Geology 115
EVOLUTION: DINOSAURS TO DARWIN


Lectures, Exams, and Reading Assignments
(Generic List)

Textbook abbreviations: B=Bakker's The Dinosaur Heresies;
C=Cowen's History of Life;
LT=Lutgens &Tarbuck's Essentials of Geology
      (on reserve in Science Library)
Indicates Additional Optional Readings also are available:
    These can be found on reserve in Science Library & electronically
    through Blackboard in two Special Issues of Natural History magazine:
        "Terrible Lizzards: A new Family Portrait," v. 114 (4), May 2005
           and "Dinosaur Science," v. 104 (6), June 1995.

I. THE GEOLOGIC CALENDAR                 TEXT Chapter :pages
Week 1 M Course introduction  
T The record in the rocks C xi-xv; C 1:1-2; C 2:21-24
H Telling geologic time LT 15:279-289, 293-296; C 2:24-26
Week 2 T Fossilization & preservation bias LT 15:289-293; B 2:29-47;
B 5:105-124
II. DINOSAURS
Week 2 H Evolutionary concepts & dino origins B 3:48-74; B 15:325-346; B 1:15-28;
B 4:75-84; B 20:406-424; C 10:153-154;
160-163; C 11:171-183;
Week 3 T Bones & teeth: dinosaur classification C 3:45-50; C 12:185-194; B 22:445-462
Eyewitness/Skeleton video
H Coevolution of meat-/plant-eating dinos B 12:255-272; B 11:226-254
Week 4 T Herbivorous dinos & plant evolution I C 12:195-197; B 6-8:125-178
H Herbivorous dinos & plant evolution II C 17:271-281; B 9:179-198;
Week 5 T Field Trip to "Jurassic Park" Article 2;
(Report due in class 2/28);
H Social & reproductive behaviors of dinos C 12:197-202; B 4:84-101; Articles 1-2
Week 6 T Debate over warm-blooded dinosaurs C 13:203-214; B 10:201-225; B 16-18:347-392;
III. OTHER MESOZOIC MARVELS
Week 6 H Pterosaurs, plesiosaurs, crocodiles, etc. C 14:215-228; C 16:261-270; B 13:273-297
Week 7 T Feathered dinos & evolution of birds C 14:228-240; B 14:298-322; Article 3-4;
H MIDTERM  
Week 8 T, H SPRING BREAK  
Week 9 T Cloning Study I: Should Dinosaurs Be Cloned From Fossil DNA?  
H Cloning Study II: Science Cinema on How to Clone a Dinosaur  
Week 10 T Origin & anatomy of mammals C 15:241-259
H Cretaceous extinctions I C 18:283-298
Week 11 T Cloning Study III: In-Class Trial ***includes free period (until 12:30pm)***
H Cretaceous extinctions II B 2:425-444 "dino day"
Sat. Field Trip to AMNH in NYC Required
IV. MAMMALS INHERIT THE EARTH
Week 12 T Plate tectonics & Cenozoic mammals C 19:299-311
H Evolution & ecology of ungulates C 19:312-318
Week 13 T Specialization of cats & dogs Article 5
H Southern hemisphere marsupials C 20:319-330
V. HUMAN EVOLUTION
Week 14 T Modern humans, apes, & monkeys C 21:337-349; Article 6
H Walking tall: origins of hominid bipedalism C 22:351-372; Articles 7-8
Week 15 T Ice age humans C 23:373-384 Article 9
H Pleistocene Overkill & review C 24:385-403 Articles 10-11
** T FINAL EXAM comprehensive


Additional materials on reserve in the science library
& available electronically through Blackboard


PLEASE do not make any pencil or pen marks, underlinings, or highlighting in any of the articles or books on reserve. Students will be charged for any damage done to reserve readings.

Textbook:
   Lutgens, F.K. and Tarbuck, E.J. 1986. Essentials of Geology. Merrill
    (Columbus, OH).

Video:
   Eyewitness video on "Skeleton" -- gives helpful background information
    on the anatomy and function of bones, teeth and shells.

Article 1:
   Horner, J.R. and Weishampel, D.B. 1989. Dinosaur eggs: the inside
    story. Natural History, 12/89:60-67.

Article 2:
   Lockley, M.G. 1984. Dinosaur tracking. Science Teacher, 51:18-24.

Article 3:
   Padian, K. and Chiappe, L.M. 1998. The origin of birds and their flight.
   Scientific American, 278:28-37.

Article 4;
   Norell, M. 2001. The proof is in the plumage. Natural History, 7-8/01:58-63.

Optional ;
   Prum, R.O. and Brush, A.H. 2003. Which came first, the feather or the bird?
   Scientific American, 288:84-93.

Article 5;
   Cavallo, J.A. 1990. Cat in the human cradle Natural History, 2/90:52-61.

Article 6:
   Ghiglieri, M.P. 1985. The social ecology of chimpanzees.
   Scientific American, 252:102-113.

Article 7:
   Blumenschine, R.J., and Cavallo, J.A. 1992. Scavenging and human
   evolution. Scientific American, 267:90-96.

Article 8:
   Tattersall, I. 2000. Once we were not alone. Scientific American, 282:56-62.

Article 9:
   Wong, K. 2000. Who were the Neanderthals? Scientific American, 282:99-107.

Article 10:
   Barlow, C. 2001. Ghost stories from the Ice Age. Natural History, 110:62-67.

Article 11:
   Levin, P.S. and Levin, D.A. 2002. The real biodiversity crisis.
   American Scientist, 90:6-8.

Optional readings are available in two Special Issues of Natural History magazine:
        "Terrible Lizzards: A new Family Portrait," v. 114 (4), May 2005
           and "Dinosaur Science," v. 104 (6), June 1995.

Back to 115 Syllabus


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updated 3/11

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