Course Description: Origin, structure, life history, distribution, ecology and conservation of amphibians and reptiles. A survey of living families. Special attention is focused on species occurring in Canada, particularly those in Ontario.
Required Textbooks: (being revised for 2015)
1) Vitt, L.J., and J.P. Caldwell. 2014. Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles, 4th edition. Academic Press, San Diego. 734 pp. ISBN 978-0-12-386918-7
2) Conant, R., and J.T. Collins. 1998. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians: Eastern and Central North America. 3rd edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 616 pp. ISBN 0-395-90452-8
3) Powell, R., J.T. Collins, and E.D. Hooper, Jr. 2012. A Key to Amphibians and Reptiles of the Continental United States and Canada. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence KS. 66049. 131 pp. ISBN 0-7006-0929-6
Other Required Materials: The lab manual is available for downloading on the Desire2Learn site for the course. An audio tape or cd of frog calls is available for loan from the technician. A small deposit is required and will be refunded upon return if the media is undamaged. Students should have their own dissecting kit, safety glasses and rubber gloves or may rent/purchase these from the Biology technicians. Proper attire (e.g. rubber boots) should be worn for field trips.
Optional Resource Materials:
Vitt, L.J., and J.P. Caldwell. 2009. Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles, 3rd Edition. Associated Press, San Diego. 697 pp. ISBN: 978-0-12-374346-6. This former edition may be used as a substitute for the 4th edition but systematics and taxonomy will be dated.
Pough, F.H., R.M. Andrews, J.E. Cadle, M.L. Crump, A.H. Savitsky, and K.D. Wells. 2001. Herpetology, 2nd edition. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J. 07458. 612 pp. ISBN 0-13-030795-5. An alternative text to Pough et al. 2001 above (1). A used copy of the 1st edition (1998) can also be used.
Harding, J.H. 1997. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor. 378 pp. ISBN 0472066285. A good field guide with detailed natural history information on species occurring in the Great Lakes Basin.
MacCulloch, R.D. 2002. The ROM Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Ontario. McClelland & Stewart Ltd., Toronto. 168 pp. ISBN 0771076517. A good compact fieldguide with excellent photographs covering Ontario species.
Sheldon, A.B. 2006. Amphibians & Reptiles of the North Woods. Northwoods Naturalist Series, Kollath+Stensaas Publishing, Duluth, MN. 148 pp. ISBN 9780967379388. A good compact fieldguide with excellent photographs of each lifestage for species occurring in MN, WI, MI & ON.
Elliot, L., C. Gerhardt, and C. Davidson. 2009. The Frogs and Toads of North America: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Identification, Behavior, and Calls. Houghton, Mifflin Harcourt. A good general guide with excellent photographs and a CD of calls.
Elliott, L. 1997. The Calls of Frogs and Toads. NatureSound Studio, Ithaca, NY
Marking Scheme:Midterm 25%, Lab 35%, Final Exam 40%
Examination format - Combination of any or all of the following: fill in the blanks, true or false, multiple choice, definitions, short answers, essays, labeling, drawing.
Lab Mark - Consists of lab examination, quizzes, short assignments.
Reserve Material/Literature Assignment: We have been adding to the Paterson Library holdings in herpetology annually depending upon available budget. The library now subscribes to several herpetological journals. Therefore, supplemental reading material in the form of primary literature will be provided for your use on reserve. Topics of papers will be chosen to complement or augment lecture topics. These papers will be held in a folder at the circulation desk of the library for loan/copying. Each student must provide evidence that they have read and comprehend at least five papers from journals or reprints in the reserve collection. Alternatively, if a student has a special interest in herpetology, they may select other papers in herpetology in lieu of the reserve collection. Many papers are available to download in pdf format from the Center for North American Herpetology website <http://www.cnah.org> or from Google Scholar (after a keyword search). A report consisting of a one page summary and review for each paper read must be handed in before the last lab of the semester. This report will not be used in calculating the final mark but must be satisfactorily completed in order for a final mark to be forwarded to the registrar's office. A grade of 'Incomplete' will be submitted if the report is not received or if it is unsatisfactory.
Herpetological Journals: There are nearly 100 journals, bulletins and newsletters that publish articles in herpetology (see<http://herplit.com/contents> for complete list). Some of the more important international peer-reviewed journals are listed below. Papers dealing with herpetological matters are also published in many general biology and ecology journals.
Alytes - published by the International Society for the Study and Conservation of
Amphibians
Amphibia-Reptilia - published by the Societas Europaea Herpetologica
Applied Herpetology - focus on relations between humans and amphibians and reptiles
Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles - serial of species accounts published by
SSAR
Chelonian Conservation and Biology - articles on turtle and tortoise research
Contemporary Herpetology - online journal sponsored by the CNAH
Copeia - published by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
Herpetologica - international journal published by the herpetologists League
Herpetological Monographs - lengthy papers published by the Herpetologists League
Herpetological Notes - online journal for short notes
Herpetological Natural History - focus on natural history information
Herpetological Review - short articles and news published by the SSAR
Journal of Herpetology - international journal published by the SSAR
The Herpetological Journal - international journal of the British Herpetological Society
Herpetology on the World Wide Web: There are many websites dealing with various aspects of herpetology. As with any web-based sites the quality of information varies. Good information can generally be found on academic, government, professional herpetological society, and many non-governmental web pages. Here are a few useful resources...
<http://www.globalamphibians.org/index.html> Results of the joint IUCN and NatureServe Global Amphibian Assessment which contains extensive information about all known extant species of amphibians.
http://www.naturewatch.ca/cgi-bin/quiz/step1.asp The Great Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Quiz - a good interactive test of your knowledge of identifying Canadian species by photographs or calls.
http://www.carcnet.ca/ Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Network - Canada's working group website offering information on Canadian herpetological issues.
Other Information: In this course we will be covering a lot of material. An advantage of an 'ology' course is that it concerns all aspects of the biology of the organisms concerned and can thus serve as a 'capstone' course for senior undergraduates. Although there are no specific prerequisites beyond first year biology, being a senior course, I assume that students understand basic biological, ecological, and evolutionary principles. Space may be limited so preference in registration may be given to senior biology majors or by special permission of the instructor. Maintaining good attendance is for your own benefit. Examination questions often come from poorly attended lectures. Noise or distractions will not be tolerated. Cellular phones must be turned off during lectures. With good attendance and study the student will leave this course with a good knowledge of herpetology and Ontario's herpetofauna.
Biology 4435 Herpetology - 2014 Tentative Outline of Lecture and Lab Topics
Lecture Topics
1. Introduction
2. Differences & Similarities Between Amphibians and Reptiles
3. Origin & Evolution of Tetrapoda: Amphibians
4. Origin & Evolution of Tetrapods: Reptiles
5. Phylogeny & Systematics
6. Classification of Extant Amphibians - Caecilians
7. Classification of Extant Amphibians - Salamanders
8. Classification of Extant Amphibians - Anurans
9. Classification of Extant Reptiles - Turtles, Tortoises & Sphenodonts
10. Classification of Extant Reptiles - Lizards & Snakes
11. Classification of Extant Reptiles - Crocodilians
12. Survey of Ontario Amphibians
13. Survey of Ontario Amphibians
14. Survey of Ontario Amphibians
15. Survey of Ontario Reptiles
16. Survey of Ontario Reptiles
17. Survey of Ontario Reptiles
18. Midterm Exam TBA
19. Temperature & Water Relations
20. Temperature & Water Relations
21. Energetics: Gas Exchange
22. Energetics: Metabolism & Performance
23. Reproduction & Genetics
24. Life Cycles & Life History
25. Feeding
26. Body Structure & Locomotion
27. Movements & Orientation
28. Communication
29. Ecology: Biotic & Abiotic Interactions
30. Ecology: Species Assemblages
31. Ecology: Spatial & Temporal Dynamics
32. Biogeography
33. Human Exploitation
34. Conservation: Amphibians
35. Conservation: Reptiles
36. TBA
Labs
1. Introduction to Herpetology
2. Diversity of Amphibians
3. Diversity of Reptiles
4. Diversity of the Ontario Herpetofauna
5. Frog & Toad Calls
6. Structure of Anurans (Frog dissection)
7. Structure of Caudata (Mudpuppy dissection)
8. Structure of Serpents (Garter snake dissection)