BIOL 3451—Mammalogy Lab

School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences

Fall 2023, B31, Science Center

Thursday 1:40-4:30

Instructor: Dr. John L. Hunt. E-mail: huntj@uamont.edu. Phone: 870-460-1466. Web page: http://uam-web2.uamont.edu/facultyweb/huntj/. Office: B11, Science Center. Office hours: 9-10 M-F, 1-2 MT, or by appointment.

Suggested Text: A lab manual will be provided.

Objective: To introduce the student to diversity of mammals in Arkansas, and to techniques used to study them.

Expected Student Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, students will know the common name and scientific name of every mammal (wild and domesticated) that occurs in Arkansas. Students will be able to identify all Arkansas mammals from both skin and skull. Students will know the habitat preferences of mammals of southeastern Arkansas. Students will demonstrate familiarity with field techniques, including live-trapping, recording data, and reporting results in scientific format.

Class Web Page. The class web page is at: http://uam-web2.uamont.edu/facultyweb/huntj/mammalogy.htm (This is the same webpage as the Mammalogy class). This course also has a Blackboard site where you will find a copy of this syllabus and a link to the class web page.

Course Assessment: Grading will be on the standard 10-point scale (90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D, 0-59 = F). There is no curving of the grade or “extra” credit. Points will be earned from scheduled examinations, from a major paper, from lab exercises, and from announced and unannounced quizzes. Exams will consist of a mixture of practical, essay, short answer, and objective-type questions, and may include some drawing. A tentative list of available points for the lab is below; note that some minor changes may be made as circumstances dictate.

Library Assignment 25

Exam I 100

Lab Field Journal 25

First Draft of Paper 25

Final Draft of Paper 100

Quizzes 80

Lab Report 10

Tracks and Scats Assignment 10

Attendance/Participation 60

Final Exam 100

Total 535

Mid-semester grades are considered to be unofficial progress reports in that, while these grades do indicate the current class standing of the student, they are not permanently recorded on the student's official academic record. Midterm grades and absences will be posted on WeevilNet, no later than one week before the drop date. All students with a “D” or “F” will be reported to Academic Alert.

Time Budget: Mammalogy Lab is a time-intensive course. Expect to spend two hours on the library assignment, and two hours on the lab report. Outdoor trapping activities may take up to four hours per week outside of regular lab hours, for a total of 8 hours. A night-time bat-netting lab will consume 6 hours. You should expect to spend 6 hours on the first draft of your paper, and another 6 hours on the revision. An average student who wishes to achieve a C in the class should expect to spend two hours each week studying outside of class for quizzes and exams. Students who are faster or slower learners, or who wish to achieve a higher grade, should adjust their time budgets accordingly. Please note that all of these numbers are estimates; your results will vary.

Attendance: Attendance at all lab meetings and exams is mandatory. Please note that some labs require attendance early in the morning, late at night, and on weekends. Your success in this course is directly dependent upon your attendance and participation in the lab. To this end, one percentage point will be removed from your class grade for each unexcused lab absence. It is the responsibility of the student to provide a university-approved excuse for each class missed on the next class day. It is important for you to note that you are responsible for material covered in every lab, even if you miss the lab with an excused absence. It is your responsibility to obtain the material you have missed. Students absent from two consecutive or a total of three class meetings will be reported to Academic Alert (see below) unless they have notified the instructor of a justifiable reason for the absences and made plans to make up all materials covered. If students must miss an extended period of time due to illness or quarantine, they will be expected to stay current on material. STUDENTS WILL NOT TAKE EXAMS ON-LINE—any missed exams must be completed upon return to class.

Missed exams: Missed exams may be made up only by students with an approved university excuse, by arrangement with the instructor. Approved university excuses do not include “had to work,” “hung over,” “overslept,” or “my car is busted.” Please be aware that any made-up exam may NOT be the same exam given during the normal class period. Students are responsible for all material presented in class, even with an approved university excuse for missing a class. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain missed material from classmates.

Class policies: Mammalogy Lab is a demanding class, with a large number of terms and concepts to be mastered. Expect to spend a great deal of out-of-class time studying. The instructor is here to help you; please feel free to ask questions at any time. You are encouraged to seek my help outside of regular class hours if you are so inclined.

Mammalogy Lab is designed as a FIELD LAB. You should come prepared to spend the entire lab time outdoors, rain or shine. Some labs will require you to get wet, muddy, or dirty. Labs will often entail moving through heavy brush and thorns, climbing up steep hills, and providing blood meals for mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, and flies. If this doesn’t sound like fun to you, you may be in the wrong field of study. Use common sense in deciding what to bring into the field with you. You may want sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, machete, and water. You should always dress appropriately—don’t wear nice clothes. Long pants and heavy shoes are always recommended. Be aware that the lab schedule listed below is TENTATIVE, and subject to change without notice because of weather conditions.

Use of tobacco products in University vehicles or on University property is strictly prohibited (this means no “dippin’”). You may bring food or snacks, but you must not leave paper or trash in the van or at any of the field sites we visit.

Please do not hold conversations with classmates during lecture. You may record lectures if you so desire, but this should not substitute for the taking of detailed class notes. The instructor cannot be responsible for problems with your recording equipment. If your cell phone rings during my lecture, I will respond in the only manner available to me—by adjusting your grade. You may not text-message during class. If I see you text-messaging or surfing the web during pre-lab lecture, you will be asked to leave. If this occurs twice, you will be assigned a grade of F for the course. Use of electronic equipment, cameras, and computers is allowed during the lab, but not during the pre-lab lectures!! You may not read outside material, study other classes, or work crossword puzzles during class. Disorderly conduct is any behavior which disrupts the regular or normal functions of the University Community, including behavior which breaches the peace or violates the rights of others. This type of conduct is prohibited by the Student Conduct Code. The Code may be found in the UAM Student Handbook (https://www.uamont.edu/life/index.html).

The last date to drop this course with a W (and for most other courses at UAM) is October 25. A grade of I will only be given if a student has completed 75% of the work of the course, with a mathematical possibility of obtaining a passing grade, and will be given only for University-approved excuses, with the approval of the Dean of Math and Sciences.

Ethics Rule: Anyone known to be actively engaged in killing protected species of any kind (mammalian or other) will automatically receive an F in this course and will be reported immediately to the state and federal authorities. It is illegal to kill any species of animal that is not designated as a game species with a legal season or as an introduced species that is not protected. Students will be expected to follow all state and federal laws regarding wildlife, and to treat live animals and their habitat with the respect due them.

Students with disabilities: It is the policy of the University of Arkansas-Monticello to accommodate students with disabilities in accordance with federal law. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of any necessary accommodations at the beginning of the course. Any student requiring accommodations should contact the Office of Special Student Services located in Student Success Center, Room 201F, phone 870-460-1026; TDD 870-460-1626; fax 870-460-1926.

Academic Alert: The Academic Alert System is a retention program that puts students in contact with the appropriate campus resources to assist them in meeting their educational goals at UAM. If you are doing poorly in your academic work, are chronically absent from class, are exhibiting disruptive behavior, or are having difficulty adjusting to campus life, University faculty, staff or a fellow student may report you to the Office of Academic Affairs through the Academic Alert system. Be aware that the instructor of this class intends to fully utilize the Academic Alert system.

Academic dishonesty: Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. The Academic Code of the University of Arkansas-Monticello may be found in the UAM Student Handbook (link listed above). Please make sure you understand the definitions of cheating and plagiarism as listed there.

Please note that the instructor has wide latitude in taking corrective action in response to cheating; expect the harshest possible response in this class. In other words, if I catch you cheating even once, I will assign a grade of F for the course. You will not be allowed to have a cell phone of any sort on your desk during exams. You will not be allowed to wear an Apple Watch, Pebble, or other phone-watch during exams. Use of such technology constitutes cheating and will result in assignment of an F for the class.

Tentative schedule: Because of the vagaries of weather, the schedule of the mammalogy lab must be considered to be somewhat fluid. The following schedule is subject to change with or without notice. Be prepared!

August 17 Introduction

August 24 Skulls & Bones

August 31 Mammals of Arkansas

September 7 Library

September 14 Basic trapping (will require activity outside regular lab hours)

September 21 Scientific Writing

September 28 Trapping grid (will require activity outside regular lab hours)

October 5 TBD (Possible night lab for bat-netting)

October 12 Mammals of Arkansas/Skull & Bones review

October 19 Exam 1

October 26 Tracks and Scats

November 2 TBD (First draft of paper due)