Objectives: A comparative study of the adult structure of the organs and systems of representative vertebrates. This course uses lecture, laboratory, and the scientific literature to investigate the biology of the vertebrates. In addition to a detailed study of the comparative morphology of the vertebrates, this course will integrate concepts in vertebrate anatomy with topics in functional morphology and vertebrate evolution. One section of this course is offered every fall.

Prerequisites: General Zoology (Biol 212)

Credit Value: 3

Contact Time: Two 50 minute lectures and one three hour laboratory per week. Students are expected to attend every lecture; failure to attend lecture ineveitably impacts negatively on a student's grade. Labs will be almost exclusively demonstrative, and include dissection and microscopy. Dissection tools are not provided by the instructor, and are available at the bookstore. For reasons of health and safety, eating and drinking are never permitted in lab.

Outcomes: Once successfully completing this course, students should be able to:

• understand and explain the evolution of the vertebrate body plan and to recognize major extant vertebrate taxa
• recognize major musculoskeletal and visceral components of the vertebrate body
• know how to conduct a fine dissection and to be able to accurately identify key anatomical features in vertebrates
• understand the concept of evolutionary trade-off as it applies to vertebrate evolution
• be able to discuss the roles of phylogeny and adaptation in the evolution of vertebrate morphology

Assessment:

• Term Tests: These tests will normally cover material presented in lecture, along with assigned readings from the text
• Laboratory Quizzes: A ten point laboratory quiz will be given during the first 15 minutes of the period on that day's material
• Written Assignments: Students will be required to become familiar with reading and searching the scientific literature. This semester, two REVIEW ARTICLES will be prepared by each student on topics in vertebrate biology. These projects will be outlined in a handout provided by the instructor
• Laboratory Practicals
• Final Examination: Comprehensive

• NOTE: Assessment methods may vary between instructors.

Lecture Schedule:

• Scientific approach, zoological taxonomy, vertebrate classes
• Chordate characteristics
• Phylogeny and evolution
• Vertebrate diversity and classification
• Hard anatomy and evolution
• Sensory organs
• Nervous control
• Muscle types and organization
• Endocrine control
• Digestion
• Respiration and circulation
• Excretion, osmoregulation
• Reproduction

• NOTE: Lecture sequence and emphasis may vary between instructors.Cell structure and genetic regulation

Laboratory Schedule:

• Vertebrate histology
• Skeletal anatomy I: Axial skeleton, comparative skull morphology, and dentition
• Skeletal anatomy II: Appendicular skeleton
• Necturus I: Viscera
• Necturus II: Circulation
• Laboratory Practical I
• Mammalian brain, eye dissection
• Squalus I
• Squalus II
• Felis I: Muscle
• Felis II: Muscle
• Felis III: Viscera
• Felis IV: Circulation, mammalian heart
• Laboratory Practical II

• NOTE: laboratory sequence and emphasis may vary between instructors