Ornithology and Lab (Biology 3100:456) Spring 2007 Syllabus Instructor: Gregory Smith Office: ASEC 376 Phone:

330-972-7501 (Office); 330-668-2919 (Field Station); 330-612-1205 (Cell) Email: gasmith@uakron.edu Office Hours: MF 1:00 - 2:00; R 3:00 - 4:00 (and by appointment) Classroom: ASEC 583 (MWF 11:00-11:50, W 2:15-5:05) Course Webpage: www3.uakron.edu/biology/smith/ornithology.htm Textbooks: Gill, F. B. 2007. Ornithology. 3rd edition. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York, NY. National Geographic Society. 2002. Field guide to the birds of North America. 4th edition. National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. (Note: Readings from the primary literature and other outside sources may supplement the textbooks.) Course Objectives: Ornithology is a course designed to introduce students to the diversity of birds around the world. It will focus on all aspects of avian biology with particular emphases on behavior, ecology and biogeography, anatomy and physiology, and conservation. While the lecture portion of the course will provide a global overview, laboratory work will emphasize the birds of Ohio and the Great Lakes. Laboratory work will include study of skeletal and study skin specimens, learning field techniques in avian biology, field trips for viewing birds in the wild, and an occasional video dealing with major taxonomic groups. Students will also participate in trips to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge on Lake Erie. Course Schedule: (Note: this schedule is subject to change.)
Date Jan. 17 19 22 24 Course Introduction Lab: No lab meeting History of Ornithology Introduction to Class Aves Avian Evolution Lab: Field Ornithology pp. xxi-xxvi Ch. 1 Ch. 2 Lecture Topic Readings in Textbook

Jan.

26 29 31

Classification of Birds Diversity of Birds: Living Orders I World Orders Quiz Diversity of Birds: Living Orders II Lab: Skeletal system and skulls; Feathers and external anatomy Diversity of Birds: Living Orders III Diversity of Birds: Living Orders IV Diversity of Birds: Living Orders V Lab: Internal anatomy (Rock Dove dissection) Flight Feathers and External Anatomy LECTURE EXAM I Lab: Field trip to Cleveland Museum of Natural History Physiology Feeding Adaptations Sensory Adaptations Lab: Gaviiformes through Falconiformes Intelligence Communication and Vocalizations Introduction to Bird Behavior Lab: Galliformes through Strigiformes Development of Behavior Avian Cycles Migration and Navigation Lab: LAB EXAM I Social Behavior Mate Choice LECTURE EXAM II Lab: Caprimulgiformes through Passeriformes I Breeding Systems No Class Spring Break No Class Spring Break

Ch. 3 Web Appendix Web Appendix Web Appendix Web Appendix Web Appendix Ch. 4 Ch. 5

Feb.

2 5 7 9 12 14 16 19 21 23 26 28

Ch. 6 Ch. 6, cont. Ch. 7 Ch. 7, cont. Ch. 8 Ch. 9 Ch. 9, cont. Ch. 9, cont. Ch. 10 Ch. 11 Ch. 12

Mar.

2 5 7 9 12 14 16 19 21

Ch. 13

Mar.

23 26 28 30

No Class Spring Break

Brood Parasitism Reproduction Lab: Passeriformes II Reproduction, continued Nests, Eggs, and Incubation Lab: Local field trip Parental Care Lifetime Reproductive Success Population Ecology Lab: Local field trip Speciation and Geographic Variation Community Ecology Conservation Lab: Local field trip LECTURE EXAM III Conservation, continued Biogeography Lab: LAB EXAM II Biogeography, continued Field Trip: Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Lecture Wrap-Up Lab: Student Presentations; Field Notebooks Due Term Papers Due FINAL EXAM (12:00 - 1:55) Ch. 21, cont. pp. 20-24 pp. 20-24, cont. Ch. 13, cont. Ch. 14 Ch. 14, cont. Ch. 15 Ch. 16 Ch. 17 Ch. 18 Ch. 19 Ch. 20 Ch. 21

April

4 6 9 11 13 16 18 20 23 25 27 28

May

2 4 11

Exams: Lecture exams will consist of some combination of definition/identification, short answer, and essay questions. Exams will cover material from lectures and readings and may ask you to apply your knowledge synthetically. Lecture exams will only cover material since the last exam. However, the Final Exam will be comprehensive. Lab exams will be identification exams. Students will be expected to know all taxonomic information for each species covered and will be expected to recognize species by sight or, for some species, call/song. Lab Exams are not comprehensive. Spelling will count on all quizzes and exams. For every 3 misspelled words, including taxonomic terms, you will lose 1 point.

Reseach Paper: Students will prepare a research paper on a topic of their choosing. The topic should synthesize literature on birds. The term paper should not simply be a species account. Papers can explore any aspect of avian behavior, ecology, physiology, etc. and topics should be approved by the instructor. There is no page limit for the paper but you must have at least five citations from the primary literature. The paper should follow the format of the ornithological journal, The Auk. Consult a recent edition of this journal for a formatting example. Students will present their paper in a 10-15 minute PowerPoint presentation at the end of the semester. Field Trips and Notebooks: Observing birds and hearing vocalizations in the field will reinforce material presented in lab. Students should have binoculars, a field guide, and a field notebook for all field trips. We will take several field trips to nearby locations. On Saturday, April 28, we will travel to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. We will discuss details of the trip in class but make plans now to attend! Students will be required to keep a detailed field notebook throughout the semester. Notebooks should be complete and will be turned in for a grade. You must have your notebooks with you on all field trips. If you miss a field trip, and therefore do not have an entry for that trip in your notebook, you will lose points on your overall notebook grade. In addition to in-class trips, students must have three (3) individual field experiences recorded in your notebook. Class Participation: Students are expected to attend class and to be on time. Students are also expected to be prepared for class by reading assigned materials and to participate in class discussions. Class participation is not a formal part of the grading scheme for lecture but at this point in your academic careers it should be evident that active participation greatly facilitates the learning process. We learn from each other as much as we learn from textbooks or lectures. Grading: World Orders Quiz - 50 pts. Lecture Exam 1 - 100 pts. Lecture Exam 2 - 100 pts. Lecture Exam 3 - 100 pts. Final Exam - 100 pts. Research Paper - 85 pts. Research Presentation - 15 pts. Lab Exam 1 - 100 pts. Lab Exam 2 - 100 pts. Field Notebooks - 100 pts. Total Points = 850 pts. Final Grade Assignment: A = 93.0-100% (790-850 pts.) A- = 90.0-92.9% (765-789 pts.) B+ = 87.0-89.9% (739-764 pts.) B = 83.0-86.9% (705-738 pts.)

B- = 80.0-82.9% (680-704 pts.) C+ = 77.0-79.9% (654-679 pts.) C = 73.0-76.9% (620-653 pts.) C- = 70.0-72.9% (595-619 pts.) D+ = 67.0-69.9%(569-594 pts.) D = 63.0-66.9% (535-568 pts.) D- = 60.0-62.9% (510-534 pts.) F = 0.0-59.9% (0-509 pts.) Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism is the act of representing directly or indirectly another person's work as your own. It can involve presenting someone's speech, wholly or partially, as yours; quoting without acknowledging the true source of the quoted material; copying and handing in another person's work with your name on it; and similar infractions. Even indirect quotations, paraphrasing, etc., can be considered plagiarism unless sources are properly cited. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. The University of Akron policy for academic misconduct can be found in the Student Code of Conduct (www.uakron.edu/studentlife/sja/codecon.php). Disabilities: The University of Akron will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Any student who feels she/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Accessibility at 330-972-7928 or by email at access@uakron.edu. The office is located in Simmons Hall, 105. All communication between students, the Office of Disability Services, and the professor will be strictly confidential.