Teaching
Vertebrate Biology - BIOL 72
4 credits lecture + lab, a valid elective for biology majors
Pre-requisites BIOL 51 and 61 or consent of the instructor.
Graduate students can also take it with additional readings and separate exam questions.
We will study fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals - in theory and in practice - through classes, labs, field trips and a student research project You will learn throughout the course how discoveries are made in vertebrate anatomy, physiology, ecology and behavior produce advances in medicine, technology and conservation. You will also become familiar with the most common local species.
For each of the five classes of vertebrates, we will examine the main taxonomic groups and their general organization with respect to each of the subjects mentioned above (anatomy, physiology, etc). We will also examine examples of species with extreme adaptations that reveal new principles and inspire applications.
Laboratory work will involve identifying species, dissecting preserved and fresh (previously frozen) tissues to examine structures of interest. Field trips will provide contact with wild animals and their habitat and allow the execution of short projects involving common field methods. The number and destination of the field trips is currently being determined.
Each student will also develop a supervised project along the course, dealing with any practically feasible aspect of vertebrate biology. Such projects can be developed on campus, in parks or in the labs that will maintain fishes and frogs in the department starting this summer.
The course will have an emphasis on tetrapods, as opposed to fishes, and on celular and organismal scale, as opposed to molecular.