Introduction to Mammalogy
|
|||
| I. General Characteristics of Modern Mammals |
|||
| II. Mammalian Evolution | |||
| A. Origins of mammals | |||
| 1. Beginnings: Characteristics of pelycosaurs
and other early synapsids 2. Adaptations: Dentition, jaw structure, and other skeletal traits 3. Advanced therapsids and the first mammals |
|||
| B. Major adaptive radiations | |||
| 1. Early lineages and their ecological
specializations 2. Biogeographical influences 3. Convergence among major groups of mammals |
|||
| III. General Biology of Mammals | |||
| A. Mammalian environmental physiology | |||
| 1. Thermoregulation | |||
| a. Dealing with cold b. Dealing with heat |
|||
| 2. Torpor, hibernation, and biological timing | |||
| B. The mammalian nervous system | |||
| 1. The mammalian brain 2. Sensory systems in mammals |
|||
| C. Mammalian reproductive biology | |||
| 1. Comparative strategies of monotremes,
marsupials, and eutherians 2. Reproductive cycles |
|||
| a. Hormonal regulation b. Delayed fertilization and implantation c. Environmental cues |
|||
| IV. Mammalian Biodiversity | |||
| A. Biology of monotremes and marsupials | |||
| 1. Classification, characteristics, and
biogeography 2. Natural history and habitat associations |
|||
| B. The rise of eutherians | |||
| 1. General classification, biodiversity,
and biogeography of eutherians 2. Biology of the sloths, armadillos, anteaters, etc: Life with a low metabolic rate" |
|||
| C. Insectivores (shrews and moles): ÏLife
with a high metabolic rate" D. Chiroptera (bats) |
|||
| 1. Classification and characteristics 2. The biology and physics of echolocation 3. Biogeography and natural history |
|||
| E. Primates and related orders | |||
| 1. Scandentia (tree shrews) 2. Dermoptera (colugos or flying lemurs) 3. Primates |
|||
| a. General biology b. Evolutionary history c. The evolution of hominid primates, including humans |
|||
| F. Rodentia | |||
| 1. Diversity, characteristics, and general
biology 2. Classification, natural history, and habitat associations |
|||
| G. Lagomorpha | |||
| 1. Classification, characteristics and
biogeography 2. Functional biology and behavior 3. Natural history and habitat associations |
|||
| H. Carnivora | |||
| 1. Classification, characteristics and
biogeography 2. Functional biology and behavior 3. Natural history and habitat associations |
|||
| I. Artiodactyla | |||
| 1. Classification, characteristics and
biogeography 2. Functional biology and behavior 3. Natural history and habitat associations |
|||
| J. Cetacea | |||
| 1. Classification, characteristics and
general biology 2. Natural history and behavior 3. The biology of sonar |
|||
| K. Proboscidae, Sirenia and Hyracoidea L. Perissodactyla |
|||
| V. Mammalian Social Behavior | |||
| A. Reproductive behavior | |||
| 1. Mating 2. Parental Care |
|||
| B. Group behavior | |||
| 1. Complex social unitsÚpacks, herds, and individual roles | |||
| a. ColoniesÚaltruism and kin selection b. Mating systems and defense c. Pack behavior and cooperative effort |
|||
| 2. Territoriality | |||
| VI. The Ecology of Mammals |
|||
| A. Mammalian population biology | |||
| 1. Population growth 2. Regulation of populations 3. Predator-prey cycles |
|||
| B. Mammalian community ecology C. Roles of mammals in ecosystems |
|||
| VII. Conservation Biology and Endangered Mammals | |||
| A. Habitat loss B. Exploitation C. Theoretical considerations |
|||
Updated January 2008.
Copyright 2007 Northwest Center for Sustainable Resources,Salem,Oregon.