Course Information
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Description: Principles of evolution, ecology, behavior, anatomy and physiology using dinosaurs and other extinct life as case studies. Geological processes and the fossil record. Day field trip on weekend required. Cannot be used for major credit in the biological sciences. General studies: SG.
Current Sections:
- Lecture: TTh 9:00-10:15, Sands 230
- Lab: Fri 10:30-1:15, CLCC 353
Texts: U.M. Savalli 2024. Dinosaurs: A Laboratory Manual.
Optional: D.E. Fastovsky & D.B. Wishampel, 2021. Dinosaurs: A Concise Natural History, 4th ed. Cambridge Univ. Press.
The Instructor: Udo M. Savalli
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Announcements & Upcoming
- Nov 26 — AZ MNH Worksheet Due
- Nov 28-29 — Thanksgiving — No Class
- Dec 5 — Lecture Exam 3
- Dec 12 — Final Exam: 7:30 am (Optional)
Tentative Lecture Schedule (Fall 2024)
Week of:
| Topic:
| Chapters in Text:
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August 22 — | Course Introduction |
| 27-29 — | Scientific Method; History of Dino Exploration | 1, 15
| September 3-5 — | Fossils & Paleontological Techniques | 1
| September 10-12 — | Stratigraphy; Evolution | 2, 3
| 17-19 — | Phylogenetic Trees & Classification | 3
| 24-26 — | Exam 1, Sep 24
Phylogenetic Analysis | 3
| October 1-3 — | History of Earth; Plate Tectonics | 2
| 8-10 — | Extinctions | 17
| 15-17 — | No Class—Fall Break, Oct 15
Vertebrate Anatomy & Diversity | 4
| 22-24 — | Reptile Diversity | 4, 15
| 29-31 — | Exam 2, Oct 29
Dinosaur Origins | 4, 5
| November 5-7 — | Dinosaur Diversity | 7, 9-12
| 12-14 — | Dinosaur Gigantism | 9, 13
| 19-21 — | Dinosaur Diets and Defenses | 6, (244-54), 10
| 26-28 — | Growth, Development & Metabolism
No Class—Thanksgiving, Nov 28 | 13, 14
| December 3-5 — | The Origin of Birds
Exam 3, Dec 5 | 5, 8
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Lab Schedule (Fall 2024)
Date:
| Topic:
| Lab Manual Exercises:
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Aug 23 — | No Lab | none
| Aug 30 — | Introduction to Rocks | 1
| Sep 6 — | Introduction to Fossils | 2
| Sep 13 — | Estimating Age of Rocks | 3
| Sep 20 — | Abundance & Diversity Over Time | 6
| Sep 27 — | Evolution & Phylogenetic Methods | 4
| Oct 4 — | The Vertebrate Skeleton | 7, 8
| Oct 11 — | Diet and Teeth | 9
| Oct 18 — | Prehistoric Reptiles | 12
| Oct 25 — | Pterosaurs; Dinosaur Origins; Sauropods | 13-15
| Nov 1 — | Ornithischian Dinosaurs | 16
| Nov 8 — | Theropod Dinosaurs | 17
| Nov 15 — | Allometry & Body Size | 10, 11
| Nov 22 — | The Origin of Birds | 18
| Dec 6 — | No Lab |
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