General information
Course type | AMUPIE |
Module title | Mammalogy – Biology, Evolution And Diversity Of Mammals [Lectures] |
Language | English |
Module lecturer | prof. dr hab. Leszek Rychlik |
Lecturer's email | lrychlik@amu.edu.pl |
Lecturer position | professor |
Faculty | Faculty of Biology |
Semester | 2022/2023 (summer) |
Duration | 24 |
ECTS | 3 |
USOS code | 01-MAMMALMON-PIE |
Timetable
Duration: 12 weeks
Module aim (aims)
The objective of this course is to give/teach the students:
- Basic knowledge about origin & evolution, morphology, biology, diversity, ecology and behaviour of mammals.
- Ability to distinguish the main taxonomic groups of extant mammals.
- Knowledge on the mammalian adaptations (morphological, physiological, behavioural) for living in different environments and habitats.
- Understanding of the functions of mammals in different ecosystems.
- Significance of current mammal studies in the progress of biological sciences.
Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)
- Basic knowledge about evolution (history and relationship between the main taxonomic groups, genetic base of evolution, role of mutations, natural selection, adaptation, divergence, convergence, extinction).
- Basic knowledge on vertebrate zoology (extant classes, their morphology, biology and ecology).
- Ability to self-reliant finding of literature in libraries and electronic sources.
- Sufficient skills/understanding of English language in listening, reading and writing.
Syllabus
Lectures
Week 1: Introduction. Mammalian characteristics. Basic information on morphology, biology and reproduction of mammals.
Week 2: Origin, evolution and classification of mammals.
Week 3: Mammal Diversity 1: survey of Monotremes & Metatherians.
Week 4: Mammal Diversity 2: survey of orders belonging to Afrotheria and Xenarthra.
Week 5: Mammal Diversity 3: survey of orders belonging to Euarchontoglires.
Week 6: Mid-term exam 1. Mammal Diversity 4a: survey of orders belonging to Laurasiatheria.
Week 7: Mammal Diversity 4b: survey of orders belonging to Laurasiatheria.
Week 8: Adaptations of mammals to semi-aquatic, aquatic, semi-fossorial, and fossorial styles of life.
Week 9: Adaptations of mammals to scansorial, arboreal and volant styles of life.
Week 10: Adaptations of mammals to cold conditions and high temperatures & scarcity of
water.
Week 11: Synanthropisation, synurbization and domestication (mammals of farmlands and
cities). Endangered mammals and mammal conservation.
Week 12: Mid-term exam 2. Modern methods of scientific investigations on mammals.
Advances in behavioural and ecological studies of mammals.
Week 13:
Week 14:
Week 15:
Reading list
- Feldhamer G.A., Drickamer L.C., Vessey S.H. & Merritt J.F. 2014 (or older editions). Mammalogy: adaptation, diversity, and ecology. WBC/McGraw-Hill, Boston.
- Vaughan T.A., Ryan J.M. & Czaplewski N.J. 2014 (or older editions). Mammalogy. Jones and Bartlett Learning, Burlington, MA, USA.
- McDonald D. W. (ed.) 2006. The encyclopedia of mammals. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
- Merritt J. F. The Biology of Small Mammals. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.
- Animal Diversity Web. (http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mammalia/).
- The Life of Mammals. 2002. BBC nature documentary series (written and presented by David Attenborough).