fall 2004 Syllabus (tentative)

Instructor: Michael Stokes
Michael.Stokes@wku.edu
http://bioweb.wku.edu/stokes/

Textbook:
Feldhamer, et al.  2004.  Mammalogy: Adaptation, Diversity, Ecology.  2^nd ed. McGraw Hill.
Other readings as assigned

Time/place:9:05 Fridays, Room 131 TCNW

Grading is based upon a lecture midterm and final and a lab midterm and final, each worth 100 points.  Additionally, you will do a semester project, which will be field-based.  This is worth 100 points.  We will also take a very long-day field trip to the St. Louis zoo, tentatively scheduled for Oct 15.  Those choosing not to participate in the field trip will have the option of writing a substantial additional paper.
Grading is on a scale of:  90%+ = A, 80%+ = B, 70%+ = C, 60%+ = D.  Audits must be arranged during the first week of class.
Please note that the order on the following schedules is tentative, we may deviate due to exigencies of weather, etc.  Outdoor labs will be held at the Upper Green River Biological Preserve.  If you have known allergies to anything in the outdoors, please tell me immediately.  You should wear sturdy, closed shoes with socks, long pants, and bring insect repellent for field exercises.

Lecture schedule:

Topic			Readings
What are mammals and how do we study them?			Chapters 1-3
The mammalian skeleton, integument			5
Patterns of reproduction, reproductive structures as taxonomic characters			9
Thermoregulation and scaling--effects of body size			8, readings
Early evolutionary history. Dentition and dental fossils.			4
Radiation and diversity, biogeographic patterns			26
Prototherians and metatherians			10
Insectivora, Macroscelidea, Scandentia, Dermoptera			11
Bats-ecology, anatomy and physiology			10
Bats-diversity			10
Midterm
Xenarthra, Pholidota, Tubulidentata			9,10,15
Carnivora			12
Cetacea			12
Primates			13
Rodentia			18
Lagomorpha			19
Proboscidea, Hyracoidea and Sirenia			14
Perissodactyla			16
Artiodactyla			17
Communication			22,23
Behavior, Social and mating systems			23,20
Behavior, Social and mating systems			23,20
Population biology/ecology			24
Lab topics:
Intro to methods, dentition, osteology
Dentition, osteology, integument
Bats, Insectivores, marsupials, and lagomorphs--identification
Rodent identification
Other Kentucky mammals
Midterm
Design and analysis of field studies *
Habitats *
Quantitative methods for population estimation
Field sampling, mark-recapture--field exercises *
Radio telemetry *
Home ranges Mammal capture methods
Lab final
* lab in field

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