Udo Savalli

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BIO 113— Dinosaurs

Updated 3 December 2024

Course Information

Lab Manual Cover
Textbook Cover

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

Announcements & Upcoming

  • Dec 5 — Lecture Exam 3
  • Dec 12 — Final Exam: 7:30 am (Optional)

Tentative Lecture Schedule
(Fall 2024)

Week of:
Topic:
Chapters in Text:
August 22 —Course Introduction
27-29 —Scientific Method; History of Dino Exploration1, 15
September 3-5 —Fossils & Paleontological Techniques1
September 10-12 — Stratigraphy; Evolution2, 3
17-19 — Phylogenetic Trees & Classification3
24-26 —Exam 1, Sep 24
Phylogenetic Analysis
3
October 1-3 —History of Earth; Plate Tectonics2
8-10 —Extinctions17
15-17 —No Class—Fall Break, Oct 15
Vertebrate Anatomy & Diversity		4
22-24 —Reptile Diversity4, 15
29-31 —Exam 2, Oct 29
Dinosaur Origins
4, 5
November 5-7 —Dinosaur Diversity7, 9-12
12-14 —Dinosaur Gigantism9, 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

Lab Schedule
(Fall 2024)

Date:
Topic:
Lab Manual Exercises:
Aug 23 —No Labnone
Aug 30 —Introduction to Rocks1
Sep 6 —Introduction to Fossils2
Sep 13 —Estimating Age of Rocks3
Sep 20 —Abundance & Diversity Over Time6
Sep 27 —Evolution & Phylogenetic Methods4
Oct 4 —The Vertebrate Skeleton7, 8
Oct 11 —Diet and Teeth9
Oct 18 —Prehistoric Reptiles12
Oct 25 —Pterosaurs; Dinosaur Origins; Sauropods13-15
Nov 1 —Ornithischian Dinosaurs16
Nov 8 —Theropod Dinosaurs17
Nov 15 —Allometry & Body Size10, 11
Nov 22 —The Origin of Birds18
Dec 6 —No Lab

Virtual Museum
Of Paleontology for Bio113

Lab Info:

Lab 0—No Lab (Aug 23)

Lab 1—Intro to Rocks (Aug 30)
Lab 1 Worksheet

Rocks Images

Lab 2—Intro to Fossils (Sep 6)
Lab 2 Worksheet

Fossils Images
Lagerstätte Images

Lab 3—The Age of Rocks (Sep 13)
Lab 3 Worksheet

Lab 4—Diversity Over Geological Time (Sep 20)
Lab 4 Worksheet
Paleobiology Database
Intro to PBDB Navigator (YouTube)

Lab 5—Phylogenetic Methods (Sep 27)
Lab 5 Worksheet

Lab 6—The Vertebrate Skeleton (Oct 4)
Lab 6 Worksheet
Skeletons Images
Skulls Images
Skin & Related Structures Images

Lab 7—Diet and Teeth (Oct 11)
Lab 7 Worksheet
Dinosaur Diets: Modern Animals
Dinosaur Diets: Prehistoric Teeth
Dinosaur Skulls
Optional: Mesozoic Plants

Lab 8—Prehistoric Reptile Diversity (Oct 18)
Lab 8 Worksheet
Prehistoric Reptile Diversity
Prehistoric Reptile Fossils
Reptile Phylogeny Overview

Lab 9—Pterosaurs, Dinosaur Origins & Sauropods (Oct 25)
Lab 9 Worksheet
Pterosaur Diversity
Dinosaur Origins
Sauropodomorph Dinosaur Diversity

Lab 10—Ornithischian Dinosaurs (Nov 1) Lab 10 Worksheet

Ornithischian Dinosaur Diversity
Reptile Phylogeny Overview

Lab 11—Theropod Dinosaurs (Nov 8) Lab 11 Worksheet

Theropod Dinosaur Diversity

Optional Field Trip (Saturday, Nov 9th)
Field Trip Info
Field Notes Guidelines due Friday, Nov 15th
Location on: Google Maps | Bing Maps

Lab 12—Dinosaur Size & Allometry (Nov 15)
Lab 12 Worksheet
Class Data

Lab 13—The Origin of Birds (Nov 18)
Lab 13 Worksheet
Modern Bird Skeleton & Feathers
Bird Evolution Fossils
Feathered Dinosaur Evolution
Lab 13 Intro Notes

Self-guided Tour of AZNHM (complete on your own prior to Nov 26)

Downloads:
acrobat All handouts in PDF format

General Handouts
Lecture Notes
Assignments
Exam Reviews
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