Difference between revisions of "Biology of the Vertebrates"
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− | + | <span style="font-size: x-large">EEB 2214, Fall 2014</span><br><br> | |
− | <span style="font-size: x-large">EEB 2214, Fall | + | <span style="font-size: large">''The evolution of form, function, & diversity of the vertebrates''</span><br> |
− | <span style="font-size: large">''The evolution of form, function, | + | <br><span style="font-size: small">'''Meeting Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30-1:45 in BPB130'''<br> |
− | <span style="font-size: small">'''Meeting Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30-1:45 in BPB130'''<br> | + | |
+ | '''Textbook: <font color="#FF3300">Vertebrate Life</font>, by Pough F. H., C. M. Janis, and J. B. Heiser. 2012. ''9th Edition.'' Pearson/Benjamin Cummings ''(8th edition also acceptable)''''' <br><br> | ||
==Instructors== | ==Instructors== | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Female_with_hatchlings.JPG|right]] | ||
'''[mailto:elizabeth.jockusch@uconn.edu Dr. Elizabeth Jockusch]'''<br> | '''[mailto:elizabeth.jockusch@uconn.edu Dr. Elizabeth Jockusch]'''<br> | ||
− | Office: | + | Office: Pharmacy/Biology 305B<br> |
Phone: (860) 486-4452<br> | Phone: (860) 486-4452<br> | ||
− | Office hours: Thursdays 2-3 pm and by appointment<br><br> | + | Office hours: Thursdays 2-3 pm and by appointment <br> |
+ | [http://jockusch.eeb.uconn.edu/ Jockusch Lab Website] <br><br> | ||
− | '''[mailto: | + | '''[mailto:margaret.rubega@uconn.edu Dr. Margaret Rubega]'''<br> |
− | Office: | + | Office: Pharmacy/Biology 500<br> |
− | Phone: (860) 486- | + | Phone: (860) 486-4502<br> |
− | Office hours: TBA and by appointment<br><br> | + | Office hours: TBA and by appointment <br> |
+ | [http://rubegalab.eeb.uconn.edu/ Rubega Lab Website] <br><br> | ||
− | '''[mailto: | + | '''[mailto:kevin.burgio@uconn.edu Kevin Burgio]''' (Teaching Assistant)<br> |
− | Office: | + | Office: Pharmacy/Biology 402<br> |
− | + | Office hours: Tuesdays 2-3 pm and by appointment <br> | |
− | Office hours: Tuesdays 2-3 pm and by appointment<br><br> | + | [http://monkparakeetresearch.org/ Monk Parakeet Research Website] <br><br> |
+ | |||
+ | <span style="font-size: medium"><font color="#FF3300">'''Note: All emails must contain "EEB2214" in the subject line to avoid being filtered out and deleted'''</font></span> | ||
+ | <br><br> | ||
==Grading== | ==Grading== | ||
− | '''Exam 1''' | + | [[Image:MonkParakeet01.jpeg|650 px|right]] |
− | '''Exam 2''' | + | '''Exam 1''' (Thursday, Sept. 25) = 100 points <br> |
− | '''Final Exam''' | + | '''Exam 2''' (Thursday, Oct. 30) = 100 points <br> |
− | '''[[#Research Reviews]]''' | + | '''Final Exam''' (Friday, Dec. 12, TENTATIVE) = 125 points <br> |
− | '''[[# | + | '''[[#Research Reviews]]''' (Tuesdays) = 30 points total<br> |
− | '''[[#Collections Tour]]''' | + | '''[[#Quizzes]]''' = 50 points total<br> |
− | + | '''[[#Collections Tour]]''' = 5 points<br> | |
− | + | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
− | + | There will be two one-hour, non-cumulative, exams scheduled during the lecture hour. The final exam will be cumulative, with an emphasis on material from the final third of the course.<br> | |
− | + | <br> | |
− | + | 12 research reviews (3 points each) and quizzes (5 points each) will be offered over the course of the semester. 10 of these will count towards the final course grade (the best 5 of 6 from each half of the semester, as determined by the combined quiz + research review grade.) Because two scores are dropped, '''no make-ups will be given for research reviews or quizzes'''.<br> | |
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==Course Policies== | ==Course Policies== | ||
'''Missed Exams'''<br> | '''Missed Exams'''<br> | ||
− | Any student who does not attend an exam and fails to receive permission [[in advance]] will receive a 0 for the exam. Approval of any request to miss an exam requires, [[but is not guaranteed by]], verifiable written documentation of the reason. A student who receives approval to miss an exam will have his or her grade for the missed exam prorated based on his or her performance on the remainder of the exams. We will not give make-up exams. Every student must take the final. Permission to reschedule the final can only be obtained through procedures determined by the [http:// | + | Any student who does not attend an exam and fails to receive permission [[in advance]] will receive a 0 for the exam. Approval of any request to miss an exam requires, [[but is not guaranteed by]], verifiable written documentation of the reason. A student who receives approval to miss an exam will have his or her grade for the missed exam prorated based on his or her performance on the remainder of the exams. We will not give make-up exams. Every student must take the final. Permission to reschedule the final can only be obtained through procedures determined by the [http://dos.uconn.edu Dean of Students Office]. |
<br><br> | <br><br> | ||
− | + | ||
'''Other Absences'''<br> | '''Other Absences'''<br> | ||
− | No make-ups will be given for research | + | No make-ups will be given for research reviews or quizzes. Instead, the lowest research review/quiz grade from each half of the semester will be dropped. |
<br><br> | <br><br> | ||
+ | |||
'''Academic Integrity'''<br> | '''Academic Integrity'''<br> | ||
− | 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 [http:// | + | 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 [http://community.uconn.edu/the-student-code-part-iv Section IV of the Student Conduct Code].<br> |
<br> | <br> | ||
'''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> | ||
'''Classroom Conduct'''<br> | '''Classroom Conduct'''<br> | ||
− | We expect all students to behave in a way that is respectful of others. The {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/ | + | We expect all students to behave in a way that is respectful of others. The {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/EEB2214_F2014_ClassroomConduct.pdf}}''' classroom conduct form''', which describes our expectations in more detail, must be signed and returned to the teaching assistant by the end of the 2nd week of class.<br> |
*Arrive on time and stay until the end. If you must come late or leave early, sit by the back door. | *Arrive on time and stay until the end. If you must come late or leave early, sit by the back door. | ||
*Turn cell phones OFF and store them out of sight. | *Turn cell phones OFF and store them out of sight. | ||
Line 80: | Line 68: | ||
:'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Honors_Conversion Can I convert this course to honors?''']<br><br> | :'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Honors_Conversion Can I convert this course to honors?''']<br><br> | ||
− | == | + | == Research Reviews == |
− | + | As a research field, vertebrate biology is alive and well, with discoveries being made constantly. Each week, we will select one paper from the primary scientific literature that describes a study relevant to vertebrate biology. On Tuesdays, class will include a short in-class written exercise, in which we ask you to answer three standard questions about the paper:<br> | |
− | <br><br> | + | * What was the major new result?<br> |
+ | * How does this change what we think?<br> | ||
+ | * Why does it matter?<br> | ||
+ | <span style="font-size: medium"><font color="#FF3300">'''The written exercise will be followed by a brief discussion of the paper, during which we will call on pre-determined, but randomly selected, students to talk about the paper.'''</font></span><br> | ||
+ | <br> | ||
− | + | In-class research review assessments are worth 3 points each. 12 will be offered over the course of the semester, and 10 (of 12) will count towards the final course grade (the best 5 of 6 from each half of the semester, as determined by the combined quiz + research review grade). There will be no paper selected for the first or eighth week of class. You must be present to receive credit and no make-ups will be given. Also, if you are selected for the discussion, but do not participate, you will receive a 0. <br> | |
− | + | <br> | |
+ | All papers will be available electronically. A link to each paper will be posted on the course schedule below, next to the date of the in-class exercise. While many articles in scientific journals are now made available free to everyone ("open access" articles), access to other articles requires a subscription, which the UConn library buys. On campus, you should not encounter difficulty accessing the full text of selected articles. From off-campus, the easiest way to access articles that require a subscription is using the [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/about/ezproxy-blurb.html EZProxy]. If you get a message saying that you may purchase access to the paper, then try again through the proxy. In some cases, it may also be necessary to quit and restart your browser. Alternative ways to access the articles via UConn's subscription are to configure the proxy within your web browser and to use the [http://security.uconn.edu/services/vpn/ VPN]. It is your responsibility to test that you have access in a timely fashion. Course instructors will not respond to requests to provide the article directly to individuals. <br><br> | ||
− | + | {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/EEB2214ReadingScientificLiterature.pdf}}'''This handout''' offers some helpful suggestions for how to navigate your way through the primary literature.<br> | |
+ | <br> | ||
− | + | ==Quizzes== | |
+ | This course incorporates weekly quizzes which will be completed at the same time as the written portion of the research review, unless another schedule is announced. The quizzes will use a variety of formats and are designed to help prepare you for exams. Each quiz will be worth 5 points. 10 (of 12) will count towards the final course grade (the best 5 of 6 from each half of the semester, as determined by the combined quiz + research review grade). As with the research reviews, you must be present to receive credit and no make-ups will be given.<br><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Collections Tour == | ||
+ | Every student is expected to visit the [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/department/collections/index.html EEB Biological Collections] for a tour that will introduce you to the resources and opportunities in the collection. We will offer 8 different opportunities, on different days and times. You will need to sign in at the collection; at the end of the semester, everyone who has signed in will have 5 points added to their grade. '''Tours will take about 45 minutes; they meet at the south end of the Biology/Physics building lobby on the hour'''. You are responsible for finding a day and time to attend from the options below; if your class schedule prohibits you from attending any of these, you are responsible for letting us know that you will need an alternative opportunity AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FINAL TOUR. If you have already toured the collections (e.g., in a previous class), provide us with documentation to that effect, and we will just add the points to your grade without you needing to tour the collections again. <br><br> | ||
+ | Collections tour times will be posted here and announced in class once the schedule is set.<br><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Help Resources== | ||
+ | The secret of success to this course is to not let yourself fall behind. Be sure to fill gaps in your notes and navigate blocks in your understanding as soon as possible. Should you run into trouble with the material, below we have listed some steps for obtaining assistance. While we welcome any and all questions on the material, before you contact us, please first check the resources below to see if your question has already been answered. If/when you do contact us, please understand that we will respond as quickly as we can, but we do have other obligations that might prevent this from happening as urgently as you may need (like 3:00 am the day of an exam...). | ||
<br><br> | <br><br> | ||
− | ''' | + | '''Study Materials'''<br> |
− | The | + | The textbook for this course is Pough F. H., C. M. Janis, and J. B. Heiser. 2012. Vertebrate Life, 9th Edition. Prentice Hall. (The 8th edition is also acceptable; we have posted readings for both.) We strongly encourage you to read the assigned sections before lecture.<br> |
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
+ | [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2014 Study questions] will be posted online after every lecture. These are intended to help you think about and synthesize information. They are not intended to provide a comprehensive study guide. <br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
− | + | '''Review Sessions'''<br> | |
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | '''Review Sessions | + | |
A review session will be held before each exam. Dates and times will be posted once they are set.<br> | A review session will be held before each exam. Dates and times will be posted once they are set.<br> | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
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− | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
− | + | '''Research Reviews'''<br> | |
− | ''' | + | Use {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/EEB2214ReadingScientificLiterature.pdf}}''' this handout''' to help navigate your way through the primary literature.<br> |
+ | <br> | ||
− | ''' | + | '''Syllabus'''<br> |
− | + | {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/EEB2214_F2014_Syllabus.pdf}} Syllabus distributed on the first day of class. The lecture schedule and readings are subject to change, and will be updated below.<br> | |
− | + | <br> | |
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
==Lecture Schedule & Materials== | ==Lecture Schedule & Materials== | ||
− | + | The lecture schedule below will be updated regularly. A link to each research review paper will be posted next to the date of the in-class exercise. Generally, these will be posted by the weekend prior to the exercise. After lectures, study questions and links to supplemental materials will be added.<br> | |
+ | <br> | ||
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" | {| border="1" cellpadding="1" | ||
!style="background:#F0F9E8;" width="75"|Date | !style="background:#F0F9E8;" width="75"|Date | ||
− | !style="background:#BAE4BC;" width=" | + | |
+ | !style="background:#BAE4BC;" width="350"|Topic | ||
!style="background:#7BCCC4;" width="185"|Textbook Readings | !style="background:#7BCCC4;" width="185"|Textbook Readings | ||
!style="background:#43A2CA;" width="300"|Supplemental Materials | !style="background:#43A2CA;" width="300"|Supplemental Materials | ||
− | !style="background:#0868AC;" width="300"|Research Review Reading | + | !style="background:#0868AC;" width="300"|<font color="#FFFFFF">Research Review Reading</font> |
|- | |- | ||
− | | || '''Part I: Aug | + | | || '''Part I: Aug 26 - Oct 9, Dr. Elizabeth Jockusch''' || || ||<br> |
− | + | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Aug | + | | Aug 26 || Vertebrate diversity || || ||<br> |
− | | | + | |
+ | |- | ||
+ | | Aug 28 || Chordates and vertebrate origins|| Chapters 1 & 2 || ||<br> | ||
− | |||
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Sept | + | | Sept 2 || Living jawless vertebrates || Chapter 3 || || <br> |
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Sept | + | | Sept 4 || Early vertebrate fossils || Chapter 3 || || <br> |
− | + | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Sept | + | | Sept 9 || Chondrichthyans || Chapter 5 || ||<br> |
− | || | + | |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Sept | + | | Sept 11 || Osteichthyan origin and diversification || Chapter 6 || ||<br> |
− | + | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Sept | + | | Sept 16 || Actinopterygians || Chapter 6 || || <br> |
− | + | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |||
+ | | Sept 18 || Sarcopterygii & evolution of tetrapods || pp. 125-128 & 196-211 (8th ed.)/153-156 & 189-201 (9th ed.) || ||<br> | ||
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Sept | + | | Sept 23 || Amphibian diversity and decline || Chapter 10 || ||<br> |
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''Sept 25'''</font></span> || <b><span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''EXAM 1'''</font></span> || || || <br> |
− | <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">''' | + | |
− | || | + | |
− | + | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | Oct 2 || Amniote origins || pp. 211-218 (8th ed.)/pp. 201-208 (9th ed.) || ||<br> |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Oct | + | | Oct 7 || Amniote diversity / desert adaptations || Chapter 13 || ||<br> |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
+ | | Oct 9 || Snakes || pp. 339-349 (8th ed.)/pp. 317-327 (9th ed.) || || <br> | ||
− | |||
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | || '''Part 2: Oct 14 - Dec 12, Dr. Margaret Rubega''' || || ||<br> |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Oct | + | | Oct 14 || Turtles || Chapter 12 || || no research review<br> |
− | || | + | |
|- | |- | ||
− | | || ' | + | | Oct 16 || Turtles cont'd & Archosaurs || Chapter 16 || ||<br> |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Oct | + | | Oct 21 || Crocodilians & friends || Chapter 16 || ||<br> |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Oct | + | | Oct 23 || Dinosaurs and other Mesozoic diapsids || Chapter 16 || ||<br> |
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Oct | + | | Oct 28 || Dinosaurs II || Chapter 16 || || <br> |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | + | | <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''Oct 30'''</font></span> || <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''EXAM 2'''</font></span> || || || <br> | |
− | + | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Nov | + | | Nov 4 || Birds: Avian origins || pp. 439-443 (8th ed.)/pp. 407-410 (9th ed.) || ||<br> |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Nov | + | | Nov 6 || Birds: Feeding || Chapter 17 || ||<br> |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | |Nov | + | | Nov 11 || Birds:Morphology and Reproduction || Chapter 17 || ||<br> |
− | || | + | |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Nov | + | | Nov 13 || Mammals: Origins and radiations || Chapter 18 || ||<br> |
− | || | + | |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Nov | + | | Nov 18 || Mammals: Primate evolution and human origins || Chapter 24 || ||<br> |
− | || | + | |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | Nov 20 || Mammals: Diversity || Chapter 20 || || <br> |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Dec | + | | Dec 2 || Mammals: Morphology and Behavior || Chapter 21 || ||<br> |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | |<span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''Dec | + | | Dec 4 || Vertebrate mass extinctions, past and present || Chapter 25 || || <br> |
+ | |||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |||
+ | | <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''Dec 12'''</font></span> ||<span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300"> '''Final Exam 10:30 - 12:30 (Tentative)''' </font></span>|| Chapter 25 || ||<br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |- |- | ||
|- |-} | |- |-} | ||
[[Category:EEB Courses]] | [[Category:EEB Courses]] |
Revision as of 16:51, 22 August 2014
EEB 2214, Fall 2014
The evolution of form, function, & diversity of the vertebrates
Meeting Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30-1:45 in BPB130
Textbook: Vertebrate Life, by Pough F. H., C. M. Janis, and J. B. Heiser. 2012. 9th Edition. Pearson/Benjamin Cummings (8th edition also acceptable)
Contents
Instructors
Dr. Elizabeth Jockusch
Office: Pharmacy/Biology 305B
Phone: (860) 486-4452
Office hours: Thursdays 2-3 pm and by appointment
Jockusch Lab Website
Dr. Margaret Rubega
Office: Pharmacy/Biology 500
Phone: (860) 486-4502
Office hours: TBA and by appointment
Rubega Lab Website
Kevin Burgio (Teaching Assistant)
Office: Pharmacy/Biology 402
Office hours: Tuesdays 2-3 pm and by appointment
Monk Parakeet Research Website
Note: All emails must contain "EEB2214" in the subject line to avoid being filtered out and deleted
Grading
Exam 1 (Thursday, Sept. 25) = 100 points
Exam 2 (Thursday, Oct. 30) = 100 points
Final Exam (Friday, Dec. 12, TENTATIVE) = 125 points
#Research Reviews (Tuesdays) = 30 points total
#Quizzes = 50 points total
#Collections Tour = 5 points
There will be two one-hour, non-cumulative, exams scheduled during the lecture hour. The final exam will be cumulative, with an emphasis on material from the final third of the course.
12 research reviews (3 points each) and quizzes (5 points each) will be offered over the course of the semester. 10 of these will count towards the final course grade (the best 5 of 6 from each half of the semester, as determined by the combined quiz + research review grade.) Because two scores are dropped, no make-ups will be given for research reviews or quizzes.
Course Policies
Missed Exams
Any student who does not attend an exam and fails to receive permission in advance will receive a 0 for the exam. Approval of any request to miss an exam requires, but is not guaranteed by, verifiable written documentation of the reason. A student who receives approval to miss an exam will have his or her grade for the missed exam prorated based on his or her performance on the remainder of the exams. We will not give make-up exams. Every student must take the final. Permission to reschedule the final can only be obtained through procedures determined by the Dean of Students Office.
Other Absences
No make-ups will be given for research reviews or quizzes. Instead, the lowest research review/quiz grade from each half of the semester will be dropped.
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 Section IV 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.
Classroom Conduct
We expect all students to behave in a way that is respectful of others. The classroom conduct form, which describes our expectations in more detail, must be signed and returned to the teaching assistant by the end of the 2nd week of class.
- Arrive on time and stay until the end. If you must come late or leave early, sit by the back door.
- Turn cell phones OFF and store them out of sight.
- Use laptops only for taking notes.
- Recording is prohibited without the written permission of instructors.
- Course materials are the intellectual property of the course instructors. Students may not make these materials (including handouts, exams and quizzes) available electronically.
Honors Conversion
Research Reviews
As a research field, vertebrate biology is alive and well, with discoveries being made constantly. Each week, we will select one paper from the primary scientific literature that describes a study relevant to vertebrate biology. On Tuesdays, class will include a short in-class written exercise, in which we ask you to answer three standard questions about the paper:
- What was the major new result?
- How does this change what we think?
- Why does it matter?
The written exercise will be followed by a brief discussion of the paper, during which we will call on pre-determined, but randomly selected, students to talk about the paper.
In-class research review assessments are worth 3 points each. 12 will be offered over the course of the semester, and 10 (of 12) will count towards the final course grade (the best 5 of 6 from each half of the semester, as determined by the combined quiz + research review grade). There will be no paper selected for the first or eighth week of class. You must be present to receive credit and no make-ups will be given. Also, if you are selected for the discussion, but do not participate, you will receive a 0.
All papers will be available electronically. A link to each paper will be posted on the course schedule below, next to the date of the in-class exercise. While many articles in scientific journals are now made available free to everyone ("open access" articles), access to other articles requires a subscription, which the UConn library buys. On campus, you should not encounter difficulty accessing the full text of selected articles. From off-campus, the easiest way to access articles that require a subscription is using the EZProxy. If you get a message saying that you may purchase access to the paper, then try again through the proxy. In some cases, it may also be necessary to quit and restart your browser. Alternative ways to access the articles via UConn's subscription are to configure the proxy within your web browser and to use the VPN. It is your responsibility to test that you have access in a timely fashion. Course instructors will not respond to requests to provide the article directly to individuals.
This handout offers some helpful suggestions for how to navigate your way through the primary literature.
Quizzes
This course incorporates weekly quizzes which will be completed at the same time as the written portion of the research review, unless another schedule is announced. The quizzes will use a variety of formats and are designed to help prepare you for exams. Each quiz will be worth 5 points. 10 (of 12) will count towards the final course grade (the best 5 of 6 from each half of the semester, as determined by the combined quiz + research review grade). As with the research reviews, you must be present to receive credit and no make-ups will be given.
Collections Tour
Every student is expected to visit the EEB Biological Collections for a tour that will introduce you to the resources and opportunities in the collection. We will offer 8 different opportunities, on different days and times. You will need to sign in at the collection; at the end of the semester, everyone who has signed in will have 5 points added to their grade. Tours will take about 45 minutes; they meet at the south end of the Biology/Physics building lobby on the hour. You are responsible for finding a day and time to attend from the options below; if your class schedule prohibits you from attending any of these, you are responsible for letting us know that you will need an alternative opportunity AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FINAL TOUR. If you have already toured the collections (e.g., in a previous class), provide us with documentation to that effect, and we will just add the points to your grade without you needing to tour the collections again.
Collections tour times will be posted here and announced in class once the schedule is set.
Help Resources
The secret of success to this course is to not let yourself fall behind. Be sure to fill gaps in your notes and navigate blocks in your understanding as soon as possible. Should you run into trouble with the material, below we have listed some steps for obtaining assistance. While we welcome any and all questions on the material, before you contact us, please first check the resources below to see if your question has already been answered. If/when you do contact us, please understand that we will respond as quickly as we can, but we do have other obligations that might prevent this from happening as urgently as you may need (like 3:00 am the day of an exam...).
Study Materials
The textbook for this course is Pough F. H., C. M. Janis, and J. B. Heiser. 2012. Vertebrate Life, 9th Edition. Prentice Hall. (The 8th edition is also acceptable; we have posted readings for both.) We strongly encourage you to read the assigned sections before lecture.
Study questions will be posted online after every lecture. These are intended to help you think about and synthesize information. They are not intended to provide a comprehensive study guide.
Review Sessions
A review session will be held before each exam. Dates and times will be posted once they are set.
Research Reviews
Use this handout to help navigate your way through the primary literature.
Syllabus
Syllabus distributed on the first day of class. The lecture schedule and readings are subject to change, and will be updated below.
Lecture Schedule & Materials
The lecture schedule below will be updated regularly. A link to each research review paper will be posted next to the date of the in-class exercise. Generally, these will be posted by the weekend prior to the exercise. After lectures, study questions and links to supplemental materials will be added.
Date | Topic | Textbook Readings | Supplemental Materials | Research Review Reading |
---|---|---|---|---|
Part I: Aug 26 - Oct 9, Dr. Elizabeth Jockusch | ||||
Aug 26 | Vertebrate diversity | |||
Aug 28 | Chordates and vertebrate origins | Chapters 1 & 2 | ||
Sept 2 | Living jawless vertebrates | Chapter 3 | | |
Sept 4 | Early vertebrate fossils | Chapter 3 | | |
Sept 9 | Chondrichthyans | Chapter 5 | ||
Sept 11 | Osteichthyan origin and diversification | Chapter 6 | ||
Sept 16 | Actinopterygians | Chapter 6 | | |
Sept 18 | Sarcopterygii & evolution of tetrapods | pp. 125-128 & 196-211 (8th ed.)/153-156 & 189-201 (9th ed.) | ||
Sept 23 | Amphibian diversity and decline | Chapter 10 | ||
Sept 25 | EXAM 1 | | ||
Oct 2 | Amniote origins | pp. 211-218 (8th ed.)/pp. 201-208 (9th ed.) | ||
Oct 7 | Amniote diversity / desert adaptations | Chapter 13 | ||
Oct 9 | Snakes | pp. 339-349 (8th ed.)/pp. 317-327 (9th ed.) | | |
Part 2: Oct 14 - Dec 12, Dr. Margaret Rubega | ||||
Oct 14 | Turtles | Chapter 12 | no research review | |
Oct 16 | Turtles cont'd & Archosaurs | Chapter 16 | ||
Oct 21 | Crocodilians & friends | Chapter 16 | ||
Oct 23 | Dinosaurs and other Mesozoic diapsids | Chapter 16 | ||
Oct 28 | Dinosaurs II | Chapter 16 | | |
Oct 30 | EXAM 2 | | ||
Nov 4 | Birds: Avian origins | pp. 439-443 (8th ed.)/pp. 407-410 (9th ed.) | ||
Nov 6 | Birds: Feeding | Chapter 17 | ||
Nov 11 | Birds:Morphology and Reproduction | Chapter 17 | ||
Nov 13 | Mammals: Origins and radiations | Chapter 18 | ||
Nov 18 | Mammals: Primate evolution and human origins | Chapter 24 | ||
Nov 20 | Mammals: Diversity | Chapter 20 | | |
Dec 2 | Mammals: Morphology and Behavior | Chapter 21 | ||
Dec 4 | Vertebrate mass extinctions, past and present | Chapter 25 | | |
Dec 12 | Final Exam 10:30 - 12:30 (Tentative) | Chapter 25 |