Difference between revisions of "Herpetology"

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[[Image:DSC04497.JPG|right|]]
 
 
 
<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 2011''</span><br>
+
<span style="font-size: large">Spring 2015</span><br><br>
<span style="font-size: small">'''Lecture Meeting Time: Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:00 - 11:50 in TLS181'''<br>
+
<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 1:00 - 5:00 in TLS181'''<br>
+
<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. 2004. ''Herpetology'' 3rd Edition. PearsonPrentice Hall.''' <br> Additional readings will be assigned from the primary journal literature.<br><br>
+
<span style="font-size: small">'''Textbook:''' Pough F. H., et al. 2004. ''Herpetology'' 3rd Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall. <br> Additional readings will be assigned from the primary journal literature.<br><br>
 +
 
 +
==News and Announcements==
 +
 
 +
<span style="font-size: medium"> Take-Home Midterm Exam was handed out today. If you don't have it, please e-mail Dr. Wells for a digital copy. The exam is due on Monday March 30th.
 +
Additional Open Lab Sessions will start after the snakes come out.
  
 
==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:Meandspotted.jpeg|thumb|left|Johana (TA) having some bonding time with a spotted salamander. Photo by A. Shepack]]
  
[[Image:DSC03738_6.jpg|right|]]
 
  
'''[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>
 
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:elizabeth.timpe@uconn.edu Elizabeth Timpe]''' (Teaching Assistant)<br>
+
<span style="font-size: medium">'''[mailto:johana.goyes@uconn.edu Johana Goyes Vallejos]''' (Teaching Assistant)<br>
Office: Biology/Pharmacy 322<br>
+
Email: johana.goyes@uconn.edu<br>
 +
Office: Torrey Life Sciences Building 379 <br>
 
Phone: (860) 486-6215<br>
 
Phone: (860) 486-6215<br>
Office hours: Wednesdays 9:30 - 10:45, and by appointment<br><br><br>
+
Office hours: by appointment<br><br><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==
 +
 
 +
[[Image:Girls4.jpg|thumb|right|The Frog Girls]]
 +
[[Image:Lizg.jpg|thumb|right|Liz and the spotted turtle]]
 +
[[Image:Rachel.jpg|thumb|right|Rachael and the spotted turtle]]
 +
<br>
 +
 
 +
''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.''<br><br>
 +
 
 +
'''Field Trips:'''<br>
 +
There will be a scheduled field trip to the Yale Forest during lab time Monday, April 27th, 2015. 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>
 +
The emphasis in this course in on readings from original literature.  I will be handing 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 (3rd ed.) by F. H. Pough, R. M. Andrews, J. E. Cadle, M. L. Crump, A. H. Savitzky, and K. D. Wells (Prentice Hall, 2004).  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>
 +
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 8.  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 will be determined approximately as follows:<br>
 +
'''Lab Practicals:  20% each'''<br>                 
 +
'''Midterm:  20%'''<br>
 +
'''Final: 40%'''<br><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://www.community.uconn.edu/student_code_appendixa.html Appendix A of the Student Conduct Code].<br>
 +
<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>
 +
<br><br><br><br>
  
 
==Lecture and Lab Schedule & Materials==
 
==Lecture and Lab Schedule & Materials==
[[Image:DSC06282.JPG|right|]]
+
 
[[Image:DSC04645.jpg|right|]]
+
 
[[Image:DSC06306.JPG|right|]]
+
 
[[Image:DSC01323.JPG|right|]]
+
<br><br>
<br><br><br>
+
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="1"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="1"
 
!width="75"|Date
 
!width="75"|Date
!width="400"| Lecture Topic
+
!width="350"|Lecture Topic
 
!width="100"|Readings
 
!width="100"|Readings
!width="400"|Lab
+
!width="350"|Lab
!width="100"|Supplemental materials
+
!width="250"|Supplemental Materials
  
 
|-  
 
|-  
Line 38: Line 79:
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Jan 19 || Amphibians: Diversity and Morphological Evolution || Ch. 2, 3, 10 ||||
+
| Jan 21 || Amphibians: Diversity and Morphological Evolution || Ch. 1, 2, 3, 8 ||||
|-  
+
|-
  
| Jan 24 || Reptiles: Diversity and Morphological Evolution || Ch. 4, 10, 11 || Caecilian and Salamander Taxonomy ||  
+
| Jan 26 || Reptiles: Diversity and Morphological Evolution || Ch.1, 4, 10, 11 || 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 26 || Amphibian Skin and Water Relations || Ch. 6 ||||  
+
| Jan 28 || Amphibian Skin and Water Relations || Ch. 6 ||||  
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Jan 31 || Amphibian Excretion and Osmoregulation || Ch. 6 || Salamander Taxonomy; '''Video''': ''Amphibians'' ||
+
| Feb 2 || CLASSES CANCELLED. SNOW DAY! || ||LAB CANCELLED. SNOW DAY!||
|-  
+
|-
  
| Feb 2 || Reptile Water Relations || Ch. 6 ||||  
+
| Feb 4 || Amphibian Excretion and Osmoregulation || Ch. 6 ||||
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Feb 7 || Behavioral Thermoregulation in Reptiles || Ch. 6 || Frog Taxonomy ||  
+
| Feb 6 ||Reptile Water Relations ||Ch. 6|| 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 9 || Amphibian Thermoregulation and Freeze Tolerance || Ch. 6 ||||
 
|-
 
  
| Feb 14 || Physiological Temperature Adjustments || Ch. 6 || Frog Taxonomy; '''Video''': ''Cane Toads''||  
+
| Feb 9 || Behavioral Thermoregulation in Reptiles (Lectured Cancelled, "No-Snow Day") || Ch. 6 ||Frog Taxonomy||{{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 16 || Gas Transport and Metabolism in Amphibians || Ch. 7 ||||  
+
| Feb 11 || Amphibian Thermoregulation and Freeze Tolerance || Ch. 6 || ||
|-  
+
|-
  
| Feb 21 || Respiration and Circulation in Reptiles || Ch. 7 || Turtles and Crocodilians; Amphibian Review; '''Video''': ''Crocodiles & Alligators, Turtles'' ||  
+
| Feb 16 || Physiological Temperature Adjustments || Ch. 6 ||Frog Taxonomy; '''Video''' ''Cane Toads''||{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/c/c5/Anuraquiz.pdf}} Anura Practice Quiz
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Feb 23 || Active Metabolism of Amphibians || Ch. 7 ||||
+
| Feb 18 || Gas Transport and Metabolism in Amphibians || Ch. 7||||
 +
|-
 +
 
 +
| Feb 23 || Respiration and Circulation in Reptiles || Ch. 7 || Turtles and Crocodilians; Amphibian Review; '''Video''': ''Crocodiles & Alligators, Turtles''<br> ||{{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 25 || Activity Metabolism of Amphibians || Ch. 7 ||||
 +
|-
  
| Feb 28 || Reptile Metabolism, Energetics, and Diet || Ch. 7 || <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''FIRST LAB PRACTICAL (Amphibians)'''</font></span> ||  
+
| Mar 2 || Reptile Metabolism, Energetics, and Diet || Ch. 7 || <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''FIRST LAB PRACTICAL (Amphibians)'''</font></span> ||  
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Mar 2 || Energy Budgets and Energy Allocation || Ch. 7 ||||  
+
| Mar 4 || Energy Budgets and Energy Allocation || Ch. 7 ||||  
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Mar 7 || SPRING BREAK || ----------|| SPRING BREAK ||  
+
| Mar 9 || Amphibian Reproductive Modes || 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 9 || SPRING BREAK || ----------||||  
+
| Mar 11 || Biology of Amphibian Larvae || Ch. 11 (385-393) ||||
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Mar 14 || Amphibian Reproductive Modes || Ch. 8 || Lizard Taxonomy ||  
+
| Mar 16 || <font color="#FF00FF"><b>SPRING BREAK </b></font>  ||-----||----- ||
 
|-
 
|-
  
| Mar 16 || Biology of Amphibian Larvae || Ch. 8, 11 ||||  
+
| Mar 18 || <font color="#FF00FF"><b>SPRING BREAK </b></font> ||-----||----- ||
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Mar 21 || Ecological Aspects of Amphibian Metamorphosis || Ch. 8 || Lizard Taxonomy; '''Video''': ''Lizards'' ||  
+
| Mar 23 || Ecological Aspects of Amphibian Metamorphosis || Ch. 8 (pp. 321-329) || 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 23 || Reptile Eggs and the Evolution of Viviparity || Ch. 9 ||||
+
| Mar 25 || Reptile Eggs and the Evolution of Viviparity || Ch. 9 ||||
 
|-
 
|-
  
| Mar 28 || Reptile Life History Strategies || Ch. 9 || Snake Taxonomy ||  
+
| Mar 30|| Reptile Life History Strategies || Ch. 9 || 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 30 || Communication and Mating Systems of Salamanders || Ch. 13, 14 ||||  
+
| Apr 1 || Communication and Mating Systems of Salamanders || Ch. 13, 14 ||||  
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Apr 4 || Frog Vocal Communication: Behavioral Aspects || Ch. 13 || Snake Taxonomy; Evolution of Snake Dentition ||  
+
| Apr 6 || Frog Vocal Communication: Behavioral Aspects || Ch. 13 || 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 6 ||  Frog Vocal Communication: Call Production and Reception || Ch. 13 ||||  
+
| Apr 8 ||  Frog Vocal Communication: Call Production and Reception || Ch. 13 ||||  
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Apr 11 || Mating Systems and Sexual Selection in Anurans || Ch. 14 || Reptile Review; '''Video''': ''Snakes'' ||
+
| Apr 13 || Mating Systems and Sexual Selection in Anurans || Ch. 14 || Reptile Review '''Video''': ''Snakes''||
 
|-  
 
|-  
  
| Apr 13 || Modes of Communication in Squamate Reptiles || Ch. 13 ||||
+
| Apr 15 || Modes of Communication in Squamate Reptiles || Ch. 13 ||||
 
|-
 
|-
  
| Apr 18 || Mating Systems and Sexual Selection in Squamates || Ch. 14 || <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''SECOND LAB PRACTICAL (Reptiles)'''</font></span>||
+
| Apr 20 || Mating Systems and Sexual Selection in Squamates || Ch. 14||<span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''SECOND LAB PRACTICAL (Reptiles)'''</font></span> ||
 
|-
 
|-
  
| Apr 20 || Social Behavior and Communication in other Reptiles || Ch. 13, 14 ||||
+
| Apr 22 || Social Behavior and Communication in other Reptiles || Ch. 13, 14 ||||
 
|-
 
|-
  
| Apr 25 || Ecology of Terrestrial Amphibian and Reptile Communities || Ch. 15, 16 || Field Trip (Yale Forest) ||
+
| Apr 27 || Ecology of Terrestrial Amphibian and Reptile Communities || Ch. 15, 16 || AFTERNOON FIELD TRIP (Yale Forest)||
 
|-
 
|-
  
| Apr 27 || Competition and Predation in Aquatic Amphibian Communities || Ch. 15, 16 ||||
+
| Apr 29 || Competition and Predation in Aquatic Amphibian Communities || Ch. 15, 16 ||||
 +
|-
 +
 
 +
| May 6 || <span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''FINAL EXAM'''</font></span> ||  ||||
 
|-
 
|-
  
|<span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''May 4 '''</font></span>||<span style="font-size: small"><font color="#FF3300">'''FINAL EXAM'''</font></span> || ---------- ||||
 
 
|- ||
 
|- ||
 
|}
 
|}
<br><br><br><br><br><br>
+
<br><br><br>
  
==Course Information==
+
==Herps in the News (and other fun Stuff!)==
  
[[Image:P1040094.JPG |right|]]
+
[[Image:greenfrog.jpg|thumb|left|<i>Lithobates clamitans.</i> Photo by J. Goyes]]  
  
'''Field Trips:'''<br>
+
February 9, 2015: [http://www.livescience.com/49698-new-frog-species-bangladesh.html Newfound Frog Has Strange Breeding Habits]<br>
There will be a scheduled field trip to the Yale Forest during lab time Monday, April 25th. 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><br><br><br><br><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:DSC00485.JPG|right|]]
+
[[Image:redback.jpg|thumb|right|<i>Plethodon cinereus</i>. Photo by J. Goyes]]
 +
[[Image:twolines.jpg|thumb|right|<i>Eurycea bislineata</i>. Photo by J. Goyes]]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
'''Websites:'''<br>
 +
''Local''<br>
 +
[http://www.peabody.yale.edu/collections/vz/her_guide.html Online Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of CT]<br>
 +
[http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2723&Q=325856 Reptiles and Amphibians of CT]<br>
 +
[http://www.neherp.com/ New England Herpetological Society]<br>
  
'''Websites'''
+
''Amphibians''<br>
[http://www.cnah.org/ The Center for North American Herpetology]
+
[http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/frogs-the-thin-green-line/video-full-episode/4882/ Video about Amphibian Extinction]<br>
 +
[http://amphibiaweb.org// Amphibiaweb]<br>
 +
[http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/index.php AMNH's Amphibian Species of the World]<br>
 +
[http://www.nbii.gov/amphibians Amphibian Portal from USGS-NBII]<br>
 +
[http://debanlab.org/movies/ Deban Lab Amphibian Feeding]<br>
  
 +
''General Herpetology''<br>
 +
[http://www.ssarherps.org/ Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles]<br>
 +
[http://www.asih.org/ American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists]<br>
 +
[http://www.herpetologistsleague.org/en/index.php The Herpetologists' League]<br>
 +
[http://www.cnah.org/ The Center for North American Herpetology]<br>
 +
[http://www.parcplace.org/ Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation]<br>
 +
[http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/neparc/ New England Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation]<br>
 +
[http://emys.geo.orst.edu/ EMYSystem Online Turtle Resource]<br>
 +
[http://www.herpnet.org/ HerpNET]<br>
 +
[http://www.enature.com/home/ eNature Online Field Guides]<br><br>
  
<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
 
  
==Herps in the News==
 
  
[[Image:DSC04582_1.jpg|right|]]
 
Jan 14, 2011:[http://online.wsj.com/article/AP1ce73f991d444022b0b4c0e1b1be8351.html NY Zoo works to save the hellbender]<br> 
 
Jan 14, 2011: [http://news.tangatawhenua.com/archives/9378 Frog hitches ride on snake during Queensland flooding]<br>
 
Jan 12, 2011: [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/12/lost-frogs-haiti_n_807948.html#222748 Haiti's Lost Frogs]<br>
 
  
 
[[Category:EEB Courses]]
 
[[Category:EEB Courses]]

Revision as of 21:00, 4 April 2015

EEB 3265/5265 Herpetology
Spring 2015

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. 2004. Herpetology 3rd Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall.
Additional readings will be assigned from the primary journal literature.

News and Announcements

Take-Home Midterm Exam was handed out today. If you don't have it, please e-mail Dr. Wells for a digital copy. The exam is due on Monday March 30th. Additional Open Lab Sessions will start after the snakes come out.

Instructors

Dr. Wells being honored for the impact of his 1977 paper in the field of Animal Behavior. Photo by P. Morenus/UConn Photo
Johana (TA) having some bonding time with a spotted salamander. Photo by A. Shepack


Dr. Kentwood Wells
Email: kentwood.wells@uconn.edu
Office: Torrey Life Sciences Building 312
Phone: (860) 486-4319
Office hours: by appointment







Johana Goyes Vallejos (Teaching Assistant)
Email: johana.goyes@uconn.edu
Office: Torrey Life Sciences Building 379
Phone: (860) 486-6215
Office hours: by appointment





This is what happens when you stay too long in the herpetology lab....The skulls come back to life

Course Procedures and Policies

The Frog Girls
Liz and the spotted turtle
Rachael and the spotted turtle


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 Monday, April 27th, 2015. 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 handing 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 (3rd ed.) by F. H. Pough, R. M. Andrews, J. E. Cadle, M. L. Crump, A. H. Savitzky, and K. D. Wells (Prentice Hall, 2004). 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 8. 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 21 Amphibians: Diversity and Morphological Evolution Ch. 1, 2, 3, 8
Jan 26 Reptiles: Diversity and Morphological Evolution Ch.1, 4, 10, 11 Caecilian and Salamander Taxonomy Salamanders of CT.pdf
Amphibians of CT website
Jan 28 Amphibian Skin and Water Relations Ch. 6
Feb 2 CLASSES CANCELLED. SNOW DAY! LAB CANCELLED. SNOW DAY!
Feb 4 Amphibian Excretion and Osmoregulation Ch. 6
Feb 6 Reptile Water Relations Ch. 6 Salamander Taxonomy; Video: Amphibians Pdficon small.gif Connecticut Salamanders

Pdficon small.gif Caecilians/Salamanders Practice Quiz

Feb 9 Behavioral Thermoregulation in Reptiles (Lectured Cancelled, "No-Snow Day") Ch. 6 Frog Taxonomy Pdficon small.gif Anuran Families of the World

Pdficon small.gif Connecticut Frogs and Toads

Feb 11 Amphibian Thermoregulation and Freeze Tolerance Ch. 6
Feb 16 Physiological Temperature Adjustments Ch. 6 Frog Taxonomy; Video Cane Toads Pdficon small.gif Anura Practice Quiz
Feb 18 Gas Transport and Metabolism in Amphibians Ch. 7
Feb 23 Respiration and Circulation in Reptiles Ch. 7 Turtles and Crocodilians; Amphibian Review; Video: Crocodiles & Alligators, Turtles
Pdficon small.gif Turtle Families of the World

Pdficon small.gif Connecticut Turtles
Pdficon small.gif Turtle Practice Quiz

Feb 25 Activity Metabolism of Amphibians Ch. 7
Mar 2 Reptile Metabolism, Energetics, and Diet Ch. 7 FIRST LAB PRACTICAL (Amphibians)
Mar 4 Energy Budgets and Energy Allocation Ch. 7
Mar 9 Amphibian Reproductive Modes Ch. 8 Lizard Taxonomy Pdficon small.gif List of Lizard Families of the World

Pdficon small.gif Important North American Lizards

Mar 11 Biology of Amphibian Larvae Ch. 11 (385-393)
Mar 16 SPRING BREAK ----- -----
Mar 18 SPRING BREAK ----- -----
Mar 23 Ecological Aspects of Amphibian Metamorphosis Ch. 8 (pp. 321-329) Lizard Taxonomy; Video: Lizards Pdficon small.gif Lizard Study Guide

Pdficon small.gif Lizard Practice Quiz

Mar 25 Reptile Eggs and the Evolution of Viviparity Ch. 9
Mar 30 Reptile Life History Strategies Ch. 9 Snake Taxonomy Pdficon small.gif Snake Families of the World

Pdficon small.gif Connecticut Snakes

Apr 1 Communication and Mating Systems of Salamanders Ch. 13, 14
Apr 6 Frog Vocal Communication: Behavioral Aspects Ch. 13 Snake Taxonomy; Evolution of Snake Dentition Pdficon small.gif Snake Dentition

Pdficon small.gif Snake Practice Quiz

Apr 8 Frog Vocal Communication: Call Production and Reception Ch. 13
Apr 13 Mating Systems and Sexual Selection in Anurans Ch. 14 Reptile Review Video: Snakes
Apr 15 Modes of Communication in Squamate Reptiles Ch. 13
Apr 20 Mating Systems and Sexual Selection in Squamates Ch. 14 SECOND LAB PRACTICAL (Reptiles)
Apr 22 Social Behavior and Communication in other Reptiles Ch. 13, 14
Apr 27 Ecology of Terrestrial Amphibian and Reptile Communities Ch. 15, 16 AFTERNOON FIELD TRIP (Yale Forest)
Apr 29 Competition and Predation in Aquatic Amphibian Communities Ch. 15, 16
May 6 FINAL EXAM




Herps in the News (and other fun Stuff!)

Lithobates clamitans. Photo by J. Goyes

February 9, 2015: Newfound Frog Has Strange Breeding Habits
Jan 26, 2015: Rare Frogs Give Birth to Live Tadpoles








Additional Resources

Plethodon cinereus. Photo by J. Goyes
Eurycea bislineata. Photo by J. Goyes


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