Herpetology
 
BIOL 523
Spring 2001
 

last modified: 16 April, 2001

Professor: Dr. Tod Reeder, LS 264, 594-7826, treeder@sunstroke.sdsu.edu

Office Hours: 10-11 AM Mondays & 9-10 AM Wednesdays; other times by appointment.

Lectures and Laboratory: 8-11:40 AM Tuesdays & Thursdays; Lecture & Lab in LS 269. The lab will be open on Fridays (8 AM - 5 PM).

Purpose of the course: This course will provide a broad survey on the biology of amphibians and reptiles. The lectures will cover areas regarding their evolution, ecology, life history, and physiology. The labs will concentrate on amphibian and reptile morphology, diversity, and systematics. In lab, the scope will be worldwide, but emphasis will be placed on U.S. species. Numerous field trips are planned, which will allow students to observe and study living amphibians and reptiles in their natural environment.

Grading Policy: Grades will be determined based upon the total points earned on the course examinations and quizzes. There is no provision for doing extra or outside work to improve your grade. Two lecture exams (150 points each), four lab exams (75 points each), and at least seven quizzes (10 points each; keep top five) will be given. Quizzes will be unannounced and given during lab period (anytime between 9:00-11:15). Points will also be earned based by group participation and effort (maximum of 50 points; total amount based on peer evaluation). Total points possible for class is 700 points.

A = 90.0% to 100%

B = 80.0% to 89.9%

C = 70.0% to 79.9%

D = 60.0% to 69.9%

F < 60.0%

If you have to miss a lecture exam for whatever reason, you are required to make arrangements with me before the scheduled exam. Because of the time involved in setting up lab exams, they can only be made-up in dire circumstances. If I agree to allow a make up lab exam, it will be a comprehensive exam to be given at the end of the semester during finals week.

Texts: (1) Herpetology (2nd Ed.), 2001, F. Harvey Pough et al. This text is required. (2) A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, 1985, Robert Stebbins. This book is required. (3) A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians: Eastern and Central North America, 1998, Roger Conant and Joseph T. Collins. (4) A Key to Amphibians and Reptiles of the Continental United States and Canada, 1998, Robert Powell et al. The last two books are optional, but strongly recommended.

Field Trips: There will be four Saturday field trips and two weekend-long field trips scheduled. These trips are an important part of the course. Many field techniques will be demonstrated and amphibians and reptiles will be observed, captured, and identified in the field. Everyone is required to attend at least two of the Saturday trips and one of weekend-long trips. The dates for all trips are set (see lecture/lab schedule), so please arrange your schedule now. If you are unable to attend this minimum number of trips, you will receive a 10% overall point reduction (=70 points). If you have a health condition that prevents or restricts you from participating on field trips, please advise me in advance. A twenty page, single-spaced term paper (on a subject to be selected in consultation with me) will be substituted for the field trip experiences and notebook.

Group Activities: All students will be assigned to groups (~4 individuals/group) at the beginning of the semester. New groups will be assigned at approximately mid-semester. The total points you earn for group participation will be based on peer evaluation (details will be presented later).

Paper discussions.-- As a group, you will address specific questions (given to you by me) pertaining to papers that we will discuss during selected lab periods. All questions must be answered and handed in (type written) at the beginning of the paper discussion. The groups must be prepared to discuss the selected papers (e.g., provide their answers, opinions, knowledge of tables and figures). Questions based on papers discussed may be included on lecture exams.
"Ask the Experts".-- Groups will also be assigned groups of taxa for which they will be expected to become the "Experts" on their natural history and identification. For selected lab periods, one or two groups will provide a short background (10-15 min) on the natural history of their assigned taxa. You may also provide information that may be useful on differentiating species/taxa within your assigned group. Following your "informal" presentation, 5-10 minutes will be allowed for other students (and occasionally myself) to ask questions. Do not be surprised if questions pertaining to some of these tidbits of knowledge show up on lab exams.

 

Lecture and Laboratory Schedule

 

Date

 

Topics

 

Read

30 Jan

Lecture: Introduction to Herpetology; Amphibians and reptiles in vertebrate evolution.

Lab: Amphibian and anuran phylogeny; anuran morphology

Ch. 2

1 Feb

Lecture: Amphibian diversity.

Lab: Anuran diversity

Ch. 3

6 Feb

Lecture: Reptile diversity.

Lab: Anuran diversity

Ch. 4

8 Feb

Lecture: Water gain/loss.

Lab: Anuran diversity; frog calls.

Ch. 5

pp. 159-169

13 Feb

Lecture: Heat gain/loss & thermoregulation.

Lab: Anuran diversity. "Ask the Experts!"

Ch. 5

pp. 171-182

15 Feb

Lecture: Thermal ecology of amphibians and reptiles.

Lab: Anuran diversity; paper discussion 1; "Ask the Experts!"

Ch. 5

pp. 182-195

20 Feb

Lecture: Sites of gas exchange.

Lab: Caecilian phylogeny, morphology, and diversity.

Ch. 6

pp. 196-204

22 Feb

Lab Exam 1 (Anurans and Caecilians)

27 Feb

Lecture: Sexual/asexual reproduction; gametes and fertilization.

Lab: Salamander phylogeny; salamander morphology.

Ch. 7

pp. 228-234

1 Mar

Lecture: Sex determination; reproductive modes.

Lab: Salamander diversity; paper discussion 2.

Ch. 7

pp. 234-245

6 Mar

Lecture: Viviparity and parental care.

Lab: Salamander diversity. "Ask the Experts!"

Ch. 7

pp. 248-255

8 Mar

Lecture: Suction/suspension feeding.

Lab: Reptile phylogeny; turtle phylogeny and morphology.

Ch. 9

pp. 292-300

12-16 Mar

Spring Recess

20 Mar

Lecture: Terrestrial feeding mechanisms.

Lab: Turtle diversity. "Ask the Experts!"

Ch. 9

pp. 301-313

22 Mar

Lecture Exam 1

Lab: Turtle diversity. "Ask the Experts!"

24 Mar

Saturday Field Trip 1: Palomar Mt. area

27 Mar

Lecture: Cranal kinesis, envenomation

Lab: Crocodilian phylogeny, morphology, and diversity; paper discussion 3

Ch. 9

pp. 314-330

29Mar

Lab Exam 2 (Salamanders, Turtles, and Crocs)

31 Mar

Saturday Field Trip 2

3 Apr

Lecture: Envenomation, cont.; pit organs; herbivory.

Lab: Squamate phylogeny; snake phylogeny and morphology. "Ask the Experts!"

Ch. 9

pp. 325-332

5 Apr

Lecture: Mating systems of amphibians and reptiles.

Lab: Snake diversity.

Ch. 12

pp. 398-413

6-8 Apr

Weekend Field Trip 1: SDSU's Santa Margarita Ecological Preserve (near Temecula, CA)

10 Apr

Lecture: Variables affecting male reproductive success; sexual dimorphism.

Lab: Snake diversity; paper discussion 4. "Ask the Experts!"

Ch. 12

pp. 413-429

12 Apr

Lecture: Foods and feeding; foraging strategies.

Lab: Snake diversity. "Ask the Experts!"

Ch. 13

pp. 431-445

17 Apr

Lecture: Species diversity gradients; assemblage structure and composition.

Lab: Snake diversity. "Ask the Experts!"

Ch. 14

pp. 465-475

19 Apr

Lecture: TBA

Lab: "Lizard" phylogeny; "lizard" morphology.

24 Apr

Lab Exam 3 (Snakes)

26 Apr

Guest Lecture: Baja herp diversity: Origin and evolution (Dr. Brad Hollingsworth, Curator of Herpetology, SDMNH)

Lab: "Lizard" diversity; paper discussion 5

28 Apr

Saturday Field Trip 3

1 May

Guest Lecture: Natural history of Baja herps (Dr. Brad Hollingsworth, Curator of Herpetology, SDMNH)

Lab: "Lizard" diversity. "Ask the Experts!"

3 May

Guest Lecture: Drifting continents and modern herpetofaunas (Dr. Jay Savage, Emeritus Professor of U. Miami and Adjunct Professor of SDSU)

Lab: "Lizard" diversity. "Ask the Experts!"

4-6 May

Weekend Field Trip 2: Desert (Palm Canyon in Kofa Mt. NWR, Arizona)

8 May

Lecture: TBA

Lab: "Lizard" diversity. "Ask the Experts!"

10 May

Guest Lecture: Amphibian and reptile conservation in southern CA (Dr. Robert Fisher, USGS)

Lab: "Lizard" diversity; paper discussion 6. "Ask the Experts!"

Ch. 15

12 May

Saturday Field Trip 4: Desert (Ocotillo Area)

15 May

Lecture: Evolution of limb reduction in squamates.

Lab: "Lizard" diversity. "Ask the Experts!"

17 May

Class Field Trip: San Diego Zoo

22 May

Lecture Final (=Lecture Exam 2) @ 10:30-12:30 AM in LS 269

24 May

Lab Final (=Lab Exam 4) @ 10:30-12:30 AM in LS 269