Texts:

Feldhamer, G., L. Drickamer, S. Vessey, and J. Merritt.  2004.  Mammalogy:  Adaption, Diversity, and Ecology, 2^nd Edition.  McGraw-Hill Publishing, New York.

Sealander, J. A., and G. A. Heidt.  1990.  Arkansas mammals.  University of Arkansas Press, Fayettville, Arkansas.

 Internet sites:  http://www.york.biosis.org/zrdocs/zoolinfo/grp_mamm.htm Mammalia
http://www.mammalsociety.org/ American Society of Mammalogists
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/  The Animal Diversity Web
http://web4.si.edu/mna/  North American Mammals (Smithsonian)
http://nmnhwww.si.edu/msw/  Mammal Species of the World

Justification/rationale:  This course fulfills an option in the Fisheries and Wildlife degree program as well as partially fulfilling a requirement of the professional certification program of the Wildlife Society.  This course is also cross-listed BIOL for use as a biology elective in the Biology degree program.  Other majors will find this course a challenging in-depth coverage of the ecology, taxonomy, and natural history of mammals.  The prerequisite is BIOL 1124, Principles of Zoology.

Lecture Objectives:  The lecture portion of FW/BIOL 3154 is designed to provide a general knowledge of mammalian biology.  Specific topics in lecture will examine the evolutionary and biogeographic history of mammals, the diversity of structures and functions exhibited by different orders and families of mammals, and attributes of mammalian behavior, ecology, population dynamics, reproduction, and physiology.  Emphasis will be placed on presentation of general patterns within a global context.  We will also examine the major orders of mammals throughout the world and discuss the ecology, conservation, and utilization of mammals.

Laboratory Objectives:  The laboratory portion of FW 3154 is designed to provide knowledge of the use of keys to identify mammalian species and to learn identification and natural history of Arkansas mammals.  Also, the application of the scientific method and the use of field research to address ecological problems concerning mammals will be addressed.

General Education Objectives:  This course is not a listed general education requirement.

Assessment Methods:  Grades will be computed based on 600 points, 450 of which are derived from lecture and 150 from laboratory exercises. Lecture points will be obtained as follows:

            1.  Quizzes (5) (covering reading material)         50 points
            2.  Current event reports (2) (see below)           30 points
            3.  Oral and written report (1) (see below)        50 points
            4.  Mid-semester exams (2)                              200 points
            5.  Comprehensive final exam                            120 points

Laboratory points will be obtained from quizzes (50 points) and a lab practical (100).  Grades will be determined as a straight percentage; 540-600 = A, 480-539 = B, 420-479 = C, 360-419 = D.

Class policies:
LAB            Class will be held in McEver 206.  This room houses the bird and mammal collection which may be treated with numerous hazardous chemicals, therefore; No food, drink, or tobacco products will be allowed in the lab.  The laboratory portion of this course requires outdoor activity which may occur in inclement weather and insect conditions.  It is the student’s responsibility to dress according to the prevailing weather and insect conditions. Laboratory quizzes and the laboratory practical will be fill-in-the-blank and multiple choice questions.  Knowledge of scientific names, correct scientific nomenclature, and spelling will count.

 LECTURE            See above references to food and beverages.  (1) Please turn off cell phone ringers while in class.  (2)Lecture tests will be a combination of multiple choice, matching, and short answer/essay.  (3) Although attendance is not a component of the final grade, makeup quizzes will not be given unless prior arrangements have been made or a legitimate excuse is produced.  Also there may be unannounced bonus pop quizzes throughout the semester to encourage attendance.  (4) It is expected that students will participate in an academic atmosphere (i.e. participate in class, be honest etc.).  (5) Students must not miss regularly scheduled exams without a justifiable and legitimate excuse (ie. Illness, traffic accident, university sanctioned trips etc.).  If you know you are going to miss an exam due to an illness or class trip contact me beforehand so that alternative arrangements can be made. Tests given at times other than normally scheduled may of alternate material or format.  (6) Work submitted after deadline will be penalized at the rate of 10% of the value of the exercise per day.  (7) Cheating or plagiarism on a quiz, exam, or management report will result in a score of zero for that assignment.  Repeat offenders will receive an F for the course. (Plagiarism = presenting work done by someone else, either in whole or in part, as if it were one’s own.  If you are still unsure follow this link:  http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/bpg/plagiarism.htm).  An electronic version of your work may be submitted to Turnitin.com, a service that checks for plagiarism.  Lastly, it is expected that students enjoy themselves and learn!

CURRENT EVENT REPORTS

            All students are required to give two oral current event reports during the semester on a mammal-related topic of their choosing.  Reports will be given on a first come first served basis with no more than two reports given per class period.  Reports should be short < 5 minutes and be from reliable sources.  Copies of the source material should also be submitted.  The range of acceptable topics is broad but excludes domesticated or laboratory mammals, and humans.

ORAL AND WRITTEN MAMMAL REPORT

Students will prepare an oral and written report on some aspect of the ecology, life history, behavior, conservation etc. of some mammal not native to the continental United States.   Oral reports will be given on Fridays starting mid-semester and during the last week of classes.  The oral reports should include audio/visual aids and be between 5 and 10 minutes in length.  The written report should reference at least 3 peer reviewed journal articles (no internet sources except those from online journals or Mammalian Species accounts).  The paper should be in report format with citations within the text and in the literature cited made in the style of the Journal of Mammalogy.  The report should be between 5 and 7 pages in length.  Please see me for discussions of topics and literature.  Example topic:  Social structure and foraging biology of banded mongooses (Mungos mungo) in southern Africa. 

 Students with disabilities:  Any student who may have physical or other disabilities should see me as soon as possible and we will make the necessary arrangements.

 FW/BIOL 3154--MAMMALOGY LECTURE SYLLABUS

 Week   Date                             Topic                                                               Book Chapter 
_________  ___________________________________________________ _________
1          Aug 18             Introduction:  What is Mammalogy?                                          1                                 
            Aug 20             Biogeography and the Evolution of Mammals                            4
2          Aug 23             Walking With Prehistoric Beasts                                  
            Aug 25             Walking With Prehistoric Beasts cont.              
            Aug 27             Integumentary, Support, and Movement                                    5         
3          Aug 30             Foods and Feeding                                                                   6                                
            Sept 1              Digestive Systems and Food Hoarding Strategies                       
            Sept 3              **Sensory Structures and Biological Rhythms¹**                      7         
4          Sept 6              Labor Day Holiday--No Class                     
            Sept 8              Environmental Adaptations                                                        8
            Sept 10            Reproductive Systems                                                              9
5          Sept 13            Reproductive Adaptations to a Seasonal Environment     
            Sept 15            Allometry of Reproduction and Life History Traits                     21
            Sept 17            Social Organization                                                                   22
6          Sept 20            LECTURE EXAM 1
            Sept 22            **Diversity of Arkansas mammals²**                                      
            Sept 24            Orders Monotremata and Marsupialia                                       10
7          Sept 27            Orders Insectivora, Macroscelidea, Scandentia, and Dermoptera          11       
            Sept 29            Order Chiroptera                                                                     12
            Oct 1               Order Primates                                                                         13
8          Oct 4              Orders Xenarthra, Pholidota, and Tubulidentata                          14
            Oct 6              Order Carnivora                                                                       15       
            Oct 8              Order Cetacea                                                                        16
 9          Oct 11             Orders Rodentia and Lagomorpha                                            17                   
            Oct 13             Order Rodentia Again!                                    
            Oct 15             Orders Hyracoidea, Proboscidea, and Sirenia                           18f
10        Oct 18             Orders Perissodactyla and Artiodactyla                         19
            Oct 20             Everyone loves deer    
            Oct 22             LECTURE EXAM 2                                     
11        Oct 25             Dispersal, Habitat Selection, and Migration                               23
            Oct 27             Populations and Life Histories                                       24
            Oct 29             Community Ecology                                                                  25                                                                   
12        Nov 1              Zoogeography                                                                          26
            Nov 3              Conservation Biology and Mammals Exotic mammals    29
            Nov 5              Open ³
13        Nov 8              Harvest and overharvest of mammals
            Nov 10            Restoration of endangered mammal populations
            Nov 12            Open ³
14        Nov 15            Control of mammalian pests                                                     
            Nov 17            Management of game mammals
            Nov 19            Open ³
15        Nov 22            Class reports due
            Nov 24            THANKSGIVING BREAK - NO CLASS
            Nov 26            “     “
16        Nov 29            Presentations of class reports
            Dec 1               Presentations of class reports
FINAL EXAM - DATE AND TIME TO BE ANNOUNCED
__________________________________________________________________
¹ An abstract from a source pertaining to your mammal report is due on this date.
² A literature cited page with all peer reviewed sources and conforming to American Society of Mammalogists style is due on this date.
³ NOTE:  Since some of our outdoor laboratory exercises require additional time, the time periods which you normally would attend lecture marked “open” may be rescheduled.  These special arrangements will be discussed on the first day of class and throughout the semester so that an equitable arrangement can be made for all students.

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