ATS

Zoology: The Animal Kingdom

Students learn about vertebrate anatomy and physiology through dissections of
snakes, frogs, fish, birds and, as shown here, turtles.

General Course Description:

This course is a survey of the animal kingdom emphasizing structure, function, and adaptations of all the major groups including single-celled animals, stinging-celled animals, flatworms, roundworms, segmented worms, mollusks, echinoderms, plus all classes of the phylum Vertebrata (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.)

Investigations include short lectures coupled with examination of preserved specimens and prepared microscope slides. Emphasis is placed on hands-on activities, including the study of living representatives of most of the major groups and dissections of preserved specimens.

A visit to the CSUS Vertebrate Museum is included.

Estimated Weekly Homework: 1 to 2 hours Students who successfully complete course requirements at the "A" and "B" levels will be recommended for 1 unit of high school credit in science.

For the Summer of 2005 (2 albums):

Here is what the Zoology Classes of Summer '05 are doing. Don't forget to use your password !

The 2nd album is Zoology Classes of Summer '05 Part 2

The following are albums from previous (prior to 2005) classes (must have their own password):

Here is what we did in class

And on another day, more pictures

And here are some more scenes from the Zoology lab.

Check out animal diversity at this neat site

The following is the Syllabus for the Zoology Class specific for Summer '06:

CURRENT SYLLABUS!

 Academic Talent Search - Sacramento State University - Summer 2006  

Classroom: Both sections will take place in HMB 116 (the 2 story building adjoining the 5 story (with orange awnings) Science (Sequoia -SQU) building.

Section 1 06zoo1 July 17 – August 2 MW 1-4

Section 2 06zoo2 July 18 – August 3 TR 9-12

Instructor: Jana E. Shober, Department of Biological Sciences, CSUS

Office: Sequoia Building (Science) Room 16C, Lab 110B

Telephone: 916-278-7677 (office) 916-685-2547 (home)

You may leave voice mail messages at either number .

E-mail: janashob@csus.edu

Website: http://www.csus.edu/org/critters/ATS/default.html

Please note that this (and other documents/information ) pertaining to the class will be available on the instructor’s website.

Main ATS office ( not the one on campus) is located at 7750 College Town Drive and the telephone number there is 278-7032. Note that this number can be reached from any on-campus telephone by dialing 8-7032. When calling from an off campus telephone, dial 278-7032.

The on-campus ATS office during the summer session is located at Eureka Hall 104.

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Current Course Description:

 This course is a survey of the animal kingdom emphasizing structure, function, and adaptations of all the major groups including single celled animals, stinging celled animals, flatworms, roundworms, segmented worms, mollusks, echinoderms, and all classes of the Phylum Vertebrata (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals).

 Investigations will include short lectures, examination and dissection of some preserved specimens but emphasis will be placed on hands-on activities & the study of many living representatives of all major groups. A visit to the CSUS Vertebrate Museum will be included. Students who successfully complete course requirements at the "A" and "B" levels will be recommended for 1 unit of high school credit in science. Students will receive transcripts at the conclusion of the session. While ATS cannot grant high school credit to students, ATS does make recommendations which are listed on the transcript.

Students are responsible for contacting their school to find out about high school credit or inclusion of ATS classes on their school records.

 A textbook is not required.

All necessary materials will be provided in class in the form of handouts, worksheets, etc.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

COURSE POLICIES, SAFETY REQUIREMENTS,CONDUCT, ATTENDANCE, GRADING, HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT:

Each student should read carefully and take seriously all of the following:

Students are expected to attend all classes and are responsible for all information presented in lecture/lab including reading and all assignments given.

While on campus (inside or outside the classroom) students will be treated as college students and therefore, students are expected to behave as such. In other words, students are expected to conduct themselves in an adult manner not only in the classroom but anywhere on campus.

 With regard to safety, students must observe all class/laboratory safety directions. Students are expected to comport themselves appropriately everywhere on campus and to observe all lab safety regulations - as outlined during the 1st class session. Students will not be able to participate in class without bringing the signed Safety Awareness sheets to the 2 nd class session.

Students are expected to arrive on time and to remain in the class for the full period. After breaks, students are expected to return to class at the agreed upon time. Students may return earlier but not later. Students are therefore asked to synchronize their watches based on 1 clock - the clock in the classroom. Students are expected to listen, take notes, ask questions (at appropriate times), and to refrain from engaging in conversations with other students during the lecture periods.

Class attendance and participation are mandatory. Roll will be taken at the beginning of each session. Attendance points will be deducted for late arrival to class.

Although no textbook is required, students are responsible for all information presented, including lectures, quizzes, lab reports, written assignments, material covered on field trips, homework, everything - just as they would be in a bona fide college course. As is the case at university level, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain any and all materials covered and distributed during a missed session. When a student misses a class, it is his/her responsibility to contact the instructor by phone or e-mail in order to obtain the missed materials.

Grades are based on all of the following:

1. Attendance

2. Class participation

3. Quizzes and/or tests

Note: If you are late to class on the day of a quiz or test and the quiz or test is in progress when you arrive, you will have only the time remaining to complete the quiz - no more. A missed quiz or test can not be made up.

4. Home work, work sheets, lab reports (any assigned work)

5. Laboratory practical as a final exam (instructor’s option)

Material learned in this course may be tested by means of a cumulative practical examination. A series of stations are set up in the classroom/lab. At each station, an item (or several items are shown). Two or more questions pertaining to the material shown may be asked. These questions can be very specific so you are expected to know details about such things as the structure, function, classification, natural history of the animals you study in class.

It is therefore essential the students take good notes, make drawings or sketches or, take digital photos (many students do this now as a study tool) of all material covered.

6. Complete and well organized class/lab notebook

A three ring binder is preferred, containing all course materials (handouts, drawings, notes, digital images, work sheets, everything) and very importantly, materials are to be organized in the notebook in the order in which the topics were covered in class. Loose leaf notebooks or loose papers are not acceptable.

7. In-class “mini writes”

Please note that each student will be assigned a number that corresponds to the student’s name and each student will be able check his/her progress at every class session. A spreadsheet with work completed, points earned, etc. will be posted in the classroom (I may make this available on the website as well). It is the student’s responsibility to alert the instructor if any assignments are missing.

Please remember that spelling counts - always!

In an effort to cultivate good communication skills, spelling and correct grammar will “count” at all times and on all work submitted. You may lose points due to poor spelling even if all else is correct. The points may be few – but they add up! Those with problems in this area are encouraged to purchase, carry and refer to as needed, a small pocket dictionary.

8. Research project, poster, and presentation

Grades and transcripts will be available and mailed to students soon after the last class session. Please call 278-7032 of you have questions about this. . Any materials due to be returned to students (papers, tests, quizzes, etc.) may be picked from your instructor 1 week after the last class session (or outside of SQU 112).

 

The following show you what percentage you must earn for each letter grade assigned. There are no A+ grades. Exceptional performance will be noted in the comments section of the student's evaluation report.

Grade Chart

A    =   > 93.0 %

A-   =   90.0 - 92.9 %

B+   =   87.0 - 89.9 %

B    =   83.0 - 86.9 %

B-   =   80.0 - 82.9 %

C+   =   77.0 - 79.9 %

C    =   73.0 - 76.9 %

C-   =   70.0 - 72.9 %

D+   =   67.0 - 69.9 %

D    =   63.0 - 66.9 %

D-   =   60.0 - 62.9 %

F    =  < 60.0 %

 

 

POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Cheating:

No communication between students is permitted during quizzes or exams unless your instructor allows it.

If caught cheating, the student will receive a “0" on that assignment. If cheating is observed a 2 nd time, the student will be assigned an “F” grade in the course and the incident will be reported to the ATS office. 

The following is a schedule of topics covered in the 6 sessions.

Please note that there may be minor changes.

 

Session 1

Introduction

Safety issues

Characteristics of living organisms

Cell theory & organization of cells

Introduction to the compound microscope

Phylum Protozoa

 

Session 2

Animal symmetry

Animal classification/ taxonomy

Phylum: Porifera

Phylum: Coelenterata (Cnidaria)

Phylum: Platyhelminthes

Introduction to the use of the Dissecting microscope

Continue to work on microscopy skills

 

Session 3

Phylum: Nematoda

Phylum: Annelida

Micro Safari Hunt using both types of microscopes

Phylum Arthropoda – Part 1

 

Session 4

Phylum Arthropoda – Part 2

Phylum Echinodermata

 

Session 5

Phylum Vertebrata

Dissection: Preserved Frog

Visit to CSUS Vertebrate Museum

 

Session 6

Phylum Vertebrata continued

Poster Presentations

Laboratory Practical (Instructor’s Choice)

 

 

The following are some GREAT LINKS to check out related to ZOOLOGY:

The Wonderful World of Insects www.insect-world.earthlife.net

Lindsay's Backyard Wildlife www.lindsaysbackyard.com

Another great site ABOUT ANIMALS in general

If you want ANIMAL DIVERSITY information, check this out!

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Zoology Summer 2006 Poster Presentation Criteria:

Here is a list of animals from which you may pick (your favorite!) for the poster presentation:

The poster presentation must meet the criteria described in class and include ALL of the following elements:

- Identification (in the form of a photograph or description).

- Taxonomy (Common name and Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species of the animal). Specific reason(s) why it belongs to this group/groups.

- Describe the distribution and/or range and what area (of the world) it is native to.

- Describe the type of environment that the animal lives in.

- Describe if there are differences between the appearance of the male/female?

- How long does the animal (on average) live in nature as opposed to in captivity?

- How does it feed, what does it eat, does it have predators (if so list the major predators)?

- How does the animal defend itself?

- Give some interesting (unique?) facts you have learned about the animal s.a. if it is of any economic importance? (Add anything you find unique and/or fascinating.)

- You must go to sources OTHER than the internet. It is OK to use info. on the internet but the internet can NOT serve as your only source. Your source(s) MUST be listed .

You are encouraged to be as creative as you can be. Everything has to fit on the standard 3 part poster board - black or white background - (they are available at the campus bookstore). As always – SPELLING “COUNTS”! So, you are strongly encouraged to use a dictionary, have someone proof read for you before you paste/fasten the material on the poster board. See the example in the classroom (the poster board on the Rubber Boa.

2 people may work together and turn in 1 poster board for the extra credit. Poster boards will not be returned to the student(s) .

 

*If you select pill bugs below, you must also include the sow bugs on the same poster presentation. If you select the millipedes, you must also do centipedes on same poster presentation. If you select snails, you must also do slugs on same poster presentation.

 

If you have a different animal in mind, please see me in class. The following are highly recommended though for reasons we talked about in class.

Australian or Giant Prickly Walking Sticks Extatosoma tiaratum

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Gromphadorrhina portentosa

Milkweed Bugs Oncopeltus fasciatus

Hermit Crabs Coenobita sp. or Dardanussp.

Crayfish Cambarus sp. (Procambrus sp.)

* Sowbugs (Woodlice) Porcellio levis and Pillbugs Onyscus sp. Or Armadillidum vulgare

*Giant Tropical Millipedes Archispirostreptus gigas and

Local centipedes (variety)

African Emperor Scorpion Pandinus imperator

Mexican Red leg Tarantula Brachypelma smithi (emilia)

*Snails Helix aspersa

Slugs Limax sp.

Medicinal leeches Hirudo medicinalis

Mexican Axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum

Oriental Firebelly Newt Cynops orientalis

Cuban Tree Frogs Osteopilus septentronalis

Western toads Bufo boreas

Firebelly Toads Bombina orientalis

Ornate (or Argentinian) Horned Frog (Pac-man) Ceratophyrs ornata

Sudanese Plated Lizard Gerrhosaurus major

Solomon Islands Tree Skinks Corucia zebrata

Green Iguana Iguana iguana

Bearded Dragons Pogona vitticeps

Indonesian Blue-tongued Skink Tiliqua gigas gigas

Ocellated Skink Chalcides ocellatus

Brown Anole Anolis sagrei

Green Anole Anolis carolinenesis

(= American Chameleon)

Western Fence Lizard Sceloporus occidentalis

(=Blue-bellied lizard or swift)

Southern Alligator Lizard Gerrhonotus multicarinatus

(African)Fat tailed gecko Hemitheconyx caudinunctus

Leopard gecko Eublepharis macularius

Kenyan Sand Boa Eryx sp.

Ball Python Phyton regius

California King Snake Lampropeltis gelutus californiae

California Mountain King Snake Lampropeltis zonata

Corn Snake (snow phase) Elaphe guttata

Corn Snake (amelanistic phase) Elaphe guttata

Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis

Gopher Snake Pituophis melanoleucus

Sinaloan Milk Snake Lampropeltis triangulus

Three-toed Box Turtle Terrapenecarolina triunguis

 MAMMALS:

Mice or rats

African Pygmy Hedgehog Atelerix albiventris

Chinchilla Chinchilla brevicaudata boliviana

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TO ADD INFORMATION TO THE WEBSITE:

Go to the website (link) of the class to which you belong (click on one of the 2 links below):

ATS Zoology Class - Summer 06 - Section 1

ATS Zoology Class - Summer 06 - Section 2

Enter the password you were given in class.

Follow the directions below (THEY ARE ALSO GIVEN INSIDE THE ALBUM!) to add comments to the photo album.

DIRECTIONS for doing what is requested:
To start, find your picture(s) or any other picture you wish to add comments to- in the album (let me know if you don't like it - I will take another - or send me a different one.
Go UNDER the photo and click on ADD DESCRIPTION. You will get 2 boxes. An ADD a DESCRIPTION box at the TOP. An ENTER a COMMENT box at the BOTTOM. Select the box at the bottom that says ENTER a COMMENT. Go ahead, type in your name and a comment. THEN YOU MUST PRESS ENTER - OR IT WILL NOT TAKE. If you forget to press enter at the end of typing in your comment(s), you will have to start again.

 

 

 

 

Your questions, comments and suggestions are welcome. E-mail Jana Shober

Web page created by: Jana Shober
Web page design by: Jason Ryan