Difference between revisions of "Herpetology"
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<span style="font-size: x-large">EEB 3265/5265 Herpetology</span><br> | <span style="font-size: x-large">EEB 3265/5265 Herpetology</span><br> | ||
− | <span style="font-size: large">Spring | + | <span style="font-size: large">Spring 2017</span><br><br> |
− | <span style="font-size: small">'''Lecture Meeting Time:''' Mondays and Wednesdays, 11: | + | <span style="font-size: small">'''Lecture Meeting Time:''' Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:15 - 12:05 in TLS 181<br> |
− | <span style="font-size: small">'''Lab Meeting Time:''' Mondays 1: | + | <span style="font-size: small">'''Lab Meeting Time:''' Mondays 1:25 - 5:30 in TLS181<br> |
− | <span style="font-size: small">'''Textbook:''' Pough F. H., et al. | + | <span style="font-size: small">'''Textbook:''' Pough F. H., et al. 2016. ''Herpetology'' 4th Edition. Sinauer Associates Press. <br> Additional readings will be assigned from the primary journal literature.<br><br> |
==Instructors== | ==Instructors== | ||
+ | [[Image:Wells.jpg|thumb|left|Dr. Wells being honored for the impact of his 1977 paper in the field of Animal Behavior. Photo by P. Morenus/UConn Photo]] | ||
− | [[Image: | + | [[Image:A_Evans_eebedia_picture.png|thumb|300px|left]] |
− | '''[mailto:kentwood.wells@uconn.edu Dr. Kentwood Wells]'''<br> | + | <span style="font-size: medium">'''[mailto:kentwood.wells@uconn.edu Dr. Kentwood Wells]'''<br> |
Email: kentwood.wells@uconn.edu<br> | Email: kentwood.wells@uconn.edu<br> | ||
Office: Torrey Life Sciences Building 312<br> | Office: Torrey Life Sciences Building 312<br> | ||
Phone: (860) 486-4319<br> | Phone: (860) 486-4319<br> | ||
− | Office hours: by appointment<br><br> | + | Office hours: by appointment<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> |
− | '''[mailto: | + | <span style="font-size: medium">'''[mailto:Annette Evans]''' (Teaching Assistant)<br> |
− | Email: | + | Email: annette.evans@uconn.edu<br> |
− | Office: | + | Office: BioPharm Building 322 <br> |
− | + | Office hours: by appointment<br><br><br><br><br> | |
− | Office hours: by appointment<br><br><br> | + | |
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Sarah.jpg|thumb|right|This is what happens when you stay too long in the herpetology lab....The skulls come back to life]]<br> | ||
==Course Procedures and Policies== | ==Course Procedures and Policies== | ||
− | [[Image: | + | |
− | [[Image: | + | [[Image:Girls4.jpg|thumb|right|The Frog Girls]] |
− | [[Image: | + | [[Image:Lizg.jpg|thumb|right|Liz and the spotted turtle]] |
+ | [[Image:Rachel.jpg|thumb|right|Rachael and the spotted turtle]] | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Line 34: | Line 35: | ||
'''Field Trips:'''<br> | '''Field Trips:'''<br> | ||
− | There will be a scheduled field trip to the Yale Forest during lab time | + | There will be a scheduled field trip to the Yale Forest during lab time later in the semester. There will be additional evening field trips once the weather is warm enough. We will begin evening field trips as soon as the first amphibians start breeding, which could be as early as late March. Many of these will be arranged on short notice. We will try to do enough of these so that everyone has a chance to get out in the field a few times.<br><br> |
'''Readings:'''<br> | '''Readings:'''<br> | ||
− | The emphasis in this course in on readings from original literature. I will be | + | The emphasis in this course in on readings from original literature. I will be emailing out detailed reference bibliographies with each lecture; assigned readings will be marked with * on each bibliography. Those marked with † are available online and will not be supplied in hard copy. Xeroxed copies of papers not available online will be in the green filing cabinet in my outer office (TLS 380) and can be signed out. Please do not monopolize these readings for long periods of time, since it is impossible for me to make enough copies for the entire class. The course textbook is Herpetology (4th ed.) by F. H. Pough, R. M. Andrews, J. E. Cadle, M. L. Crump, A. H. Savitzky, and K. D. Wells (Sinauer Associates Press, 2016). An illustrated guide, Amphibians and Reptiles in Connecticut: A Checklist with Notes on Conservation Status, Identification, and Distribution by Michael Klemens (Connecticut DEP, 2000), may be useful as an additional reference for local species and can be ordered if students are interested.<br><br> |
'''Exams:'''<br> | '''Exams:'''<br> | ||
− | There will be two lecture exams. The midterm will be given sometime in March, perhaps as a take-home exam. The final exam will be essay format, given on May | + | There will be two lecture exams. The midterm will be given sometime in March, perhaps as a take-home exam. The final exam will be essay format, given on May 6 2017. For the final, I will hand out ten questions two weeks in advance, which you can prepare using class notes and readings. Several of these questions will appear on the final exam given during the scheduled exam period. You will not be able to bring any reference materials or notes to the exam. There will be two lab practicals covering taxonomy, distribution, and natural history of amphibians and reptiles. <br><br> |
'''Grades:'''<br> | '''Grades:'''<br> | ||
Line 53: | Line 54: | ||
'''Disabilities:'''<br> | '''Disabilities:'''<br> | ||
If you have a disability for which you may be requesting an accommodation, you should contact a course instructor and the [http://www.csd.uconn.edu Center for Students with Disabilities] (Wilbur Cross Building, Room 201) within the first two weeks of the semester.<br> | If you have a disability for which you may be requesting an accommodation, you should contact a course instructor and the [http://www.csd.uconn.edu Center for Students with Disabilities] (Wilbur Cross Building, Room 201) within the first two weeks of the semester.<br> | ||
− | + | <br><br><br><br> | |
==Lecture and Lab Schedule & Materials== | ==Lecture and Lab Schedule & Materials== | ||
− | + | ||
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− | + | ||
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|- | |- | ||
− | | Jan | + | | Jan 18 || Amphibian skin and water relations || Ch. 6 |||| |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Jan | + | | Jan 23 || Amphibian excretion and osmoregulation || Ch.6 || Caecilian and Salamander Taxonomy ||[http://www.rockedge.org/files/CT_salamandersfinal.pdf Salamanders of CT.pdf]<br>[http://ctamp.homestead.com/ctamphibians.html Amphibians of CT website] |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Jan | + | | Jan 25 || Reptile water relations || Ch. 6 |||| |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | Jan 30 || Behavioral thermoregulation in reptiles || || Salamander Taxonomy; '''Video''': "Amphibians" || |
− | |- | + | {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/f/f6/Ctsalamanders.pdf}} Connecticut Salamanders |
+ | {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/b/b6/CeciandSala.pdf}} Caecilians/Salamanders Practice Quiz | ||
+ | |- | ||
− | | Feb | + | | Feb 1 || Amphibian thermoregulation and freeze tolerance || Ch. 6 |||| |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Feb | + | | Feb 6 || Physiological temperature adjustments || Ch. 6 || Frog Taxonomy || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Feb | + | | Feb 8 || Gas transport and metabolism in amphibians || Ch. 7 |||| |
− | |- | + | |- |
− | | Feb | + | | Feb 13 || Respiration and circulation || Ch. 7 || Frog Taxonomy; '''Video''': "Cane Toads"||{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/b/b6/Anuranfamilies.pdf}} Anuran Families of the World |
+ | {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/c/c5/CTfrogs.pdf}} Connecticut Frogs and Toads | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Feb | + | | Feb 15 || Activity metabolism of amphibians || Ch. 7 || || |
− | |- | + | |- |
− | | Feb | + | | Feb 20 || Reptile metabolism, energetics, and diet || Ch. 7 || Turtles and crocodilians; amphibian review; '''Video''' ''Crocodiles & Alligators, Turtles''||{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/c/c5/Anuraquiz.pdf}} |
+ | {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/d/d4/Turtlefamilies.pdf}} Turtle Families of the World | ||
+ | {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/0/01/CTturtles.pdf}} Connecticut Turtles <br> | ||
+ | {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/6/6e/Turtlequiz.pdf}} Turtle Practice Quiz | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Feb | + | | Feb 22 || Energy budgets and energy allocation || Ch. 7|||| |
− | |- | + | |- |
− | | | + | | Feb 27 || Amphibian reproductive modes || Ch. 8 || <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''FIRST LAB PRACTICAL (Amphibians)'''</font></span> || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Mar | + | | Mar 1 || Biology of amphibian larvae || Ch. 11 |||| |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Mar | + | | Mar 6 || Ecological aspects of amphibian metamorphosis || Ch. 8 || Lizard taxonomy || |
+ | {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/a/a6/Lizardfamilies.pdf}} List of Lizard Families of the World | ||
+ | {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/1/19/USAlizards.pdf}} Important North American Lizards | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Mar | + | | Mar 8 || Reptile eggs and the evolution of viviparity || Ch. 9 |||| |
|- | |- | ||
+ | |||
− | | Mar | + | | Mar 13 || <font color="#FF00FF"><b>SPRING BREAK </b></font> ||-----||----- || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Mar | + | | Mar 15 || <font color="#FF00FF"><b>SPRING BREAK </b></font> ||-----||----- || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Mar | + | | Mar 20 || Reptile life history strategies || || Lizard Taxonomy; '''Video''': ''Lizards'' || {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/c/c9/Lizardstudyguide.pdf}} Lizard Study Guide |
+ | {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/e/e1/Lizardquiz.pdf}} Lizard Practice Quiz | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Mar | + | | Mar 22 || Communication and mating systems of salamanders || Ch. 13, 14 |||| |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | Mar 27|| Frog vocal communication: behavioral aspects || Ch. 13 || Snake Taxonomy ||{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/File:Snakeslist.pdf}} Snake Families of the World |
+ | {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/3/31/CTSnakes.pdf}} Connecticut Snakes | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | Mar 29 || Frog vocal communication: call production & reception|| Ch. 13 |||| |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Apr | + | | Apr 3 || Mating systems and sexual selection in anurans || Ch. 14 || Snake Taxonomy; Evolution of Snake Dentition ||{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/File:Snakedentition.pdf}} Snake Dentition <br> |
+ | {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/b/b0/Snakesquiz.pdf}} Snake Practice Quiz | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Apr | + | | Apr 5 || Modes of communication in squamate reptiles|| Ch. 14 |||| |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Apr | + | | Apr 10 || Mating Systems and Sexual Selection in squamates || Ch. 14 || Reptile Review '''Video''': ''Snakes''|| |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Apr | + | | Apr 12 || Social behavior and communication in other reptiles || Ch. 13, 14 |||| |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Apr | + | | Apr 17 || Spatial Ecology || Ch. 12 ||<span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''SECOND LAB PRACTICAL (Reptiles)'''</font></span> || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Apr | + | | Apr 19 || Ecology of terrestrial amphibian and reptile communities || Ch. 15, 16 |||| |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Apr | + | | Apr 24 || Competition and predation in aquatic amphibian communities || Ch. 15, 16 || AFTERNOON FIELD TRIP (Yale Forest)|| |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | Apr 26 || Amphibian and reptile conservation || Ch. 17 |||| |
|- | |- | ||
− | | May | + | | May 6 || <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''FINAL EXAM'''</font></span> || |||| |
|- | |- | ||
|- || | |- || | ||
|} | |} | ||
− | <br><br><br><br> | + | <br><br><br> |
+ | |||
+ | ==Herps in the News (and other fun Stuff!)== | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:greenfrog.jpg|thumb|left|<i>Lithobates clamitans.</i> Photo by J. Goyes]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | February 9, 2015: [http://www.livescience.com/49698-new-frog-species-bangladesh.html Newfound Frog Has Strange Breeding Habits]<br> | ||
+ | Jan 26, 2015: [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/06/science/frogs-that-give-birth-to-live-tadpoles.html?_r=0 Rare Frogs Give Birth to Live Tadpoles]<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> | ||
==Additional Resources== | ==Additional Resources== | ||
− | [[Image: | + | [[Image:redback.jpg|thumb|right|<i>Plethodon cinereus</i>. Photo by J. Goyes]] |
− | [[Image: | + | [[Image:twolines.jpg|thumb|right|<i>Eurycea bislineata</i>. Photo by J. Goyes]] |
− | |||
+ | '''Websites:'''<br> | ||
''Local''<br> | ''Local''<br> | ||
[http://www.peabody.yale.edu/collections/vz/her_guide.html Online Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of CT]<br> | [http://www.peabody.yale.edu/collections/vz/her_guide.html Online Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of CT]<br> | ||
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[http://www.herpnet.org/ HerpNET]<br> | [http://www.herpnet.org/ HerpNET]<br> | ||
[http://www.enature.com/home/ eNature Online Field Guides]<br><br> | [http://www.enature.com/home/ eNature Online Field Guides]<br><br> | ||
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[[Category:EEB Courses]] | [[Category:EEB Courses]] |
Latest revision as of 19:33, 18 January 2017
EEB 3265/5265 Herpetology
Spring 2017
Lecture Meeting Time: Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:15 - 12:05 in TLS 181
Lab Meeting Time: Mondays 1:25 - 5:30 in TLS181
Textbook: Pough F. H., et al. 2016. Herpetology 4th Edition. Sinauer Associates Press.
Additional readings will be assigned from the primary journal literature.
Contents
Instructors
Dr. Kentwood Wells
Email: kentwood.wells@uconn.edu
Office: Torrey Life Sciences Building 312
Phone: (860) 486-4319
Office hours: by appointment
Evans (Teaching Assistant)
Email: annette.evans@uconn.edu
Office: BioPharm Building 322
Office hours: by appointment
Course Procedures and Policies
The lecture portion of this course will deal with various aspects of the biology of amphibians and reptiles, including physiological ecology, communication, social behavior, reproduction, parental care, and community ecology. The laboratories will focus on the classification and distribution of the major families of amphibians and reptiles of the world, as well as identification of Connecticut species. There will be some evening field trips toward the end of the semester to see breeding of local amphibians and daytime field trips to see other species. Students are expected to attend the field trips.
Field Trips:
There will be a scheduled field trip to the Yale Forest during lab time later in the semester. There will be additional evening field trips once the weather is warm enough. We will begin evening field trips as soon as the first amphibians start breeding, which could be as early as late March. Many of these will be arranged on short notice. We will try to do enough of these so that everyone has a chance to get out in the field a few times.
Readings:
The emphasis in this course in on readings from original literature. I will be emailing out detailed reference bibliographies with each lecture; assigned readings will be marked with * on each bibliography. Those marked with † are available online and will not be supplied in hard copy. Xeroxed copies of papers not available online will be in the green filing cabinet in my outer office (TLS 380) and can be signed out. Please do not monopolize these readings for long periods of time, since it is impossible for me to make enough copies for the entire class. The course textbook is Herpetology (4th ed.) by F. H. Pough, R. M. Andrews, J. E. Cadle, M. L. Crump, A. H. Savitzky, and K. D. Wells (Sinauer Associates Press, 2016). An illustrated guide, Amphibians and Reptiles in Connecticut: A Checklist with Notes on Conservation Status, Identification, and Distribution by Michael Klemens (Connecticut DEP, 2000), may be useful as an additional reference for local species and can be ordered if students are interested.
Exams:
There will be two lecture exams. The midterm will be given sometime in March, perhaps as a take-home exam. The final exam will be essay format, given on May 6 2017. For the final, I will hand out ten questions two weeks in advance, which you can prepare using class notes and readings. Several of these questions will appear on the final exam given during the scheduled exam period. You will not be able to bring any reference materials or notes to the exam. There will be two lab practicals covering taxonomy, distribution, and natural history of amphibians and reptiles.
Grades:
Grades will be determined approximately as follows:
Lab Practicals: 20% each
Midterm: 20%
Final: 40%
Academic Integrity:
Plagiarism and cheating are violations of the student conduct code, and may be punished by failure in the course or, in severe cases, dismissal from the University. For more information, see Appendix A of the Student Conduct Code.
Disabilities:
If you have a disability for which you may be requesting an accommodation, you should contact a course instructor and the Center for Students with Disabilities (Wilbur Cross Building, Room 201) within the first two weeks of the semester.
Lecture and Lab Schedule & Materials
Date | Lecture Topic | Readings | Lab | Supplemental Materials |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 18 | Amphibian skin and water relations | Ch. 6 | ||
Jan 23 | Amphibian excretion and osmoregulation | Ch.6 | Caecilian and Salamander Taxonomy | Salamanders of CT.pdf Amphibians of CT website |
Jan 25 | Reptile water relations | Ch. 6 | ||
Jan 30 | Behavioral thermoregulation in reptiles | Salamander Taxonomy; Video: "Amphibians" |
Connecticut Salamanders Caecilians/Salamanders Practice Quiz | |
Feb 1 | Amphibian thermoregulation and freeze tolerance | Ch. 6 | ||
Feb 6 | Physiological temperature adjustments | Ch. 6 | Frog Taxonomy | |
Feb 8 | Gas transport and metabolism in amphibians | Ch. 7 | ||
Feb 13 | Respiration and circulation | Ch. 7 | Frog Taxonomy; Video: "Cane Toads" | Anuran Families of the World |
Feb 15 | Activity metabolism of amphibians | Ch. 7 | ||
Feb 20 | Reptile metabolism, energetics, and diet | Ch. 7 | Turtles and crocodilians; amphibian review; Video Crocodiles & Alligators, Turtles |
Turtle Families of the World
Connecticut Turtles |
Feb 22 | Energy budgets and energy allocation | Ch. 7 | ||
Feb 27 | Amphibian reproductive modes | Ch. 8 | FIRST LAB PRACTICAL (Amphibians) | |
Mar 1 | Biology of amphibian larvae | Ch. 11 | ||
Mar 6 | Ecological aspects of amphibian metamorphosis | Ch. 8 | Lizard taxonomy |
List of Lizard Families of the World Important North American Lizards |
Mar 8 | Reptile eggs and the evolution of viviparity | Ch. 9 | ||
Mar 13 | SPRING BREAK | ----- | ----- | |
Mar 15 | SPRING BREAK | ----- | ----- | |
Mar 20 | Reptile life history strategies | Lizard Taxonomy; Video: Lizards | Lizard Study Guide | |
Mar 22 | Communication and mating systems of salamanders | Ch. 13, 14 | ||
Mar 27 | Frog vocal communication: behavioral aspects | Ch. 13 | Snake Taxonomy | Snake Families of the World |
Mar 29 | Frog vocal communication: call production & reception | Ch. 13 | ||
Apr 3 | Mating systems and sexual selection in anurans | Ch. 14 | Snake Taxonomy; Evolution of Snake Dentition | Snake Dentition |
Apr 5 | Modes of communication in squamate reptiles | Ch. 14 | ||
Apr 10 | Mating Systems and Sexual Selection in squamates | Ch. 14 | Reptile Review Video: Snakes | |
Apr 12 | Social behavior and communication in other reptiles | Ch. 13, 14 | ||
Apr 17 | Spatial Ecology | Ch. 12 | SECOND LAB PRACTICAL (Reptiles) | |
Apr 19 | Ecology of terrestrial amphibian and reptile communities | Ch. 15, 16 | ||
Apr 24 | Competition and predation in aquatic amphibian communities | Ch. 15, 16 | AFTERNOON FIELD TRIP (Yale Forest) | |
Apr 26 | Amphibian and reptile conservation | Ch. 17 | ||
May 6 | FINAL EXAM |
Herps in the News (and other fun Stuff!)
February 9, 2015: Newfound Frog Has Strange Breeding Habits
Jan 26, 2015: Rare Frogs Give Birth to Live Tadpoles
Additional Resources
Websites:
Local
Online Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of CT
Reptiles and Amphibians of CT
New England Herpetological Society
Amphibians
Video about Amphibian Extinction
Amphibiaweb
AMNH's Amphibian Species of the World
Amphibian Portal from USGS-NBII
Deban Lab Amphibian Feeding
General Herpetology
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
The Herpetologists' League
The Center for North American Herpetology
Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
New England Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
EMYSystem Online Turtle Resource
HerpNET
eNature Online Field Guides