ZOOL4620HERPETOLOGYSpring2020

Instructor:Dr.MarinaM.GersonOffice:N-272OfficeHours:Mon9-10:30,Wed12-1,Fri9-9:30,andbyappointmentContactInformation:myoffice,mgerson@csustan.eduor(209)664-6547Texts:RequiredHerpetology4theditionbyPoughetal,;PetersonFieldGuidetoWesternReptilesandAmphibians4theditionbyStebbins;anapprovedmemoirorbiographyofaherpetologist;fieldnotebook;RecommendedAKeytoAmphibians&ReptilesoftheContinentalUnitedStatesbyPowell,Collins,&Hooper.

COURSEDESCRIPTIONANDOBJECTIVESHistorically,amphibiansandreptileshavebeenbothreveredandfeared.Mostfearoftheseanimalsisgroundedinlackofknowledge,forinmostcases,beingalerttoone’ssurroundingsissufficienttoavoidunpleasantencounters.Manyamphibiansandreptilesareindeclinethroughouttheirranges,ingreatpartduetotheindirectactiviesofhumansaswellasmaliciousbehavior.Itisimportantthatweunderstandthebiologyoftheseanimalsifwearetoeducateothersastotheirvalueandtoconservethemintheirnaturalhabitats.

Herpetologyisthestudyoftwomajorgroupsofectothermicterrestrialvertebrates:1)theamphibians,agroupofmoist-skinnedtetrapodsincludingsalamanders,frogs,andthelittle-knowncaecilians,and2)thereptiles,agroupofscale-coveredland-adaptedtetrapodsincludingturtles,crocodilians,lizardsandsnakes,andthenearly-extincttuatara.Thiscoursewillcoveraspectsofthebiologyofamphibiansandreptiles,includingclassificationandtaxonomy,evolution,distribution,anatomy,physiology,lifehistories,behavior,andecology.

Herpetologyisaseniorlevelcourse.Itisa4-unitlectureandlaboratorycoursecomprisingtwohoursoflectureandsixhoursoflaboratoryeachweek.TheprerequisitesareBIOL1050,BIOL1150,CHEM1100,andCHEM110,orconsentoftheinstructor.BothlectureandlabsareheldinN-210.Therewillbeseveralrequiredfieldtripsoverthecourseofthesemester,usuallyduringclasstimes.Youmustdressappropriatelyforoutdoorwork(jeans,sneakers,andraingearifstormy)onthefieldtrips.

CourseObjectivesParticipantswillbedisplayanunderstandingof:• Theevolutionaryhistory,diversityandclassificationofamphibiansandreptiles• Evolutionaryhistory,anatomy,physiology,reproduction,lifehistories,ecology,behavior,andconservationbiologyofthetaxa• Themodernscientificstudyofamphibiansandreptiles

Participantsgainanappreciationfor:• Theimportanceoftherolesamphibiansandreptilesplayinnaturalsystems• Theimmensediversityofevolutionarysophisticationsdisplayedbythetaxa• Theimportanceofimmediateandongoingconservationeffortstoprotectthesetaxainthewild

StudentLearningOutcomesParticipantswillbeableto:• Identifymostamphibiansandreptilestothemajortaxonomicgroupstowhichtheybelong.• UseuniquecharacteristicstoidentifycommonspeciesofamphibiansandreptilesinCaliforniaafterbriefexamination.• Properlyandsafelyhandlenon-venomousspeciesoffrogs,salamanders,lizards,snakes,andturtles.• Describetheadaptationsofamphibiansandreptilesandexplainhowtheserelatetotheirlifehistoriesandecology.• Describetheevolutionaryhistoryofamphibiansandreptilesandexplainhowtheyfitintothevertebratephylogeny.• Explaintheimportanceofamphibiansandreptilesthroughtherolestheyplayinnaturalecosystems.• Describethemajoranthropogenic-basedconservationissuesfacingamphibiansandreptilestoday.

Participantswillbeabletodemonstratethefollowingscientificskills:• Usedichotomouskeysandfieldguidestocorrectlyidentifyamphibiansandreptilestothespecieslevel.• Readandinterpretscientificinformation.• Keepascientificnotebook.• Sharescientificinformationinwrittenandoralformats.• Prepareformalandinformalscientificpresentations.

“Tounderstandtheworld,wemustunderstandmeanandlowlythings.”--Aristotle

WEEK TENTATIVETOPIC(S) CHAPTERSJan28Jan29

Introduction&SyllabusSystematicsandorgins

Ch1Ch2

Jan28Jan29

IntroductiontotheTaxaLifeinColdBlood1;PhylogeneticTreeExercise

Ch1Ch3,printout,handout

Feb4Feb6

Systematicsandorginscont.IntroductiontoModernAmphibians

Ch2Ch3

Feb4Feb6

AmphibianAnatomy(Skin,Skeletons)Salamanders

Ch2,3,10,printoutsprintouts

Feb11,13 WaterandTemperatureRelations Ch6Feb11*Feb13

StudysalamandersFrogs

--Ch2,3printouts

Feb18Feb20C

WaterandTemperatureRelationscont.EnergeticsandPerfomance

Ch6Ch7

Feb18Feb20

LifeinColdBlood2,workonsalamandersandfrogsLocalityExercise;salamandersandfrogs

printouthandout

Feb25Feb27

EnergeticsandPerformancecont.ReproductionandLifeHistoriesofAmphibians

Ch7Ch8

Feb25Feb27

Presentations(3salamanders);FrogCallsCaecilians;Presentations(3salamanders)

printoutCh2,3,printout

Mar3Mar5

ReproductionandLifeHistoriesofAmphibianscont.LeaveonFieldTrip#1

Ch8--

Mar3Mar5

Dissections&InternalAnatomyFieldTrip#1–DelPuertoCanyon

Ch10,printoutsFieldNotebook

Mar10Mar12

CatchupandreviewLectureExam#1 1,2,3,6,7,8

Mar10Mar12

Froglifehistoriesactivity;presentations(2frogs)Life:AmphibiansandReptiles;Life&TimesofaHerpetologistPrep;StudyAmphibians

handoutprintout

Mar17Mar19

ReproductionandLifeHistoriesofReptilesLocomotion

Ch9Ch10

Mar17Mar19

Presentations(3frogs),studyamphibiansAmphibianPractical;LifeinColdBlood5&3

--printouts

Mar24,26 SPRINGBREAK–NOCLASSESMar31Apr2

CésarChávezDay–NOCLASSESFieldTrip#2–KnightsFerry

----

Mar31Apr2

Integument,Crocodilians,Turtles;FieldTrip#2–KnightsFerry

Ch1,4,10,printoutsFieldNotebook

Apr7,9 Feeding Ch11Apr7,9 Lizards Ch1,4,10,printoutsApr14Apr16

Diets,ForagingSpatialEcology

Ch15Ch12

Apr14Apr16

IntroduceSnakes;presentations(2turtles,3lizards)StudySnakes

Ch1,4,printouts--

Apr21Apr23

CommunicationMatingSystemsandSexualSelection

Ch13Ch14

Apr21Apr23

Dissections,Skeletons;Presentations(4lizards)LifeinColdBlood4;LizardBiogeographyExercise

Ch4,10,printoutsPrintout,handout

Apr28Apr30

LectureExam2FieldTrip#3–LaGrange

Ch9,10,11,12,13,14,15--

Apr28Apr30

TurtleAnatomyExerciseFieldTrip#3–LaGrange

printoutsFieldNotebook

May5May7

DefenseagainstpredatorsandparasitesFieldTrip#4-FresnoChaffeeZooFieldTrip(returnby8pm)

Ch15--

May5May7

Life&TimesofaHerpetologist;studyreptilesFieldTrip#4-FresnoChaffeeZooFieldTrip(returnby8pm)

--ZooAssignment

May12May14

CommunityEcologyBiogeographyConservationBiology

Ch16Ch5Ch17

May12May14

Presentations(4snakes);StudyforPracticalReptilesLabExam;CaneToad:anUnnaturalHistory

ZOOASSIGNMENTDUE--

TBD COMPREHENSIVELECTUREFINALEXAM2-4pm(TueorThur–TBD) Ch1-17*NativeSpeciesPresentationSign-upinLab.CNote:Feb21=CensusDate

ASSESSMENTMETHODS,GRADESANDGRADING

Yourgradewillbebasedonyourperformanceontwolaboratorypracticals,threemixed-format(mostlyshort-answer)lectureexams,participationinfieldtripsandlabs,in-classpresentations,andassignmentsthroughoutthesemester.ThereareformalandinformalopportunitiesforExtraCredit,asdiscussedbelow.

Anyhomeworkorextracreditassignmentshouldbeturnedinonthedayandtimeitisdue.Youmayturninoneassignmentupto3calendardayslateduringthesemester(date/timestampbyemailing,ifthisworksouttobeonaweekendorholiday).Assignmentswhichcannotbesubmittedlateinclude:exams,inlabactivities,presentations,fieldtripparticipation,andextracredit.Otherlateworkwillbepenalized10%percalendarday.Followingthereturnofanygradedassignmentorexam,youhave7daysinwhichtodisputeanygradediscrepancies.Todisputethescoringofanassignment,bringtheassignmentandsupportinginformationshowingwhyyoudeservedadifferentgradetomyoffice,wherewecandiscusstheissueprivately.PleasealsoverifyeachscoreontheBlackboardsitetoensurepropergradeentry.

GRADINGSUMMARY

EXPECTATIONSOFSTUDENTSThismaybethesmallestclass-sizeyouwillexperienceincollege.Smallclassesoffergreatopportunitiesforlearning,

engagement,andfun,buttheclassdynamicsareuptotheparticipants.Let’sworktogethertomakethisagreatsemester!

• Engagethecoursematerialthroughparticipationinclass,readingthetexts,andthinkingaboutherpetology.

• Berespectfulofothersbyarrivingontime,givingyourattentiontowhoeverispresenting,listeningtotheideasofyourclassmates,turningoffcellphones,andgenerallybeingpolite.Thisalsomeansnotext-messaging(yes,thepersonatthefrontoftheroomcantellwhatyouaredoing)andnointernetsurfing(it’sdistractingtothosesittingaroundyou).

• Studentsareexpectedtotakeexamsondaysandtimesscheduled.Ifyouhavealegitimateexcusetomiss,Ineedtoknowthereason,inwriting,beforetheexamdate.Ifyouhaveanemergency,youmustletmeknowoftheemergencyassoonasyoucan.Iwilldeterminetheappropriatenessoftakingthemissedexam.

• Observelabandfieldsafetyandcleanlinessprocedures.

• Ifyouaregoingtohandlewild,nativeamphibiansandreptilesonyourown,youshouldhaveaCAStateFishingLicenseandmustcomplywithallStateregulations.DONOTUNDERANYCIRCUMSTANCESHANDLEANYVENOMOUSSNAKES.

• Maintainyouracademicintegrity.Yourintegrityisyourmostvaluableassetasastudentandinyourfuturecareerasaneducatedperson.Inlinewiththis,itisthepolicyoftheDepartmentofBiologicalSciencesthatanyonecaughtcheatingorplagiarizingwillreceiveagradeofFforthecourse.Ireservetherighttorequestanystudentsuspectedofcheatingtotakeasecond,differentexamonthematerial.Protectyourselfbymakingyourintegrityobvious.

EXPECTATIONSOFTHEINSTRUCTOR• Sameasthoseforstudents,intermsofengagementinthecourse,respectforparticipants,andobservationoflabandfield

safety.Idomybesttoprotectyourprivacyandmaintainanenvironmentinwhichyoucanlearn.• Beopentofeedbackonthecourseandbeflexibleinordertomakeappropriatechangestomeetstudentneeds.• Befairandconsistentinassessmentofstudentlearning.• Beavailabletostudentsoutsideofclasstimetoanswerquestionsanddiscussclassmaterial.

Assignment Lecture/Lab Date PossiblePointsCANativePresentation(oral) Lab Throughoutsemester 100PeerPresentationEvaluations Lab Throughoutsemester 25InClassActivities Lab Throughoutsemester 100FieldTripsFieldnotesdueMar10;Apr.7,May5ZooassignmentdueTues.,May12

Lab Mar5,Apr2,Apr30,May7 4x25=100

LectureExam1 Lecture March12 100AmphibianLabExam Lab March19 100LectureExam2 Lecture April28 100ReptileLabExam Lab May14 100

LifeandTimesofaHerpetologist Lab FinishreadingbyMar12PresentationsMay5 125

FinalExam Lecture FinalsWeek 150

PointRange Grade930-1000 A900-929 A-870-899 B+830-869 B800-829 B-770-799 C+730-769 C700-729 C-670-699 D+630-669 D600-629 D-<600 F

ASSIGNMENTINFORMATION

CANativeSpeciesPresentation(100+25points)Thepurposeofthepresentationsisto:a)providethewholeclassmoredetailedfamiliaritywithsomeofthenativespeciescommoninCalifornia,b)provideeachstudentin-depthknowledgeofoneCalifornianative,andc)provideeachstudentanopportunitytohonetheskillofproducingandpresentingaformaloralpresentation.

1)SpeciesSelection–inclassyouwillchooseageneralgroupofamphibiansorreptiles.Differenttaxaareassociatedwithdifferentpresentationdates.Afteryourinitialselection,youwilldecideonaCalifornianativespeciesonwhichtofocusforyourreport.

2)ThePresentation(100points)Yoursemi-formalpresentationshouldsharewhatyoulearnedaboutyourtopicwiththerestoftheclass.YourpresentationcanbedoneinPowerPoint(bringyourlaptoporbringaUSBdrivetouseaclassroomlaptop)oronoverheads.Youareencouragedtouseany/alloftheA/Vdeviceswehaveintheclassroom.Thisassignmentwillgiveyouanopportunitytopracticeyourformaloralpresentationskillsinsharingnewknowledgethatyouhaveinvestigatedonyourown.Youhaveamaximumof15minutesforyourtalk.Youshouldaimfor10minutesinlengthforyourtalk,togiveyourpeersampleopportunitytoaskquestions.

3)PeerEvaluation(25pointsforevaluatingyourpeers)–Listeningtopeerpresentationsshouldbeaninterestingopportunitytogainmoreinsightintothehabitsanddiversityoftheanimalswe’restudyinginthiscourse.Yourpeerswillhaveputinalotofefforttomakethematerialeasilyaccessibleforeveryone.Everystudentwillperformpeerevaluationsduringthepresentations,tobeturnedinthesameday.Yourevaluationswillhelpmeinassigningfinalscoresforpresentations.Additionally,youwillbeabletocontributepotentialexamquestionsthatwillappearinthelectureexams.Ifyouevaluatetoogenerously(e.g.,gradeof“A”regardlessofquality),youmayloseupto50%ofyourPeerEvaluationpoints.

InClassActivities(100points)Somedays,youwillspendthelabperiodstudyingspecimens;onotherdays,youwillbeworkingonformalassignmentsthathelpyoutounderstandorapplythecoursematerial.Youwillneedtobepresentandsubmitproperlycompletedassignmentstoearnthepointsforclassactivities.

FieldTrips(4x25=100points)ThepurposeofthefieldtripsistointroduceyoutothehabitatsandhabitsofCaliforniaamphibiansandreptiles.Byseekingtheseshyanimalsinthewild,Ihopethatyouwillgainanappreciationforboththeanimalsthemselvesandfortheworkthatherpetologistsdo.Finally,carefulobservationofliveanimalspresentsopportunitiesthatarelackinginthestudyofpreservedspecimens;Ihopethatyouwillmarvelatthecolors,textures,andbehaviorsoftheseimportantanimals.Youwillneedafieldnotebookdedicatedtothispurposeforthesemester.

A)SeeBlackboardfortheexpectationsforthefieldnotebook,documentingamphibiansandreptilesinthewild.Duenextclassday.B)ChaffeeZoo–YouwillhaveaspecialassignmenttocompleteontheZoofieldtrip.DueTuesday,May12.Exams(4x100and1x150=550points)Objectiveexamsholdstudentsaccountableforlearningcoursematerialbyasetdateandtimeandallowtheinstructortoevaluatetowhatextentyouhavelearnedandunderstoodthecoursematerial.

LabPracticalExams:Theseexamswillaskyoutoidentifythetaxaandstructuresthatyouhavestudiedinlab.(2practicals.)

LectureExams:Thesemixed-formatfreeresponseexamswillaskyoutodemonstrateyourunderstandingofthelecturematerialandwillalsoincludequestionsbasedonthespeciespresentationsgivenbyyourpeers.(2midtermsand1final.)

LifeandTimesofaHerpetologist(125points)Oneofthebestwaystolearnaboutafieldofstudyistoreadaboutthelifeandtimesofsomeonewhohasexperiencedthatcareer.

1)Readabook:Youwillselectandreadamemoir,autobiographyorbiographyofaherpetologist.FinishreadingbyMarch29.2)Summaryofthehighpoints:Youwillworkwithotherreadersofthesamebooktopresentashortsummaryofthelifeofyourchosenherpetologist.

CampusResourcesforStudentSuccess

OFFICEHOURS–Officehoursareforyou!Thesearetimesyourprofessorhasspeciallysetasidewhentheywon’tbedistractedbyanythingelse.Youcanaskquestionsaboutclass,yourcareerpathoranythingelseaboutcollegelife.Dropbyandsayhello!

CAMPUSCOUNSELINGSERVICES–Overwhelmedbythestressofjugglingclassesandyourhomelife?Ourcampusoffersexcellentcounselingservicestohelpsupportyou!NewlocationnearStudent

ServicesSSX1.1;Phone(209)667-3381;Webhttp://www.csustan.edu/Counseling/

STUDENTHEALTHCENTER–Youhavealreadypaidforaccesstohealthcareoncampus.Servicesinclude:birthcontrol,flushots,immunizations,pharmacy,check-ups,HIVtesting,TBtests,anddoctor’snotesforwhenyouaresick!Phone(209)667-3396;Webhttp://healthcenter.csustan.edu

LIBRARY–Eveninthetemporarybuildings,referencelibrariansenjoyhelpingyoutofindoutallkindsofthings!YoucangethelpinpersonattheReferenceDeskinLX25,orbyphoneorchat(scanleftsideoflibrarymainwebpage).Phone(209)667-3233;Webhttp://library.csustan.edu

BASICNEEDSPROJECT–StanStateiscommittedtoreducingthebarrierstosuccessfacedbyourstudents.Ifyouarestrugglingwithhousing,food,orhealthcare,checkoutwhatStancandotohelp.Wearehereforyou!https://www.csustan.edu/basic-needs

Specialcircumstances:Iunderstandthatunusualcircumstancescantemporarilyalteryouravailabilityforourclass.Ifyouknowaheadoftimethatyouwillhaveaconflictonanimportantday,pleasegetintouchwithmeassoonaspossible.Ifanunforeseenincidentcausesyoutomissanexamoryourpresentation,getintouchwithmeassoonasyourcircumstancesallow.Ifyoumissaregularclassday,pleasegetthenotesfromafriend,reviewthepostedlecturenotes,andcometomyofficehourswithanyquestionsyoumayhave.

Learningstylesandneeds:Asaninstructor,Ibelievethatpartofmyjobistointentionallyfacilitatethesuccessofstudentswithdifferentlearningstylesandneeds,andIdomybesttoincorporatemultiplewaysoflearningintomycoursesandassignments.Pleasemeetwithmeprivatelyassoonaspossibleifthereareparticularaccommodationsthatwillfosteryourindividualsuccessinthiscourse.

FORMALEXTRACREDITOPPORTUNITIES

Youcanattempttoearnupto30pointsofformalextracreditduringthesemester.Foranyoutsideprojects,youmustbewillingtoacceptliabilityforyourparticipation,astheUniversityandIcannotcontrolyouroutsideenvironment.Informalextracreditwillalsobeavailable(e.g.,MysteryHerp!)Herearetwoformalopportunities:

U.C.BerkeleyHerpGroup:AttendthisbiweeklymeetingofBayAreaherpetologistsandbrieflyreportonyourexperiencethenextdayinclass.ThegroupmeetsonMondayevenings,everyotherweek.Youcangetcredittwotimes.Value:15points(foronevisit).

AmphibiaWebEntry:Ifyouareinterestedinthisoption,pleaseletmeknow!MustbesubmittedtoU.C.BerkeleybyFriday,May8.MakeascientificcontributiontotheAmphibiaWebdatabase,workingwiththeAmphibiaWebcoordinatoratU.C.Berkeleytocompleteaspeciesaccount.Ifyouchoosetopursuethispublicationopportunity(whichisgreatonyourrésuméandisarealcontributiontothescientificcommunity),youwillneedtocommitearlyinthesemesterinordertohaveyourfinalcontributionacceptedbeforetheendofthesemester.Value:upto30points.