Difference between revisions of "Biology of the Vertebrates"

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[[Image: Vertbunch60.gif| right]]
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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 2010</span><br>
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<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> & diversity of the vertebrates''</span><br>
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<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>
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<span style="font-size: small">'''Textbook: Pough F. H., C. M. Janis, and J. B. Heiser. 2009. Vertebrate Life, 8th Edition. Prentice Hall.''' <br>
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'''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==
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[[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: Biology/Pharmacy 305B<br>
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Office: Pharmacy/Biology 305B<br>
 
Phone: (860) 486-4452<br>
 
Phone: (860) 486-4452<br>
Office hours: Tuesdays, 2-3 pm, and by appointment<br><br>
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Office hours: Thursdays 2-3 pm and by appointment <br>
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[http://jockusch.eeb.uconn.edu/ Jockusch Lab Website] <br><br>
  
'''[mailto:margaret.rubega@uconn.edu Dr. Margaret Rubega]'''<br><span style="font-size: medium"><font color="#FF3300">'''Note: All emails must contain "EEB2214" in the'''</font></span>
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'''[mailto:margaret.rubega@uconn.edu Dr. Margaret Rubega]'''<br>
<span style="font-size: medium"><font color="#FF3300">'''subject line to avoid being filtered out and deleted'''</font></span><br/>
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Office: Pharmacy/Biology 500<br>
Office: Biology/Pharmacy 500<br>
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Phone: (860) 486-4502<br>
 
Phone: (860) 486-4502<br>
Office hours: Thursdays 2-3 pm and by appointment<br><br>
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Office hours: TBA and by appointment <br>
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[http://rubegalab.eeb.uconn.edu/ Rubega Lab Website] <br><br>
  
'''[mailto:elizabeth.timpe@uconn.edu Elizabeth Timpe]''' (Teaching Assistant)<br>
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'''[mailto:kevin.burgio@uconn.edu Kevin Burgio]''' (Teaching Assistant)<br>
Office: Biology/Pharmacy 322<br>
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Office: Pharmacy/Biology 402<br>
Phone: (860) 486-6215<br>
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Office hours: Tuesdays 2-3 pm and by appointment <br>
Office hours: Thursdays, 2-3:45 pm (1st half of semester), Tuesdays 2-3:45 pm (2nd half of semester), and by appointment<br><br>
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[http://monkparakeetresearch.org/ Monk Parakeet Research Website] <br><br>
  
==Grading==
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<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>
'''Exam 1'''                         = 100 points (25%)<br>
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<br><br>
'''Exam 2'''                 = 100 points (25%)<br>
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'''Exam 3'''                           = 100 points (25%)<br>
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'''Collections Tour'''         = 10 points (2.5%)  <br>
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'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Video_Project Video Project]'''         = 90 points (22.5%)<br>
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There will be two one-hour, non-cumulative, exams scheduled during the lecture hour. During the final exam period, a third one-hour exam will be given covering material from the final third of the course. Details about the collections tour and video project will be provided later in the semester.<br>
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==Grading==
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[[Image:MonkParakeet01.jpeg|325 px|right]]
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'''Exam 1''' (Thursday, Sept. 25) = 100 points <br>
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'''Exam 2''' (Thursday, Oct. 30) = 100 points <br>
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'''Final Exam''' (Friday, Dec. 12, TENTATIVE) = 125 points <br>
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'''[[#Research Reviews]]''' (Tuesdays)  = 30 points total<br>
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'''[[#Quizzes]]'''  = 50 points total<br>
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'''[[#Collections Tour]]'''  = 5 points<br>
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<br>
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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>
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<br>
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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>
 
<br>
 
<br>
  
 
==Course Policies==
 
==Course Policies==
'''Missed Exams:'''<br>
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'''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 (exam 3).  Permission to reschedule the final can only be obtained through procedures determined by the [http://www.ossa.uconn.edu/ Office of Student Services and Advocacy].
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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].
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<br><br>
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'''Other Absences'''<br>
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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.
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<br><br>
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'''Academic Integrity'''<br>
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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>
    
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'''Disabilities'''<br>
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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>
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<br>
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'''Classroom Conduct'''<br>
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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>
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*Arrive on time and stay until the end.  If you must come late or leave early, sit by the back door. 
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*Turn cell phones OFF and store them out of sight.
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*Use laptops only for taking notes.
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*Recording is prohibited without the written permission of instructors.
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*Course materials are the intellectual property of the course instructors.  Students may not make these materials (including handouts, exams and quizzes) available electronically.
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<br>
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'''Honors Conversion'''<br>
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:'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Honors_Conversion Can I convert this course to honors?''']<br><br>
  
'''Academic Integrity:'''<br>
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== Research Reviews ==
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://www.dosa.uconn.edu/student_code_partiv.html Section IV of the Student Conduct Code].<br>
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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>
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* What was the major new result?<br>
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* How does this change what we think?<br>
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* Why does it matter?<br>
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<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>
 
<br>
'''Disabilities:'''<br>
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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>
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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>
 
<br>
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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>
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{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/EEB2214_ReadingScientificLiterature.pdf}}'''This handout''' offers some helpful suggestions for how to navigate your way through the primary literature.<br>
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<br>
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==Quizzes==
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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>
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== Collections Tour ==
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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>
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Collections tour times will be posted here and announced in class once the schedule is set.<br><br>
  
 
==Help Resources==
 
==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...).
 
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>
  
'''FAQ's:'''<br>
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'''Study Materials'''<br>
:'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Honors_Conversion Can I convert this course to honors?''']<br><br>
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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>
'''Study Materials:'''
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:'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2010 Study Questions''']<br>
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[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>
'''NEW!''' {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/EEB2214F10Exam1studyguide.pdf}} '''Exam1 Study Guide'''<br>
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<br>
:{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/Phyl_tut_pptshow2010.ppt}}'''Phylogeny Tutorial'''<br>
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:{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/EEB214F06treequiz.pdf}}'''Tree Quiz'''<br>
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'''Tree Resources'''<br>
:{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/VertPhylogeny.pdf}}'''Vertebrate Phylogeny'''<br><br>
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{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/EEB2214F14_Phylogeny.pdf}} This is the backbone of the '''vertebrate phylogeny''' we will be using in this class.  Note that it differs from the textbook tree in the placement of turtles and in how lampreys and hagfishes are related to each other.  We will be expanding the terminal taxa and adding fossils to this tree throughout the semester.<br>
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{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/Phyl_tut_pptshow.pptx}} This '''phylogeny tutorial''' is designed to help students review their knowledge of trees.<br>{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/EEB2214_TreeTerminology.pdf}} A primer of '''tree terminology'''<br>
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{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/SampleTreeQuiz.pdf}} An example of a previous '''tree quiz'''<br>
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{{pdf|https://mcdb.colorado.edu/courses/4350/2012/articles/TreeThinkingChallenge.pdf}} the '''Tree Thinking Quiz''' we went over during the study sessions. Make sure you scroll down for the quiz and answers. <br>
  
'''Video Assignment:'''<br>
 
:'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Video_Project Video Project]'''<br><br>
 
  
'''Review Sessions:'''<br>
 
''Phylogenetic Trees Workshop:'' Thursday, September 23, 6:00PM Room BPB130<br>
 
''Exam 1 Review:'' Monday, September 27, 6:00PM, Room BPB 131'' '''NOTE: BPB 131 is right next door to our usual classroom'''<br>
 
''Exam 1 Review:'' Tuesday, September 28, 6:00PM, Room BPB 130'' <br><br>
 
  
'''Links to External Resources:'''<br>
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'''Review Sessions'''<br>
:'''[http://digimorph.org/index.phtml DigiMorph]''' - Excellent source of 2 & 3D images of internal & external structures of various organisms
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A review session will be held before each exam. Dates and times will be posted once they are set.<br>
:'''[http://www.arkive.org/ ARKive]''' - a unique collection of thousands of wildlife videos, images and fact-files, with a special focus on the world's threatened species
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<br>
 
<br>
  
==Vertebrates in the News==
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'''Research Reviews'''<br>
:'''[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hAZWFUc6F33zcJHk6hP4YcUGRDvgD9HQVM680 Pea-sized frog found in Borneo '''30 August 2010''']'''<br>
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Use {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/EEB2214_ReadingScientificLiterature.pdf}}''' this handout''' to help navigate your way through the primary literature.<br>
[[Image:Pea-sized Frog.jpg]]<br>
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<br>
 
<br>
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'''Syllabus'''<br>
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{{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>
 
<br>
'''[http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100905/sc_mcclatchy/3615432;_ylt=AhyD5S8Ng9eBPS_V2aLGZ194hMgF;_ylu=X3oDMTJrZXQ4NXZpBGFzc2V0A21jY2xhdGNoeS8yMDEwMDkwNS8zNjE1NDMyBHBvcwM3BHNlYwN5bl9wYWdpbmF0ZV9zdW1tYXJ5X2xpc3QEc2xrA2FmdGVyMjB5ZWFycw-- Declines in Northern Spotted Owl Populations '''7 September 2010''']'''<br>
 
'''[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100526134037.htm The Language of Bats '''20 September 2010''']'''<br>
 
'''[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100918212925.htm Fossil Snake '''20 September 2010''']'''<br>
 
'''[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100923/ap_on_sc/us_sci_florida_panthers Florida Panthers' Genetic Rescue '''23 September 2010''']'''<br>
 
'''[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/science/05frog.html Toiling to Save a Threatened Frog '''4 October 2010''']'''<br>
 
  
 
==Lecture Schedule & Materials==
 
==Lecture Schedule & Materials==
 
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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>
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<br>
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="1"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="1"
!width="75"|Date
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!style="background:#F0F9E8;" width="75"|Date
!width="400"|Topic
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!width="185"|Readings
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!width="300"|Supplemental materials
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|-
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!style="background:#BAE4BC;" width="350"|Topic
| || '''Part I: Aug 31 - Oct 14, Dr. Elizabeth Jockusch''' || || ||
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!style="background:#7BCCC4;" width="185"|Textbook Readings
|-
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!style="background:#43A2CA;" width="300"|Supplemental Materials
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!style="background:#0868AC;" width="300"|<font color="#FFFFFF">Research Review Reading</font>
  
 
|-  
 
|-  
| Aug 31 || Vertebrate Diversity || ---------||'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2010#Lecture_1_.2831_August_2010.290 Study Questions''']<br>[http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/reptiles/Amblyrhynchus_cristatus/Amblyrhynchus_crist_09d.html?offset=0px Marine Iguana Running]<br> [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/reptiles/Varanus_komodoensis/Varanus_komodoensis_06a.html Komodo Dragon Walking]<br>[http://debanlab.org/movies/ Salamander feeding videos]||
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| || '''Part I: Aug 26 - Oct 9, Dr. Elizabeth Jockusch''' ||  ||  ||<br>
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|-  
 
|-  
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| Aug 26 || Vertebrate diversity ||  || [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2014#Lecture_1_.2826_August_2014.29'''Study Questions'''] <br>[http://www.arkive.org/galapagos-marine-iguana/amblyrhynchus-cristatus/video-06b Marine Iguana Running]<br> [http://www.arkive.org/komodo-dragon/varanus-komodoensis/video-06a Komodo Dragon Walking - Breathing (Buccal pumping)]<br>[http://debanlab.org/movies/ Salamander feeding videos] <br> [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oSseAl_dW0 Ballistic tongue salamander: Cold-proof bow and arrow mechanism]  ||<br>
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|-
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| Aug 28 || Chordates and vertebrate origins|| Chapters 1 & 2 || [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2014#Lecture_2_.2828_August_2014.29'''Study Questions'''] ||<br>
  
| Sept 2 || Chordate and Vertebrate Origins || Ch. 1, 2 ||'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2010#Lecture_2_.282_September_2010.29 Study Questions''']<br>
 
||
 
 
|-   
 
|-   
  
| Sept 7 || Living Jawless Vertebrates || Ch. 3 ||
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| Sept 2 || Chordates, con't.; Living jawless vertebrates || Chapter 3 ||[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2014#Lecture_3_.282_Sept_2014.29'''Study Questions'''] <br>
'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2010#Lecture_3_.287_September_2010.29 Study Questions''']
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[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh9OOlgrHyA Urochordate heart beat]<br>
<br> [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh9OOlgrHyA Urochordate heart beat]
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[http://www.nature.com/srep/2011/111027/srep00131/extref/srep00131-s1.mov Hagfish defense]<br>
<br>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmaal7Hf0WA Hagfish Slime]
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[http://www.nature.com/srep/2011/111027/srep00131/extref/srep00131-s2.mov Predation by hagfish]<br>
<br>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=letqkpG3b5Q Hagfish on sea floor]
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[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmaal7Hf0WA Hagfish slime]<br>
<br>[http://jeb.biologists.org/content/vol210/issue22/images/data/3897/DC1/JEB006940Movie1.mov Hagfish feeding]
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[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb2EOP3ohnE&feature=youtu.be Hagfish slime #2--what happened to the water?]
||
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|| Zintzen et al. (2011) Sci. Rep. 1:131 on [http://ezproxy.lib.uconn.edu/login?url=http://www.nature.com/srep/2011/111027/srep00131/full/srep00131.html hagfish behavior] <br>
|-
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| Sept 9<br><font color="#FF3300">'''Sept 10''' <font color="#FF3300">|| Early Vertebrate Fossils<br><font color="#FF3300">'''Groups Assigned for Video Project'''<font color="#FF3300"> {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/EEB2214F2010GroupAssignments.pdf}}|| Ch. 3 ||'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2010#Lecture_4_.289_September_2010.29 Study Questions''']<br>[http://www.arkive.org/river-lamprey/lampetra-fluviatilis/video-07.html Lamprey Spawning]
 
||
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Sept 14 || Early Vertebrate Fossils & Chondrichthyans || Ch. 5 || '''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2010#Lecture_5_.2814_September_2010.29 Study Questions]''' <br>{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB2214/SampleQuestions.pdf}} '''Sample Questions'''<br>[http://www.arkive.org/sand-tiger-shark/carcharias-taurus/video-09.html Male Sand Tiger Shark Swimming]<br>[http://www.arkive.org/whitetip-reef-shark/triaenodon-obesus/video-09.html Whitetip Reef Sharks Mating]<br>[http://www.arkive.org/leopard-shark/stegostoma-fasciatum/video-09.html Leopard Shark Courtship]<br>[http://www.arkive.org/lemon-shark/negaprion-brevirostris/video-09a.html Lemon Shark Birthing]
+
| Sept 4 ||Living jawless vertebrates, con't.  || Chapter 3 ||
||  
+
[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2014#Lecture_4_.284_Sept_2014.29'''Study Questions'''] <br>
 +
[http://jeb.biologists.org/content/vol210/issue22/images/data/3897/DC1/JEB006940Movie1.mov Hagfish feeding]<br>
 +
[http://www.arkive.org/river-lamprey/lampetra-fluviatilis/video-07.html Lamprey Spawning] <br>
 +
|| <br>
 +
 
 +
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Sept 16 || Chondrichthyans & Osteichthyan Origins || Ch. 5, 6 ||'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2010#Lecture_6_.2816_September_2010.29 Study Questions]'''<br>[http://www.arkive.org/tiger-shark/galeocerdo-cuvier/video-08.html Shark Feeding on Albatross]<br> [http://www.arkive.org/whale-shark/rhincodon-typus/video-08b.html Whale Shark Feeding]<br>[http://www.arkive.org/spotted-eagle-ray/aetobatus-narinari/video-08.html Eagle Ray Feeding/Locomoting]<br>[http://www.arkive.org/manta-ray/manta-birostris/video-08b.html Manta Ray Feeding]<br>
+
| Sept 9 || Early vertebrate fossils || Chapter 3 || [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2014#Lecture_5_.289_Sept_2014.29'''Study Questions'''] <br> ||Sansom et al. 2010 Nature 463:797-800 on [http://ezproxy.lib.uconn.edu/login?url=http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7282/full/nature08745.html biased fossil decay]<br>
||
+
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Sept 21 || Actinopterygians|| Ch. 6||'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2010#Lecture_7_.2821_September_2010.29 Study Questions''']<br>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF5Qq9mhrrw Paddlefish Feeding]<br>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbGILi8p5Y8&feature=related Fish Suction Feeding]<br>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utuxlfvlLEQ Moray Eel Feeding (with Pharyngeal Jaw)]<br>
+
| Sept 11 || Early gnathostomes; Chondrichthyans || Chapters 3, 5||[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2014#Lecture_6_.2811_Sept_2014.29 '''Study Questions'''] <br>
||  
+
[http://www.arkive.org/whitetip-reef-shark/triaenodon-obesus/video-09.html Whitetip Reef Sharks Mating]<br>
 +
[http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1304/logs/july14/media/rhino-video.html Rhinochimera swimming above the ocean floor] <br>
 +
[http://sharkdevocean.wordpress.com/tag/australia/ Blog entry about Chimaera biology ] <br>
 +
||<br>
 +
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Sept 23<br>'''Sept 23'''<br><font color="#FF3300">'''Sept 24'''<font color="#FF3300"> || Sarcopterygii and Evolution of Tetrapods<br>'''Tree Workshop BPB 130 6:00PM'''<br><font color="#FF3300">'''Video Topic Submission Due<font color="#FF3300">''' || Ch. 9 (pp. 196-211) ||'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2010#Lecture_8_.2823_September_2010.29 Study Questions''']<br> [http://www.arkive.org/coelacanth/latimeria-chalumnae/video-06.html Coelacanth]<br>[http://www.arkive.org/shoebill/balaeniceps-rex/video-08.html Lungfish vs. Bird]||  
+
| Sept 12 || <font color="#7D1B7E">'''Phylogenetic Tree Study Sessions'''</font> || || 10 - 11am: PharmBio Rm 404 <br> 2 - 3pm: Math-Science Building (MSB) Rm 407 <br> ||<br>
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
 
 +
| Sept 16 ||Chondrichthyans, con't. ||Chapters 5 ||
 +
[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2014#Lecture_7_.2816_Sept_2014.29 '''Study Questions'''] <br>
 +
[http://www.arkive.org/lemon-shark/negaprion-brevirostris/video-09a.html Lemon shark giving birth] <br>
 +
[http://www.arkive.org/spotted-eagle-ray/aetobatus-narinari/video-08.html Eagle Ray Feeding/Locomoting]<br>
 +
[http://www.arkive.org/manta-ray/manta-birostris/video-08b.html Manta Ray Feeding]
 +
||Feldheim et al. 2014 Mol. Ecol. 23:110-117 on [http://ezproxy.lib.uconn.edu/login?url=http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mec.12583/full shark philopatry] <br>
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
 
 +
| Sept 18 || Osteichthyan origin and diversification; Actinopterygians || Chapter 6  || ||<br>
 +
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| '''Sept 27'''<br> Sept 28 <br> '''Sept 28''' || '''Review Session BPB 131 6:00PM'''<br>Tetrapod Origins and Amphibian Diversity<br> '''Review Session BPB 130 6:00 PM'''|| Ch. 10 ||'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2010#Lecture_9_.2828_September_2010.29 Study Questions''']<br>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K6szXrBHwM Caecilian Feeding]<br>[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1983266083446767772#docid=-5359004945508340113 Salamander Pheromone Delivery]<br>[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1983266083446767772# Salamander Sperm Transfer]<br>[http://www.arkive.org/chinese-giant-salamander/andrias-davidianus/video-06.html Giant Salamander]<br>
+
| Sept 23 || Sarcopterygii & evolution of tetrapods || pp. 125-128 & 196-211 (8th ed.)/153-156 & 189-201 (9th ed.) || ||<br>
||
+
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''Sept 30'''</font></span>|| <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''EXAM 1'''</font></span> includes material through the origin of tetrapod (but not amphibian diversity)|| --------- ||||  
+
| Sept 24 || <font color="#7D1B7E">'''Exam Study Session''' || || 6:00 - 8:00pm: BioPhysics Room 131 ||<br>
 +
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Oct 5 || Frogs || Ch. 10 ||'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2010#Lecture_10_.285_October_2010.29 Study Question]'''<br>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLYWb5YRatc Slow Motion Jumping Frog]<br>[http://www.arkive.org/green-and-golden-bell-frog/litoria-aurea/video-08.html Frog Feeding on Frog]<br>[http://debanlab.org/bufo/ Toad Feeding]<br>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k5CTLNw04w Gray Treefrog Calling]<br>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSzhjqwB8C4 Screaming Frog]<br>[http://www.arkive.org/common-toad/bufo-bufo/video-09b.html Toad Amplexus]<br>[http://people.bu.edu/kwarken/KWvideo.html Red-eyed Treefrog Eggs Hatching]<br>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ7b4spjXhw Suriname Toad Reproduction]<br>[http://www.arkive.org/corroboree-frog/pseudophryne-corroboree/video-09.html Corroboree Frog Reproduction]<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>
 +
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
 +
| Sept 30 || Amphibian diversity and decline || Chapter 10  || ||<br>
  
| Oct 7<br><font color="#FF3300">'''Oct 8'''<font color="#FF3300"> || Amphibian Declines<br><font color="#FF3300">'''Video Project Synopsis Due'''<font color="#FF3300"> || Ch. 10 ||'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2010#Lecture_11_.287_October_2010.29 Study Questions]'''<br> [http://www.arkive.org/tomato-frog/dyscophus-antongilii/video-10.html Frog vs. Snake]<br>[http://www.arkive.org/lake-titicaca-frog/telmatobius-culeus/video-00.html Lake Titicaca Frog]<br>[http://www.arkive.org/golden-toad/incilius-periglenes/video-09.html Golden Toad Mating]||
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
 +
| Oct 2 || Amniote origins & diversity;  ||Chapter 13;  || ||<br>
  
| Oct 12 || Amniote Origins / Lepidosaurs || Ch. 9 (pp. 211-218), Ch. 13 ||'''[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Biology_of_the_Vertebrates_Study_Questions_F2010#Lecture_12_.2812_October_2010.29 Study Questions]'''<br>[http://www.californiaherps.com/movies/emmulticarinatatail310.mov Tail Autonomy]||
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Oct 14 || Evolution of Snakes || Ch. 13 (pp. 339-349) ||
+
| Oct 7 || Amniotes, con't; desert adaptations  || Chapter 13; pp. 211-218 (8th ed.)/pp. 201-208 (9th ed.) || ||<br>
||  
+
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| || '''Part II: Oct 19 - Dec 16, Dr. Margaret Rubega'''      || || ||  
+
| Oct 9 || Snakes || pp. 339-349 (8th ed.)/pp. 317-327 (9th ed.) || || <br>
 +
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Oct 19 || Turtles || Ch. 12 ||
+
| || '''Part 2: Oct 14 - Dec 12, Dr. Margaret Rubega'''  || || ||<br>
||  
+
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Oct 21 || Turtles continued, and Archosaurs || Ch. 16 ||||  
+
| Oct 14 || Turtles || Chapter 12 || || no research review<br>
 +
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Oct 26 || Crocodilians and Friends || Ch. 16 ||||  
+
| Oct 16 || Turtles cont'd & Archosaurs || Chapter 16 || ||<br>
 +
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Oct 28 || Dinosaurs and Other Mesosoic Diapsids || Ch. 16 ||||  
+
| Oct 21 || Crocodilians & friends || Chapter 16 || ||<br>
 +
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
|| <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''Nov 2'''</font></span>|| <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''EXAM 2'''</font></span>|| --------- ||||
+
| Oct 23 || Dinosaurs and other Mesozoic diapsids || Chapter 16 || ||<br>
|-
+
  
| Nov 4 || Dinosaurs II || Ch. 16 ||
 
||
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
+
 
| Nov 9 || Birds: Avian Origins || Ch. 16 (pp. 439-443)  ||||  
+
| Oct 28 || Dinosaurs II || Chapter 16 || || <br>
 +
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Nov 11 || Birds: Feeding || Ch. 17 ||||  
+
| <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 16 || Birds: Morphology and Reproduction || Ch. 17 ||||  
+
| Nov || Birds: Avian origins || pp. 439-443 (8th ed.)/pp. 407-410 (9th ed.) || ||<br>
 +
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''Nov 18'''</font></span>|| Mammals: Origins and Radiation <br><font color="#FF3300">'''Video Project Due'''<span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300"> || Ch. 18 ||  
+
| Nov 6 || Birds: Feeding || Chapter 17 || ||<br>
||
+
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Nov 30 || Mammals: Primate Evolution and Human Diversity || Ch. 24  ||
+
| Nov 11  || Birds:Morphology and Reproduction || Chapter 17 || ||<br>
||
+
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Dec 2 <br><font color="#FF3300">'''Dec 4'''<font color="#FF3300">|| Mammals: Diversity<br><font color="#FF3300">'''Evaluations of 5 Group Videos Due'''<font color="#FF3300"> || Ch. 20 ||
+
| Nov 13  || Mammals: Origins and radiations || Chapter 18 || ||<br>
||  
+
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Dec. 7 || Mammals: Morphology and Behavior || Ch. 21 ||||  
+
| Nov 18  || Mammals: Primate evolution and human origins || Chapter 24 || ||<br>
 +
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Dec 9 || Vertebrate Mass Extinctions, Past and Present || Ch. 25  ||||  
+
| Nov 20 || Mammals: Diversity || Chapter 20 || || <br>
 +
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''Dec 16'''</font></span>|| <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''EXAM 3 (FINAL) 10:30 am-12:30 pm (TENTATIVE)'''</font></span>|| --------- ||||  
+
| Dec || Mammals: Morphology and Behavior || Chapter 21 || ||<br>
|- |-}
+
  
 +
|-
  
 +
| 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 14:58, 17 September 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)

Instructors

Female with hatchlings.JPG

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

MonkParakeet01.jpeg

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 Pdficon small.gif 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

Can I convert this course to honors?

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.

Pdficon small.gifThis 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.

Tree Resources
Pdficon small.gif This is the backbone of the vertebrate phylogeny we will be using in this class. Note that it differs from the textbook tree in the placement of turtles and in how lampreys and hagfishes are related to each other. We will be expanding the terminal taxa and adding fossils to this tree throughout the semester.
Pdficon small.gif This phylogeny tutorial is designed to help students review their knowledge of trees.
Pdficon small.gif A primer of tree terminology
Pdficon small.gif An example of a previous tree quiz
Pdficon small.gif the Tree Thinking Quiz we went over during the study sessions. Make sure you scroll down for the quiz and answers.


Review Sessions
A review session will be held before each exam. Dates and times will be posted once they are set.

Research Reviews
Use Pdficon small.gif this handout to help navigate your way through the primary literature.

Syllabus
Pdficon small.gif 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 Study Questions
Marine Iguana Running
Komodo Dragon Walking - Breathing (Buccal pumping)
Salamander feeding videos
Ballistic tongue salamander: Cold-proof bow and arrow mechanism

Aug 28 Chordates and vertebrate origins Chapters 1 & 2 Study Questions
Sept 2 Chordates, con't.; Living jawless vertebrates Chapter 3 Study Questions

Urochordate heart beat
Hagfish defense
Predation by hagfish
Hagfish slime
Hagfish slime #2--what happened to the water?

Zintzen et al. (2011) Sci. Rep. 1:131 on hagfish behavior
Sept 4 Living jawless vertebrates, con't. Chapter 3

Study Questions
Hagfish feeding
Lamprey Spawning



Sept 9 Early vertebrate fossils Chapter 3 Study Questions
Sansom et al. 2010 Nature 463:797-800 on biased fossil decay
Sept 11 Early gnathostomes; Chondrichthyans Chapters 3, 5 Study Questions

Whitetip Reef Sharks Mating
Rhinochimera swimming above the ocean floor
Blog entry about Chimaera biology


Sept 12 Phylogenetic Tree Study Sessions 10 - 11am: PharmBio Rm 404
2 - 3pm: Math-Science Building (MSB) Rm 407

Sept 16 Chondrichthyans, con't. Chapters 5

Study Questions
Lemon shark giving birth
Eagle Ray Feeding/Locomoting
Manta Ray Feeding

Feldheim et al. 2014 Mol. Ecol. 23:110-117 on shark philopatry
Sept 18 Osteichthyan origin and diversification; Actinopterygians Chapter 6
Sept 23 Sarcopterygii & evolution of tetrapods pp. 125-128 & 196-211 (8th ed.)/153-156 & 189-201 (9th ed.)
Sept 24 Exam Study Session 6:00 - 8:00pm: BioPhysics Room 131
Sept 25 EXAM 1
Sept 30 Amphibian diversity and decline Chapter 10
Oct 2 Amniote origins & diversity; Chapter 13;
Oct 7 Amniotes, con't; desert adaptations Chapter 13; pp. 211-218 (8th ed.)/pp. 201-208 (9th ed.)
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