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Herpetology Spring 1997
This class was last offered in 1997, many links are now broken.
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Instructors: |
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Lectures: |
12:30-2:00, Tuesday and Thursday; RLM 6.112 |
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Lab: |
6:00-10:00pm Tuesday, ESB 202 |
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Description: |
This course will survey the biology of amphibians and reptiles,
from molecular systematics to community ecology. The lecture
component consists of three areas: (1) Systematics, Biogeography,
and Genetics, (2) Population and Community Ecology, and (3) Behavior
and Physiology. The lab component covers morphology, diversity,
and taxonomy with emphasis on the local fauna. Field trips are
included. |
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Philosophy: |
Read our manifesto
about teaching herpetology, posted on the Pianka lab web site. |
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Texts: |
Conant and Collins' A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians
of Eastern and Central North America (1992, Houghton Mifflin
Co., Boston) is strongly recommended for use in lab and during
field trips; this is available in the University Coop and at
various bookstores. The Coop will have some copies of The
Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians, edited by Halliday
and Adler (1986, Facts on File, Oxford) and also Biology of
Amphibians by Duellman and Trueb (paperback, 1986, Johns
Hopkins University Press, Baltimore). Other books that provide
general background are Introduction to Herpetology by
Zug (1993, Academic Press, San Diego) and Morphology and Biology
of Reptiles (1976, A. d'A. Bellairs and B. C. Cox, Academic
Press, London). More detailed review articles can be found in
the several volumes of the series Biology of the Reptilia,
edited by Carl Gans. |
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Grading: |
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Undergrad |
Grad |
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| Lecture Exam 1 |
20% |
15% |
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| Lecture Exam 2 |
20% |
15% |
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| Lecture Exam 3 |
20% |
15% |
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| Paper |
-- |
15% |
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| Lab Quiz x 5 |
6% x 5 = 30% |
6% x 5 = 30% |
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| Participation |
2% |
2% |
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| Field Notebook |
8% |
8% |
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Papers: |
In addition to the exams, quizzes and notebook, graduate
students will be asked to write a paper on some aspect of amphibian
and reptile biology, on a topic chosen in consultation with the
appropriate instructor. The topic may not deal with the student's
primary thesis research but side-projects are acceptable. The
paper should be prepared, both in format and scientific content,
as if it were being submitted for publication. The
finished paper is due May 9th, by 5 pm. |
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Field Notebook and Field Trips: |
All students will keep a field notebook to record observations
made on herps during field trips and at other times. These will
be due at the end of the course, and will be returned. Tentative
weekend field trip dates are
- 28-30 March
- 11-13 April
- 25-27 April
Some more spontaneous day trips on Saturday will happen. All
field trips are optional.
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Pianka's Lectures
Lab Schedule
| 14 Jan |
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Cancelled |
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| 21 |
1 |
Orientation; Basic Morphology |
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| 28 |
2 |
World Amphibians |
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| 4 Feb |
3 |
World Reptiles |
Quiz (labs 1-2) |
| 11 |
4 |
Museum trip |
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| 18 |
5 |
Texas Salamanders |
Quiz (labs 3-5) |
| 25 |
6 |
Texas Frogs |
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| 4 Mar |
7 |
Texas Frogs |
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| 18 |
8 |
Texas Turtles/crocs |
Quiz (labs 6-8) |
| 25 |
9 |
Texas Lizards |
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| 1 April |
10 |
Texas Lizards |
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| 8 |
11 |
Texas Snakes |
Quiz (labs 9-11) |
| 15 |
12 |
Texas Snakes |
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| 22 |
13 |
Frog calls |
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| 29 |
14 |
TBA |
Quiz (labs 12-14) |
Lab Notes
- Download Lab 3 (World Reptiles)
Handout as an Adobe Acrobat file (.pdf)
- Download Lab 4 (Salamanders
of Texas) Handout as an Adobe Acrobat file (.pdf)
- Download Labs 5 and 6 (Frogs
of Texas) Handout as an Adobe Acrobat file (.pdf)
- Download Lab 7 (Turtles and
Crocs of Texas) Handout as an Adobe Acrobat file (.pdf)
- Download Lab 8 (Lizards of
Texas I) Handout as an Adobe Acrobat file (.pdf)
- Download Lab 9 (Lizards of
Texas II) Handout as an Adobe Acrobat file (.pdf)
- Download Lab 10 (Snakes of
Texas I) Handout as an Adobe Acrobat file (.pdf)
- Download Lab 11 (Snakes of Texas II) Handout as an Adobe
Acrobat file (.pdf)
Other Links
If you know of good links to herp stuff, send
these to David Cannatella.
Download this figure as an Adobe Acrobat
file (.pdf).
Last updated April 17,
1997 by LMB.
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