We not meet most Fridays. This day will be used with short weeks, and to makeup missed lectures if they occur.
Laboratory/Discussion Section: Tuesday 1pm-4pm FJ-141w (some meetings in a different location, TBA in lecture.) The schedule of laboratories is tentative and will change with availability of animals, and the weather. All changes will be announced in lecture.
Professor: Dr. Alan P. Jaslow
Off: FJ 138 E, 726-3602
email: AJASLOW
Home Phone 272-7148 (before 10pm only).
Homepage
JAN
Wed 10 Introduction to Animal Communication and Biological Context
FRI 12 Behavior and The Scientific Method
Tue 17 LAB: 1st Lab, Intro. to the study of Animal Behavior.
Wed 15 No meeting, Martin Luther King Day.
FRI 19 Behavior and The Scientific Method
Mon 22 Genetics
Tue 23 LAB: "Talking Heads": Fixed Action Patterns and
Temporal Patterns.
Wed 24 Evolution
Mon 29 QUIZ I, Evolution
Tue 30 LAB: "Truth in Advertising?": Mimicry and other
Adaptive Coloration.
Wed 31 Evolution
FEB
Mon 5 Cellular Communication
Tue 6 LAB: "Your Too Sexy for this Tank!" Betta Displays
and Sign Stimuli I.
Wed 7 EXAM I
Mon 12 Pheromones
Tue 13 LAB: Betta's II. Data Summary and Conclusions.
Wed 14 Pheromones
Mon 19 Bioluminescence
Tue 20 LAB: "Seeing is Believing." Visual Communication
Wed 21 Bioluminescence
Mon 26 QUIZ II, Visual Communication
Tue 27 LAB: Meet in Lab, Zoo Lab I.
Wed 28 Visual Communication
MAR
Spring Break 2nd-10th
Mon 11 Electrical communication
Tue 12 LAB: Guppy Courtship (or Pheromones) TBA
Wed 13 Electrical Communication
Mon 18 Mechanical Communication
Tue 19 LAB: "Dance Fever": Honeybee Communication.
Wed 20 EXAM II
Mon 25 Mechanical Communication
Tue 26 LAB: Meet in Lab, Zoo Lab II
Wed 27 Mechanical Communication
APR
Mon 1 Acoustic Behavior
Tue 2 LAB: Discussion of Zoo Lab II.
Wed 3 Acoustic Behavior
Mon 8 QUIZ III, Evolution of Communication
Tue 9 LAB: "Nightlife": Acoustic Insects; Sound Lab I.
Wed 10 Evolution of Communication
Mon 15 Ontogeny of Communication
Tue 16 LAB: (Meetings as arranged in FJ 138e) Sound Lab II; Analysis
Wed 17 Ontogeny of Communication
Mon 22 (Awards Assembly) short class or TBA
Tue 23 LAB: (Meetings as arranged in FJ 138e) Sound Lab II; Analysis
Wed 24 Class Finale
MAY
Wed 1 8:30-11:00am EXAM III / FINAL EXAM
Specific Goals: To learn how animals communicate and how to study animal communication.
The Big Picture: To learn how to do science by learning about scientific methodology. This will be done using the specific topic of animal communication.
In doing the above we will learn about: Science in general Biology Animal Behavior and evolution Animal Communication
To study Animal Communication we will learn something about basic biological organisms, principles, and phenomena including; evolution, single celled organisms, multicelled organisms, sensory physiology, hormone physiology, micro- and macro- anatomy, and development.
This course demands mastering a new vocabulary and concepts, and very active thinking. Many exersises will demand learning new skills of observation and creative thought to solve problems (answer questions).
Attendance is expected as you will be responsible for all assignments, discussions, and information covered in lecture and laboratories. If you miss class due to illness please let me know ASAP. If you have a legitimate reason to miss a class, please see me ahead of the class to let me know. Thank you. It will impossible to make up some labs and discussions. Unexcused absences may drop your final grade.
Readings will be from a textbook and a assembled group of papers and chapters, both of which will be available at the reserve desk in our library. On occasion, there may be other assigned readings. You will be expected to have read assigned readings before the appropriate class.
Class participation is expected, based in discussions of readings, lecture material, labs and other assignments.
I support the honor system and expect that all of your work on exams quizzes, papers and assignments is done individually. This does not include laboratory exercises that require (if assigned) cooperative work. Although papers are written individually, you may have your written assignments proof-read by friends for sense, grammar and organization. Your ability to communicate clearly and correctly through writing will be part of your grade.
Grades will be based on the following evaluations:
Attendance. Unexcused absences can drop your grade.
3 1-hour examinations 100 pts each 300 pts (if there is one test that is significantly lower than the other two I will adjust that low grade half way towards the next lowest grade) The third of these will be during the final exam period and will include some cumulative questions as announced in class.
3 Quiz 20 pts each, the lowest quiz score will be dropped 40 pts
5-7 lab assignments TBA 40-50 pts
2 Short papers or Project Reports 40 pts each 80 pts (topic must be OK'd by me)
Total (Depends on the number of lab assignments) 460-470 pts.