FW 4392 Spring Semester 2005, 4 credits

Lecture time: Tuesday and Thursday: 10:15 - 11:30 AM
Location: 415 Alderman Hall
Lab time: Friday: 12:50 - 2:45 PM
Lab location: 160 Ecology

Instructor: Tony Gamble
Office: 115 Ecology
Telephone: 612-624-7225
e-mail: gambl007@umn.edu

Office hours— By appointment

Introduction—This course that will explore the behavior, ecology, physiology, and morphology of reptiles and amphibians in a phylogenetic context. Amphibians and reptiles are common and important subjects in biological research. Frogs are dissected in high school biology classrooms; the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) and axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) are model organisms in developmental biology and physiology; and snake venom is used to manufacture life saving medicines. Amphibians and reptiles are also relatively easy to sample and can be locally abundant making them important subjects in ecological research. Finally, there are important conservation issues involving amphibians and reptiles. Many species are threatened or endangered and there is a worldwide decline of amphibians, which are considered key indicators for monitoring environmental health. In Minnesota awareness of environmental issues has been heightened by descriptions of malformed frogs in local ponds. The concepts taught in this course will be applicable to a wide range of topics including systematics, physiology, ecology, developmental biology, and conservation biology. The laboratory will serve as a practical guide to the anatomy and diversity of reptiles and amphibians. Students will be taught to identify the herp fauna of Minnesota using keys, identification guides, and vocalizations in the case of frogs and toads.

There will be one field trip during regularly scheduled lab times. In addition, students are required to go on at least one of several possible evening field trips during the semester.

Web page—a web page has been set up for this course using WebCT. I will post lecture material, exam keys, and supplementary material as the semester proceeds. Input from you on the content and usefulness of WebCT will be greatly appreciated.

Objectives—At the end of this course you should be able to:
· Describe, compare, and contrast the major groups of amphibians and reptiles, understand their basic biology, and understand their evolutionary relationships to each other and to other vertebrates.
· Identify specimens of every species of amphibian and reptile and the calls of every species of frog native to Minnesota.

Texts: There are 2 texts for this course:

Required:

Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles
Authors: George R. Zug, Laurie J. Vitt, & Janalee P. Caldwell
Publisher: Academic Press

Disabilities—It is university policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable accommodations to students who have disabilities that may affect their ability to participate in course activities or to meet course requirements. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact me to discuss their individual needs for accommodations.

Exams and Evaluation—Grades will be assigned based on performance in both laboratory and lecture. Lecture grades will be based on two midterm exams and a final exam. Each exam will cover all material up to the time of the exam, i.e. exams are comprehensive. Information from both Lab and Lecture should be incorporated into exam answers where appropriate. Material from assigned readings may also be included on exams even if this material is not discussed in lecture. The final exam will be scheduled at the end of the semester. The laboratory grade will be based on in-class assignments, two lab exams, and a class project. Semester credits, like quarter credits, reflect an expectation of both in-class and out-of-class time commitment: three hours per week per credit (including class time). Thus, a four credit course will require a weekly time commitment of twelve hours.

Grades

Course Activities and assigned grades
Midterm Exam I 15%
Midterm Exam II 15%
Final Exam 20%
Project 10%
Lab Exam I 15%
Lab Exam II 15%
Lab Exercises 10%

Total 100%

Grading and Attendance Policy—Attendance is required in both lecture and lab. You must attend the lab session you registered for. Lab assignments are due at the end of the lab. Late lab assignments will not be accepted.

Makeup exams will only be allowed under special circumstances. If there is a conflict with another university activity, you must notify me at least two weeks before the exam. If you are sick or have a family emergency, you must provide written documentation.

All assignments must be submitted by 5 PM on the stated date. Late work will be penalized 5% for each day it is late. The weekend counts as one day.

A—achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements.
B—achievement that is significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements.
C—achievement that meets the course requirements in every respect.
D—achievement that is worthy of credit even though it fails to meet fully the course requirements.
S—achievement that is satisfactory, which is equivalent to a C- or better (achievement required for an S is at the discretion of the instructor but may be no lower than a C-).
—
F (or N)—Represents failure (or no credit) and signifies that the work was either (1) completed but at a level of achievement that is not worthy of credit or (2) was not completed and there was no agreement between the instructor and the student that the student would be awarded an I (see also I).

Academic dishonesty: academic dishonesty in any portion of the academic work for a course shall be grounds for awarding a grade of F or N for the entire course.

I—(Incomplete) Assigned at the discretion of the instructor when, due to extraordinary circumstances, e.g., hospitalization, a student is prevented from completing the work of the course on time. Requires a written agreement between instructor and student. Incomplete coursework is a major inconvenience for students and instructors. I expect you to do everything in your power to avoid this situation. Legitimate excuses include verified illnesses and family emergencies. No incompletes will be given unless you have a prior written agreement with me.

Grade Disputes—If you wish to dispute the grade assigned to a paper or a question on an exam, you must do so IN WRITING within 24 hours after the exam or paper has been returned. You must include a specific rationale for why your answer is correct, or why the paper deserves a higher grade. I reserve the right to re-grade the entire exam if an exam grade is disputed.

University of Minnesota Policy on Scholastic Misconduct—Scholastic misconduct is broadly defined as "any act that violates the rights of another student in academic work or that involves misrepresentation of your own work." Scholastic dishonesty includes, (but is not necessarily limited to): cheating on assignments or examinations; plagiarizing, which means misrepresenting as you own work any part of work done by another; submitting the same paper, or substantially similar papers, to meet the requirements of more than one course without the approval and consent of all instructors concerned; depriving another student of necessary course materials; or interfering with another student's work.

FW4392 Spring 2005 Lecture Schedule and Reading Assignments (subject to change)