This is a course on the diversity of mammals.  We will cover the evolutionary diversification of mammals of the world and the diversity, ecology, and evolution of local mammalian fauna.

The lecture portion of the course covers a wide range of subjects on the ecology and evolution of mammals. Students will be expected to complete assigned readings from the texts and other literature to support material discussed in lecture.

The laboratory portion of the course will focus on the defining characteristics of mammalian families worldwide, selected North American genera, and many Arizona species. We emphasize a functional understanding of the characters that diagnose lineages. You will not simply memorize characters, but also learn their evolutionary and functional significance.

Field work is a critical part of the class:  we will have the opportunity to observe, handle, and study wild mammals. A required weekend field trip in southeastern Arizona will introduce students to the field identification of mammals and techniques used to study their population biology.

Students will gain additional experience by writing a research proposal:  developing an idea for a research question, considering study design and research methods, and incorporating information from relevant literature.