Udo Savalli

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BIO 113— Dinosaurs

Updated 22 December 2023

Course Information

Lab Manual Cover
Textbook Cover

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


Announcements & Upcoming



Tentative Lecture Schedule
(Fall 2023)

Week of:
Topic:
Chapters in Text:
August 17 —Course Introduction
22-24 —Scientific Method; History of Dino Exploration1, 15
Aug 29-31 —Fossils & Paleontological Techniques1
September 5-7 — Stratigraphy; Evolution2, 3
12-14 — Phylogenetic Trees & Classification3
19-21 —Exam 1, Sep 19
Phylogenetic Analysis

3
Sep 26-28 —History of Earth; Plate Tectonics2
October 3-5 —Extinctions17
10-12 —No Class—Fall Break, Oct 10
Vertebrate Anatomy & Diversity
4
18-20 —Reptile Diversity4, 15
24-26 —Exam 2, Oct 24
Dinosaur Origins

4, 5
Oct 31-Nov 2 —Dinosaur Diversity7, 9-12
November 7-9 —Dinosaur Gigantism9, 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


Lab Schedule
(Fall 2023)

Date:
Topic:
Lab Manual Exercises:
Aug 18 —No Labnone
Aug 25 —Introduction to Rocks1
Sep 1 —Introduction to Fossils2
Sep 8 —Estimating Age of Rocks3
Sep 15 —Abundance & Diversity Over Time6
Sep 22 —Evolution & Phylogenetic Methods4
Sep 23 —(Tentative) Optional Fossil Hunting Trip5
Sep 29 —The Vertebrate Skeleton7, 8
Oct 6 —Diet and Teeth9
Oct 13 —Prehistoric Reptiles12
Oct 20 —Pterosaurs; Dinosaur Origins; Sauropods13-15
Oct 27 —Ornithischian Dinosaurs16
Nov 3 —Theropod Dinosaurs17
Nov 10 —No Lab
Nov 17 —Allometry & Body Size10, 11
Dec 1 —The Origin of Birds18

Virtual Museum
Of Paleontology for Bio113


Lab Info:


Lab 0—No Lab (Aug 20)


Lab 1—Intro to Rocks (Aug 25)
Rocks Images


Lab 2—Intro to Fossils (Sep 1)
Fossils Images
Lagerstätte Images


Lab 3—The Age of Rocks (Sep 8)


Lab 4—Diversity Over Geological Time (Sep 15)
Paleobiology Database
Intro to PBDB Navigator (YouTube)


Lab 5—Phylogenetic Methods (Sep 22)


Lab 6—The Vertebrate Skeleton (Sep 29)
Skeletons Images
Skulls Images
Skin & Related Structures Images


Lab 7—Diet and Teeth (Oct 6)
Dinosaur Diets: Modern Animals
Dinosaur Diets: Prehistoric Teeth
Dinosaur Skulls
Optional: Mesozoic Plants


Lab 8—Prehistoric Reptile Diversity (Oct 13)
Prehistoric Reptile Diversity
Prehistoric Reptile Fossils
Reptile Phylogeny Overview


Lab 9—Pterosaurs, Dinosaur Origins & Sauropods (Oct 20)
Pterosaur Diversity
Dinosaur Origins
Sauropodomorph Dinosaur Diversity


Lab 10—Ornithischian Dinosaurs (Oct 27)
Ornithischian Dinosaur Diversity
Reptile Phylogeny Overview


Lab 11—Theropod Dinosaurs (Nov 3)
Theropod Dinosaur Diversity


Optional Field Trip
due Friday, Nov 17th
Location on: Google Maps | Bing Maps


Lab 12—Dinosaur Size & Allometry (Nov 17)
Lab 12 Worksheet


Lab 13—The Origin of Birds (Dec 1)
Modern Bird Skeleton & Feathers
Bird Evolution Fossils
Feathered Dinosaur Evolution



Self-guided Tour of AZNHM (complete on your own prior to Nov 27)

Downloads:
acrobat All handouts in PDF format


General Handouts
Lecture Notes

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