Vertebrate Design and Evolution

Vertebrate Design and Evolution

Lecture Syllabus

Aug. 25, 27	Natural selection and vertebrate design, phylogenetics (Lecture assignment #1: Exploring the web in vertebrate biology)	Chap 1-2
Sept. 1, 3	Labor Day Holiday, Monday 1st Evolutionary history of vertebrate form (Lecture assignment #2: Are birds dinosaurs? Determining vertebrate genealogies)	Chap 3
Sept. 8, 10	Survey of the vertebrates	Chap 3
Sept. 15, 17	Developmental anatomy & ontogeny, Scaling	Chap 4, 5
Sept. 22, 24	Skeletal anatomy; comparative form and function (Field Trip, Saturday 27th, Bison Range)	Chap 7, 8, 9
Sept. 29, Oct. 1	Muscular anatomy; comparative form and function	Chap 10
Oct. 6, 8	Muscle form and function cont.; Exam #1 (50 points)	Chap 11
Oct. 13, 15	Vertebrate nervous system: Coordination and integration	Chap 13, 14
Oct. 20, 22	Comparative locomotion, Biomechanics and Vertebrate design;	Ch 1, 5
Oct. 27, 29	Respiration and Circulation	Chap 18, 19
Nov. 3, 5	Feeding, Digestion	Chap 16,17
Nov. 10, 12	Exam #2 (50 points), Osmoregulation	Chap 17
Nov. 17, 19	Urogenital system	Chap 20
Nov. 24, 26	Reproduction, Thanksgiving Vacation	Chap 21
Nov. 24, 26	Urogenital. Reproduction	Chap 21
Dec. 1, 3	Ecomorphology	Handouts
Dec. 11	Final Exam, 1:10 - 3:10 PM (100 points, comprehensive)

Textbook: Liem, Bemis, Walker, & Grange.

Functional Anatomy of the Vertebrates: An Evolutionary Perspective, 3rd Edition

Course Policy:

Biology 403 is a 5 credit hour course and requires substantial amount of time and effort. Through the course, you will come to view the biological world through a new pair of eyes, and you will be better prepared for entrance into the work force and/or graduate school. Biology 403 integrates much of your undergraduate education, drawing from: evolutionary biology, physics, math, general biology, animal behavior, developmental biology, and introduces aspects of geologic history. If you maintain a positive attitude and a professional demeanor throughout the semester, you will do very well.

Grading: Your final course grade is determined from your balanced performance in both lab and lecture. In other words, lab and lecture grades are combined and equally weighted to determine your final grade.

Student project: Each student will be involved in a group (3-5 students) experiment executed on a Friday with the instructors. A separate handout will outline expectations or oral and written presentations.

Writing: Biology 403 is considered a “W” (writing) course. As such, you will hand in several assignments that will be edited, corrected, and commented on by both instructors. You will be expected to submit a revision of your work to receive a grade on each assignment.

Reading: Students are expected to read and re-read assigned material at least 8-10 hours per week. Postponing your daily reading will simply result in needless pre-test anxiety.

Students are expected to faithfully attend and come prepared to both lecture and lab.

In conclusion, attending class with a “can-do-attitude” will account for the vast majority (perhaps 80%) of your success in this course. Stick with us and we promise you’ll learn a wealth of information that will be useful to you throughout your career.

Lecture Exam #1 50 pts

Lecture Exam #2 50 pts (comprehensive)

Final Exam 100 pts (comprehensive)

Total Lecture Points 200

Total Lab Points 200 (see lab syllabus)

Writing points 100 (lecture assignments, lab assignments, manuscript from group project)

Total Points 500

All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor and /or a disciplinary sanction by the University

All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. The Code is available for review online at http://www.umt.edu/SA/VPSA/index.cfm/page/1321

Muscle form and function cont.; Exam #1 (50 points)

Ecomorphology