I.  Title:  Mammalogy

II.  Catalog Description:  A study of the classification and biology of mammals.  Identification and collection of mammals, particularly those of the central United States, will be emphasized in laboratory.  Two lectures and four hours of laboratory per week.  Some weekend and one-day field trips required.

III.  Purpose:  To gain an understanding of the biology of mammals, including their evolution, taxonomy, physiology, behavior, and ecology.

IV.  Course Objectives:

Students shall

•  learn basic concepts of mammalian evolution, taxonomy, physiology, behavior, and ecology,
•  learn mammalian identification techniques and methods of studying mammals,
•  learn the natural history of Kentucky mammals,
•  understand, critically evaluate, and conduct research in mammalogy,
•  understand the role that mammals play in local and global ecology,
•  become familiar with new developments in the study of mammalogy, and
  
•  work collaboratively.

VI.  Instructional Activities:  Two lecture sessions will be conducted each week.  Each lecture topic complements information presented in thecourse texts (see schedule below).  A major portion of the course is laboratory and field work.  You will be given written and/or oral instructions for each activity.  A majority of the laboratory work will involve study and identification of museum specimens.  Field work will focus on techniques for collecting and studying live mammals.  You are responsible for all assigned readings from the texts. You are also responsible for learning the assigned laboratory information and techniques.  Lastly, you are responsible for maintaining a field notebook and journal.  Attendance and participation in field activities is required. NOTE: Cell phones are prohibited during class sessions.

Research Projects:  Each student is required to design, conduct, and present an original research project, in conjunction with a student partner.  The research project is to focus on a scientific question of your choosing that relates directly to the study of mammals.  The project must incorporate use of technology in the field or laboratory.

The first requirement for your project is submission of a written proposal of your research (see schedule below for due date).  The following sections must be included in your proposal:  Introduction (background information based on primary literature, justification of your research, and an explicit statement of your research question), Hypotheses (if appropriate), Methods including statistical analyses to be conducted, Significance of Research, and Literature Cited.  You must use at least five primary references that relate closely to your proposed research.  Follow the format in the Journal of Mammalogy for the Literature Cited section. A reader should be able to replicate your research based on the methods which you present in your proposal.

The second requirement for your research project is that you and your partner conduct the research, with modifications as needed (and approved by your professor), and that you make an oral presentation of your research.  The presentation has a time limit of 12 minutes followed by 3 minutes for questions.  Both members of your group must participate in the presentation.  You must also provide the professor and class members with a written copy of an abstract of your research (150-word limit;  see J. of Mammalogy for examples) prior to your presentation.  You also need to submit a photo of your research team, via e-mail, to your professor.  Your presentation will be evaluated in the following areas:  abstract, style, content, visual aids, and ability to answer questions.  Abstracts from previous students are posted on the course web site.  Your "Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity" text explains how to design and conduct many types of studies of mammals.

Graduate Students:  Students taking the course for graduate credit are expected to conduct a more in-depth research project compared with that of the undergraduate students.  Graduate students must also 1) review a research proposal (see schedule) and 2) write a review of a manuscript that has been submitted for publication.  Please see the professor for instructions on each of these requirements.

Examples of Research Projects (adapted from  J. Thomas):

• Special Collection, with accompanying journal and catalog:
  Examples:  plaster casts of mammal tracks, photographic collection of mammal signs (burrows, nests, runways), skull collection, whole animal specimens, cassette recordings of mammals sounds, slides of mammals in art or sculpture.
• Video Documentary:
  Video presentation on some aspect of mammalogy.  For example, evolutionary history of mammals, lodge building by beaver, swimming behavior and hydrodynamics of muskrat or otters, or parental care of prairie voles.
• Research:
  • Develop a question and hypothesis and design a scientific study to answer that question.  Make an oral presentation of your research using Power Point or other presentation software.
    • e.g., Do gray squirrels prefer a certain type of tree for building nests?  Design a study to census squirrel nests and types of trees.
    • What type of vegetation do muskrats use to build lodges?  Design a study to document construction of lodges.
    • What species of mammals use railroad track areas?  Conduct a survey for mammal signs along railroad tracks.
    • How does protein and energy content of baits affect trapping success?  Make different types of bait and conduct trapping sessions to determine the attractiveness of different baits.
    • Is there a pattern for mole runways?  Map mole runways in a study area and characterize the soils.
    • How do the results of tracking tubes compare with those of live traps to census small mammals?  Design a study to compare the two techniques.
    • What species are involved with road (or railroad) kills?  Conduct a survey of road kill mammals.
    • What are the relationships between life history variables, such as body size and conservation status?  Compile and analyze data on the relevant variables.
• Mammalian Species Account:
Prepare a Species Account in the format of the Animal Diversity Web.  Species Accounts must be for species that you and I "sign out" from the Animal Diversity Web, preferably for those that already have images or sounds.  Depending on the quality of the Account, it may be published on the Animal Diversity Web.  You will need to do library research, read other Accounts, learn the terminology, think about the taxonomic systems, etc. while doing your Account.

VIII.  Resources:  Several resources are available to you for this course.  The textbooks serves as valuable references for topics discussed in lecture, the laboratory, and in the field.  Reading the texts will improve your understanding of the biology of the animals that you study and your use of techniques.  The texts provide valuable information on mammalian taxa and techniques used in the study of mammals. Take the time to thoroughly review the table of contents in "Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity " and in " A Manual of Mammalogy."  A lot of information that will help you with most aspects of the course is provided in the texts and will not necessarily be assigned for you to read. In addition to the texts, several web sites provide theoretical, factual, and practical information regarding the study of mammals. One of the most important resources available to you is the museum specimens.  Detailed study of each specimen will enable you to readily identify mammals seen during the course and in the future.  Please handle all specimens with care!

Discussions with your classmates while conducting laboratory and field activities and when studying for exams are strongly encouraged.  Discussion of concepts and questions is an excellent means of learning and checking your knowledge and understanding.

I am available to help you during scheduled class periods.  If you wish to meet with me or the Teaching Assistant outside of class time, it is best to schedule a specific date and time.

IX.  Grading Procedures:  Grades for all components of the course are assigned as follows:

90 - 100%    A - unusual ability and distinctive performance
80 - 89%      B - articulate, above average performance
70 - 79%      C - satisfactory performance
60 - 69%      D - passing work, below standard
< 60%          E - work not acceptable for passing credit

Written exams will be short answer and essay in format.  You can expect at least one question on each exam to be a problem that you must solve.  Questions on specimens that you have not seen before will also be used to evaluate your ability to apply the information that you learned.  All assignments and exams are due on the assigned due date.  Late assignments will be penalized 10% per day late.  Practical exams cannot be taken at a time other than the scheduled time.  Lecture exams are to be taken at the scheduled time. The only exception to this policy is in the event of a medical or other emergency or a university-approved athletic event (see Undergraduate Catalog).  Written documentation of such an emergency or event must be provided to me.

X.  Attendance Policy:  You are expected to attend all scheduled course activities.  Absence from class has been correlated highly with poor performance on exams.

XI.  Academic Honesty Policy:  Cheating, plagiarism (submitting another person's material as one's own, or doing work for another person which will receive academic credit) are all impermissible.  This includes the use of unauthorized books, notebooks, or other sources in order to secure or give help during an assignment, the unauthorized copying of examinations, assignments, reports, or term papers, or the presentation of unacknowledged material as if it were your own work.  It is your responsibility to determine whether a resourse is authorized or unauthorized to use with any assignment or test.  If substantial evidence exists for a violation of this policy, you will receive a grade of 'E' for the course and a written explanation of the violation will be included in your academic file and a copy sent to the Chair of your major department.  Disciplinary action may be taken beyond the academic discipline that I administer in the course itself. It is your responsibility to verify which resources are authorized for your use in this course.

XII.  Text and References:

Required:  Feldhamer, G. A., L. C. Drickhamer, S. H. Vessey, J. F. Merritt, and C. Krajewski.  2007.  Mammalogy:  Adaptation, diversity and ecology.  WCB/McGraw Hill, Dubuque, IA

Ryan, J. 2011. Mammalogy Techniques Manual. 2nd ed. Lulu, Raleigh, NC. 293. pp.

Wilson, D.E. et al. 1996.  Measuring and monitoring biological diversity:  Standard methods for mammals.  Smithsonian Institute Press, Washington, 409pp.

Recommended:  Schwartz, C. W. and E. R. Schwartz.  1981.  The wild mammals of Missouri.  University of Missouri Press and Missouri Department of Conservation, Columbia, MO.

Relevant Web Sites:

The Animal Diversity Web - http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu.
The KY Fish and Wildlife Information Service - http://www.kfwis.state.ky.us/
The Wildlife Society - http://www.wildlife.org/index.html
National Museum of Natural History, The Smithsonian - http://www.mnh.si.edu/collections.html
The American Society of Mammalogists - http://asm.wku.edu/
Mammals-on-Line, Westfield State College (refers to many other relevant sites) - http://biology.wsc.ma.edu/mammals/
Tree of Life, University of Arizona - phylogenetic relationships, characteristics of mammalian taxa - http://phylogeny.arizona.edu/tree/home.pages/popular.html
Kentucky Bat Working Group: http://www.biology.eku.edu/bats.htm

XIII.  Prerequisites:  BIO 330 (Ecology)

XIV. Non-discrimination Statement

Murray State University endorses the intent of all federal and state laws created to prohibit discrimination.  Murray State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability in employment, admissions, or the provision of services and provides, upon request, reasonable accommodation including auxiliary aids and services necessary to afford individuals with disabilities equal access to participate in all programs and activities.  For more information, contact Sabrina Y. Dial, Director of Equal Opportunity, Murray State University, 103 Wells Hall, Murray, KY 42071-3318. Telephone: 270-809-3155 (voice), 270-809-3361 (TDD).