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Herpetology Syllabus Spring 2018 1-2-18

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Herpetology Syllabus Spring 2018 1-2-18 Dr. Robert A. Thomas, Loyola University New Orleans, 12-29-17 HERPETOLOGY BIOL A345 Sec 001 (lecture, MW 4:55-6:10pm, C/M 304) and BIOL A346 Sec 001 (lab, F 1:30-4:20pm, MO 558). Spring 2018 PROFESSOR: Dr. Robert A. Thomas C/M R332E Office: 504.865.2107 Home: 504.833.7727 Cell: 504.909.6568 e-mail: [email protected] Home page: http://www.loyno.edu/lucec Office Hours: TR 9:30 am - 10:30 am; MW 1:30 - 2:30 pm; other times by appointment. Loyola University Mission Statement Loyola University New Orleans, a Jesuit and Catholic institution of higher education, welcomes students of diverse backgrounds and prepares them to lead meaningful lives with and for others; to pursue truth, wisdom, and virtue; and to work for a more just world. Inspired by Ignatius of Loyola’s vision of finding God in all things, the university is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, while also offering opportunities for professional studies in undergraduate and selected graduate programs. Through teaching, research, creative activities, and service, the faculty, in cooperation with the staff, strives to educate the whole student and to benefit the larger community. Approved by Loyola University New Orleans Board of Trustees - March 5, 2004 SYLLABUS COURSE DESCRIPTION: Introduction to the study of morphology, adaptation, classification, distribution, and ecology of amphibians and reptiles. Field work and identification of North American groups and field studies of local fauna. Two hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory. COURSE GOALS: See documents on Blackboard. EXPECTED STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES • To share knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of Herpetology; • To be able to use the scientific literature; • To proficiently view and understand basic habitats and their relationships, and to use field observation techniques; • To logically apply techniques of scientific evaluation and the scientific method when addressing challenges associated with natural and human-caused environmental changes; • To be able to communicate science effectively in oral and written form; • To be an advocate for scientifically-based decisions in biology-related societal issues. REQUIRED TEXTS: • Thomas, Robert A. Current. Herpetology class notes. On Blackboard. • Powell, Robert et al. 2012. A key to amphibians & reptiles of the continental United 1 Dr. Robert A. Thomas, Loyola University New Orleans, 12-29-17 States and Canada. 2nd edition. Univ. Kansas Press. ISBN 978-0-7006-1833-0. $20. • Powell, Robert, Conant, Roger and Joseph T. Collins. 2016. Peterson field guide to reptiles and amphibians of eastern and central North America. Houghton-Miflin. ISBN 978-0-544-12997-9. $21. RECOMMENDED TEXT (NOT REQUIRED): • Pough, F. Harvey, R. M. Andrews, M. L. Crump, A. H. Savitzky, K. D. Wells, and M. C. Brandley. 2016. Herpetology. 4th edition. Sinauer Associates, Inc, Sunderland, MA. ISBN 978-1-60535-233-6. About $118. • Vitt, Lurie J. and Janalee P. Caldwell. 2014. Herpetology. An introductory biology of amphibians and reptiles. 4th edition. Academic Press, New York. ISBN 978-0-12- 386919-7. About $90. Various additional readings may be made available on blackboard, reserve at the library, or in my office. REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: • Seat belts and desk handles • Heavy duty mind-expanders • Critical thinking rally caps CLASS COMMUNICATION (REQUIRED): It is your responsibility to keep abreast of communiqués issued during the semester regarding the class. Check often (daily) or you will definitely miss important information. Not getting the messages is not a valid excuse – you snooze, you lose. You should already be signed on the blackboard site (tell me this week if it does not appear when you open your blackboard). • CLASS LISTSERV: You are required to subscribe to the class listserv. All announcements and changes as the course progresses may be shared via this listserv. To subscribe, simply send an email to [email protected]. In the body of the email, write subscribe herp, and follow with your email address you want to use. You should almost immediately receive an email telling you that you have been successfully subscribed. Note: You will receive emails from me on this list only at the address you subscribe from. You may subscribe from more than one email if you wish. Don’t risk losing points by failing to do this immediately. Signing up for the class listserv must be done by the end of the second week of classes, otherwise you are docked 10 points. "I wish I had signed up as instructed. I missed so much and felt I was always playing 2 Dr. Robert A. Thomas, Loyola University New Orleans, 12-29-17 catch up. Now I get it. I see why it is required." Anonymous, Spring 2013 • BLACKBOARD: Many elements of this course will be available to you on the class Blackboard site (http://loyno.blackboard.com). You may find announcements, corrections/adjustments to the syllabus (including due dates), clarifications, references, etc. You are well advised to check it often – and always make note of announcements. Most of you have used Blackboard and you access it the same way as usual. If you have problems, go to the Monroe Library Reference Desk. SUPPLIES: Supplies are minimal, but required. • Each student must have a tool for turning logs and materials for maintaining herps collected in the field (cloth bags, zip lock bags). • It is required that each student has either a current Louisiana basic fishing license (cost - $11 - freshwater only) or a "Wild Louisiana Stamp" (Code 73, cost - $5). These may be obtained at any sporting goods store (Puglia’s, 1925 Veterans Blvd., Metairie), Walmart, K Mart, etc. Get it immediately! COURSE REQUIREMENTS: FINAL COURSE REFLECTION – 50 points – Due at Final, May 4th To be discussed in class. This must be taken seriously and thoroughly. FIELD TRIPS: Field trips are required and a component of the course - 15 pts deducted for each missed - none excused. Additionally, part of the class participation 50 pts will apply to your enthusiasm during field trips. • Night: one in either January or February (TBA; this trip is weather dependent and will last from lab time to mid-night or later) (winter frogs) April 25th (spring and summer frogs). • Day: Jan 13 (7:00 am-11:30 am) - snakes and misc herps - Norco Jan 28 (7:00 am-12:00 pm) – Marbled salamanders & more - Madisonville Mar 11 (7:00 am – 5:00 pm) - Washington & St. Tammany parishes Apr 14 (1:00 pm – 10:00 pm) – Stennis, Mississippi FIELD NOTES AND INDIVIDUAL FIELD TRIPS: 100 points Class field trip journal sheets due the lab after the field trips (no exceptions); individual trip field notes due April 27th in lab. For each collecting stop on each field trip, you must fill out one of the Field Data Sheets provided (you may use your own field journal system, but during the course you are required to use the Field Data Sheets, too). All blanks must be filled with succinct data. Fill in the data at the time of each stop - don't rely on 3 Dr. Robert A. Thomas, Loyola University New Orleans, 12-17-15 memory (which fades rapidly)! The Field Trips folder on blackboard has guidelines on journaling, how to take field notes, and examples of filled out data sheets. Be sure to read it before the first field trip. We will discuss options on the first field trip and/or in lab. Each student is required to go on four field trips without the professor, so field notes must be submitted covering all class field trips plus your four individual trips (these may be made with fellow classmates). Each individual trip must be to a new location and be for a minimum of 2 hours in duration. Field notes are extremely important in field biology; take them seriously, and with impeccable ethics. PROJECT: • ANOLE OBSERVATIONS - 25 points - due April 20th Write a detail description of the activities of an anole during a one hour observation time. Pick out an obviously territorial male. Note such things as confrontations, number of dewlap extensions, hiding behavior, etc. Do not watch a sleeping lizard! EXAMS & POINT DISTRIBUTIONS: The following exam schedule will be followed: LECTURE: Feb 21 100 pts (Exam I) Mar 21 100 pts (Exam II) May 4 100 pts (Exam III) 50 pts (Final course reflection) LAB: Mar 2 100 pts (practical) April 20th 25 pts (anole observation) Apr 27 100 pts (practical) Apr 27 50 pts (frog calls) Apr 27 100 pts (field notes) Apr 27 50 pts (participation) POTENTIAL BONUS POINTS: There are provisions for bonus points for exceptional performance in the field (see Blackboard under Field Trips). These points are based on the performance of this class vs. former classes, subgroups within this class against one another, each of you against the professor, and finding species listed on the extra point list. You can also get bonus points on the frog call test by knowing them very well. You may choose to which course you want bonus points assigned. If you do not make a choice, they will all go toward BIOL A346. 4 Dr. Robert A. Thomas, Loyola University New Orleans, 12-17-15 FINAL GRADE: The final grade will be based on the following point distribution: A 92.6-100% A- 90-92.5% B+ 87.5-89.9% B 82.6-87.4% B- 80-82.5% C+ 77.5-79.9% C 72.6-77.4% C- 70-72.5% D+ 67.5-69.9% D 65-67.4% F Below 65% HELP ALONG THE WAY: A student needing special accommodations should contact Richelle Voelker, Director of Disability Services at 865-2990 (Academic Resource Center, Room 112, Marquette Hall).
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