Herpetology
EEB 3265/5265 Herpetology
Spring 2011
Lecture Meeting Time: Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:00 - 11:50 in TLS181
Lab Meeting Time: Mondays 1:00 - 5:00 in TLS181
Textbook: Pough F. H., et al. 2004. Herpetology 3rd Edition. PearsonPrentice Hall.
Additional readings will be assigned from the primary journal literature.
Contents
Instructors
Dr. Kentwood Wells
Office: Torrey Life Sciences Building 312
Phone: (860) 486-4319
Office hours: by appointment
Elizabeth Timpe (Teaching Assistant)
Office: Biology/Pharmacy 322
Phone: (860) 486-6215
Office hours: Wednesdays 9:30 - 10:45, and by appointment
Lecture and Lab Schedule & Materials
Date | Lecture Topic | Readings | Lab | Supplemental materials |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 19 | Amphibians: Diversity and Morphological Evolution | Ch. 2, 3, 10 | ||
Jan 24 | Reptiles: Diversity and Morphological Evolution | Ch. 4, 10, 11 | Caecilian and Salamander Taxonomy | |
Jan 26 | Amphibian Skin and Water Relations | Ch. 6 | ||
Jan 31 | Amphibian Excretion and Osmoregulation | Ch. 6 | Salamander Taxonomy; Video: Amphibians | |
Feb 2 | Reptile Water Relations | Ch. 6 | ||
Feb 7 | Behavioral Thermoregulation in Reptiles | Ch. 6 | Frog Taxonomy | |
Feb 9 | Amphibian Thermoregulation and Freeze Tolerance | Ch. 6 | ||
Feb 14 | Physiological Temperature Adjustments | Ch. 6 | Frog Taxonomy; Video: Cane Toads | |
Feb 16 | Gas Transport and Metabolism in Amphibians | Ch. 7 | ||
Feb 21 | Respiration and Circulation in Reptiles | Ch. 7 | Turtles and Crocodilians; Amphibian Review; Video: Crocodiles & Alligators, Turtles | |
Feb 23 | Active Metabolism of Amphibians | Ch. 7 | ||
Feb 28 | Reptile Metabolism, Energetics, and Diet | Ch. 7 | FIRST LAB PRACTICAL (Amphibians) | |
Mar 2 | Energy Budgets and Energy Allocation | Ch. 7 | ||
Mar 7 | SPRING BREAK | ---------- | SPRING BREAK | |
Mar 9 | SPRING BREAK | ---------- | ||
Mar 14 | Amphibian Reproductive Modes | Ch. 8 | Lizard Taxonomy | |
Mar 16 | Biology of Amphibian Larvae | Ch. 8, 11 | ||
Mar 21 | Ecological Aspects of Amphibian Metamorphosis | Ch. 8 | Lizard Taxonomy; Video: Lizards | |
Mar 23 | Reptile Eggs and the Evolution of Viviparity | Ch. 9 | ||
Mar 28 | Reptile Life History Strategies | Ch. 9 | Snake Taxonomy | |
Mar 30 | 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: Call Production and Reception | Ch. 13 | ||
Apr 11 | Mating Systems and Sexual Selection in Anurans | Ch. 14 | Reptile Review; Video: Snakes | |
Apr 13 | Modes of Communication in Squamate Reptiles | Ch. 13 | ||
Apr 18 | Mating Systems and Sexual Selection in Squamates | Ch. 14 | SECOND LAB PRACTICAL (Reptiles) | |
Apr 20 | 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 | Competition and Predation in Aquatic Amphibian Communities | Ch. 15, 16 | ||
May 4 | FINAL EXAM | ---------- |
Course Information
Field Trips:
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.
Additional Resources
Websites:
Local
Online Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of CT
Reptiles and Amphibians of CT
New England Herpetological Society
Amphibians
Amphibiaweb
AMNH's Amphibian Species of the World
Amphibian Portal from USGS-NBII
Amphibians and Reptiles
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
HerpNET
eNature Online Field Guides
Herps in the News
Jan 14, 2011: NY Zoo works to save the hellbender
Jan 14, 2011: Frog hitches ride on snake during Queensland flooding
Jan 12, 2011: Haiti's Lost Frogs