Note:

Note:

Disabilities:

Warning!

Registration for both lecture (BIO 422) and lab (BIO 422L) is required.

Grading of student papers will reflect standard English usage.  The MLA bibliographic style is generally used at Medaille College.  However, the CBE method of documentation is used in this course.

Any student with a disability who believes he/she needs accommodations in order to complete this course should contact the Office of Disability Services as soon as possible.  The staff in the Office of Disability Services will determine what accommodations are appropriate and reasonable under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The Office of Disability Services is located in the Main Building, Room M-021, and can be reached by phone at (716) 884-3411 ext. 280.

Some labs will be spent in the field under less than optimal weather and walking conditions.  Field trips may require time outside of the scheduled lecture and lab periods.

1. Catalog Description of the Course:
   
   This course is an exploration of the taxonomy and biological characteristics of reptiles and amphibians, including their anatomy and physiology, life history, ecology and distribution.  The relationship of herpetofauna to man will be examined.  The laboratory will include identification of native and exotic species, surface and internal anatomy, and field trips to examine specimens in their native and/or captive environments.  Special emphasis is placed on the identification and life history of native New York fauna. 
   
   
2. Goals:
   1. To apply basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology and ecology to the study of reptiles and amphibians.
   2. To examine the origin, evolution and diversity of the Classes Amphibia and Reptilia.
   3. To discuss the unique characteristics of reptiles and amphibians, their structure and function, general and adaptive life history strategies, ecological factors and distribution within various habitats.
   4. To develop an awareness of the impact of man on herpetofauna and their habitats, and to explore the role man plays in the conservation, management and utilization of reptiles and amphibians.
   5. To explore laboratory and field-oriented techniques for the study of reptiles and amphibians, including statistical analysis of research data.
   6. To utilize electronic media for the collection and dissemination of data.

    

3. Objectives:  Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to-
   1. Identify the characteristics of the Classes Amphibia and Reptilia, including their evolutionary relationships to other classes within the Kingdom Animalia.
   2. Describe the basic anatomic and physiologic attributes of the typical reptile and amphibian.
   3. Recognize the living orders and families of herpetofauna and identify by common name, scientific names, field characteristics and ecological relationships.
   4. Recognize the common examples of reptiles and amphibians native to western New York and identify by common name, scientific names, field characteristics and ecological relationships.
   5. Analyze the different types of ecosystems inhabited by herpetofauna and adaptations to the environmental characteristics developed by reptiles and amphibians to optimize utilization of each habitat.
   6. Describe behavioral mechanisms of the different families of the Classes Amphibia and Reptilia and their relationship of these behavioral patterns to the survival of the individual animal and the Class.
   7. Develop an awareness of the threats to reptiles and amphibians and conservation methods that are being utilized to maintain endangered populations.
   8. Describe how demographic and ecological concepts apply to the management of herpetofauna populations.
   9. Develop the skills required to maintain specimens of herpetofauna in a captive setting, including appropriate nutrition and housing.
   10. Determine common medical problems of the Classes Amphibia and Reptilia, their etiology, clinical signs, methods of diagnosis and treatment techniques.
   11. Evaluate and utilize methods to study herpetofauna in the natural environment, including censusing, telemetry, habitat evaluation and collection of field data.
   12. Design, develop and execute a scientific study to generate and communicate information about representative reptiles and amphibians, utilizing statistical analysis and electronic media.
       
       
4. Outline of Course Content:
   
   1. Lecture-
      1. Introduction
         • Fundamental concepts of herpetology
         • Overview of the Classes Amphibia and Reptilia
      2. Origin and Evolution of Reptiles and Amphibians
      3. Taxonomy
         • Systematics
         • Cladistics
      4. Anatomy and Physiology
         • Skeleton
         • Integument
         • Feeding Mechanisms
         • Locomotion
         • Respiration
         • Osmoregulation
         • Reproduction
         • Senses, including hearing, sound production and olfaction
      5. Life History
         • General
         • Adaptive strategies
         • Western New York natives
      6. Ecology
         • Endothermy vs. ectothermy
         • Populations
      7. Zoogeography
         • Dispersal
         • Zoogeographic realms
      8. Ethology
         • Nonsocial
         • Communication
         • Social
         • Parental
         • Activity rhythms
      9. Herps and Man
         • Extinction
         • Management
         • Captivity
         • Diseases
         • Exploitation
         • Poisonous and venomous herps
           
           
   2. Laboratory
      1. Identification
         • Preserved and field specimens
         • Use of dichotomous keys
         • Vocalizations
      2. Internal and external anatomy
      3. Habitat evaluation
         • Identification of habitat types
         • Analysis of utilization
      4. Research techniques
         • Sampling methods
         • Census techniques
         • Sexing and aging
         • Telemetry and other remote sensing
         • Statistical analysis and mathematical models
      5. Husbandry of captive herpetofauna
         • Basic care and maintenance requirements
         • Laboratory standards
         • Zoological parks
         • Pet trade

    

5. Texts:
   1. Required-
      Zug GR, Vitt LJ and Caldwell JP.  2001. Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles, 2nd edition.  Orlando FL:  Academic Press. 630 p.
   2. Recommended-
      Any field guide (example:  Conant R and Collins JT.  1991.  A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians- Eastern North America, 3rd ed.  Boston:  Houghton-Mifflin).
   3. Binoculars and high waterproof boots will be helpful during field trips
   4. Reference Texts-
      1. Ballinger RE and JD Lynch.  1983.  How to Know the Amphibians and Reptiles.  Dubuque IO:  William C Brown.
      2. Duellman WE and L Treub.  1986.  Biology of the Amphibians.  Baltimore:  Johns Hopkins University Press.
      3. Elliot L.  1992.  The Calls of the Frogs and Toads- Eastern and Central North America.  Ithaca:  Nature Sound Studio.
      4. Fenner JW.  1979.  A Review of Marking Techniques for Amphibians and Reptiles.  Oxford OH:  Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.
      5. Olson DH et al.  1997.  Sampling Amphibians in Lentic Habitats.  Olympia WA:  Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology.
      6. Powell R et al.  1998.  A Key to Amphibians and Reptiles of the Continental United States.  Lawrence KS:  University Press of Kansas.
      7. Pugh FH et al.  1998.  Herpetology.  Upper Saddle River NJ:  Prentice-Hall.
      8. Siegel RA and Collins JT.  1993.  Snakes- Ecology and Behavior.  NY:  McGraw-Hill.
      9. Stebbins RC and Cohen NW.  1995.  A Natural History of Amphibians.  Princeton NJ:  Princeton University Press.
      10. Zug GR.  1991.  Age Determination in Turtles.  Oxford OH:  Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.
   5. Reference Websites:
      1. Altig R et al.  Tadpoles of the US and Canada-  A Tutorial and Key.  Patuxent Wildlife Research Center.  Available at: http://www.pwrc.nbs.gov/tadpole/ 
      2. American Museum of Natural History.  Department of Herpetology.  Available at  http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/index.html 
      3. Amphibia Web.  University of California, Berkeley.  Available at http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/aw/index.html 
      4. Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan.  Available at:  http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/index.html 
      5. Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians.  Available at http://www.arav.org/ 
      6. Center for North American Herpetology (CNAH).  Available at:  http://www.naherpetology.org/ 
      7. Contemporary Herpetology- An On-Line Journal.  Available at http://falcon.cc.ku.edu/%7Ecnaar/CH/ 
      8. FrogWeb.  USGS.  Available at http://www.frogweb.gov/ 
      9. Guidelines for the Use of Live Amphibians and Reptiles in Field Research.  American Society of Icthyologists and Herpetologists et al.  Available at: http://199.245.200.110/pubs/herpcoll.html 
      10. IUCN Red List of Endangered Species (CITES).  Available at http://www.unep-wcmc.org/index.html?http://www.unep-
          wcmc.org/CITES/redirect.htm~main 
      11. Matson TO.  An Introduction to the Natural History of Frogs and Toads of Ohio.  Available at http://www.cmnh.org/collections/vertzoo/frogs/catesbeiana.html.  Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
      12. New York State Herpetology Atlas Project.  Department of Environmental Conservation.  Available at:  http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/herp/ 
      13. North American Amphibian Monitoring Program.  USGS.  Available at http://www.mp2-pwrc.usgs.gov/naamp/ 
      14. North American Reporting Center for Deformed Amphibians.  US Geological Service.  Available at http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/narcam/ 
      15. Pennsylvania Herpetological Atlas Project.  Available at http://www.nsm.iup.edu/pha/
          
          
6. Method of Evaluating Students:
   
   The grading of all quizzes, exams, and other student projects will reflect standard English usage.  The MLA bibliographic style is generally used at Medaille College;  HOWEVER!  the CBE style is used in this course.
   
   
   1. Lecture examinations
      • There will be 3 in-class exams each worth 20% of your grade
      • Each exam will be cumulative and will consist primarily of essay questions
      • Material for these exams will come from lectures, readings and labs
      • Exams may be take-home or have take-home portions
   2. Internet Project-
      • Project will be worth 20% of your course grade
      • An on-line field-guide will be created for a group of herps (ex. salamanders) native to western NY
      • Students will be responsible for creating a dichotomous key, finding information about specific animals and obtaining permission to use photographs
   3. Laboratory-
      • The laboratory is worth 20% of your course grade
      • Components will include quizzes and field documents
      • A research project will be designed and carried out
   4. Cheating-
      • Talking, looking at classmates' papers or viewing unauthorized materials after an exam has begun is CHEATING.  Plagiarism (unattributed use of another's writing, thoughts or artwork) is also cheating.
      • Cheating will be penalized according to college protocol.
   5. Make-Up Policy-
      • All make-ups are at my discretion and will be allowed only for an excused absence.
      • If you are absent for an exam or lab, you must contact me within three days of returning to school.
      • At that time, arrangement will be made for the make-up
      • No make-ups will be given prior to the scheduled time
      • No more than one make-up is allowed

   THIS COURSE DISCLOSURE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON EXTRA-ORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.  YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED OF ANY CHANGES!