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:
BIO 113-Dinosaurs in not being offered this semester; It will be offered again in Fall 2024
Texts: U.M. Savalli 2023. 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
Tentative Lecture Schedule (Fall 2023)
Week of:
| Topic:
| Chapters in Text:
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August 17 — | Course Introduction |
| 22-24 — | Scientific Method; History of Dino Exploration | 1, 15
| Aug 29-31 — | Fossils & Paleontological Techniques | 1
| September 5-7 — | Stratigraphy; Evolution | 2, 3
| 12-14 — | Phylogenetic Trees & Classification | 3
| 19-21 — | Exam 1, Sep 19
Phylogenetic Analysis | 3
| Sep 26-28 — | History of Earth; Plate Tectonics | 2
| October 3-5 — | Extinctions | 17
| 10-12 — | No Class—Fall Break, Oct 10
Vertebrate Anatomy & Diversity | 4
| 18-20 — | Reptile Diversity | 4, 15
| 24-26 — | Exam 2, Oct 24
Dinosaur Origins | 4, 5
| Oct 31-Nov 2 — | Dinosaur Diversity | 7, 9-12
| November 7-9 — | Dinosaur Gigantism | 9, 13
| 14-16 — | Dinosaur Diets and Defenses | 6, (244-54), 10
| 21-23 — | Growth, Development & Metabolism
No Class—Thanksgiving, Nov 23 | 13, 14
| 28-30 — | The Origin of Birds
Exam 3, Nov 30 | 5, 8
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Lab Schedule (Fall 2023)
Date:
| Topic:
| Lab Manual Exercises:
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Aug 18 — | No Lab | none
| Aug 25 — | Introduction to Rocks | 1
| Sep 1 — | Introduction to Fossils | 2
| Sep 8 — | Estimating Age of Rocks | 3
| Sep 15 — | Abundance & Diversity Over Time | 6
| Sep 22 — | Evolution & Phylogenetic Methods | 4
| Sep 23 — | (Tentative) Optional Fossil Hunting Trip | 5
| Sep 29 — | The Vertebrate Skeleton | 7, 8
| Oct 6 — | Diet and Teeth | 9
| Oct 13 — | Prehistoric Reptiles | 12
| Oct 20 — | Pterosaurs; Dinosaur Origins; Sauropods | 13-15
| Oct 27 — | Ornithischian Dinosaurs | 16
| Nov 3 — | Theropod Dinosaurs | 17
| Nov 10 — | No Lab |
| Nov 17 — | Allometry & Body Size | 10, 11
| Dec 1 — | The Origin of Birds | 18
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