GEOL431
Vertebrate Paleobiology
Spring 2023
M 1:00 - 1:50, TTH 12:30 - 1:45.

Instructor: Dr. Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Office: Chemistry 1225B
Phone: x5-4084
E-mail: tholtz@umd.edu
Office Hours: Wed 10 - 11:30 am

Instructor: Dr. John W. Merck, Jr.
Office: Centreville 1218 (M, Tu) Geology 1119 (W, Th, F)
Phone: x5-4379
E-mail: jmerck@umd.edu
Office Hours: Thu 2:00 - 4:00 or by appointment. Recommend you schedule appointments in advance.

Description:

A survey of the evolution of the vertebrates, encompassing information from the diversity of living members, but concentrating on the contribution of the fossil record. Emphasis is on the phylogenetic systematics, comparative anatomy, developmental biology, and geochronology of major extinct and extant groups.

Prerequisites:

At least one of the following: BSCI207, BSCI392, GEOL104, GEOL204, BSCI333/GEOL331, HONR219D, or permission of the Geology Department.

Texts:

• Matthew F. Bonnan. 2016. The Bare Bones: An Unconventional Evolutionary History of the Skeleton. Indiana University Press. 508 pp. ISBN 978-0-253-01832-8
• Additional readings from the technical literature: some listed below, others will be provided via ELMS

Emphasis:

An advanced survey of vertebrate evolution as revealed by the fossil record and of the methods by which this pattern is illuminated. This course is intended for students with serious professional or avocational interests in vertebrate evolution and some prior knowledge of:
• The history of life
• The methods of phylogenetic systematics (cladistics)
• The rock record
Our aim is to provide the necessary background knowledge in vertebrate paleobiology properly to equip a student to enter graduate studies in vertebrate paleontology and/or systematics, or related disciplines.

Course Organization:

We assumption that the entire semester will be in-person:
• Two 75 min. lectures weekly, TTH 12:30 - 1:45, PLS 1172
• One 50 min. discussion session weekly - MON 1:00 - 1:50, PLS 1184.

Credit:

Four credit hours.

Course Website:

http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/geol431/

ELMS:

The ELMS Canvas site will include announcements concerning the class; copies of the handouts; and so forth. If you have not already done so, make sure that you get access to ELMS.

Grades:

Final grades will be based on the following items:
• TBD

Discussion: The weekly discussion will be devoted either to explorations of the technical literature for selected specific topics or to exercises designed to improve your knowledge of background information not suitable for lecture. All students are expected to attend every meeting and be an active participant when appropriate. In some classes, there may be directed interactive activities or discussions. Some of the discussions will involve creating (individually or collaboratively) anatomical drawings based on vertebrate specimens.

Homework: Four graded homework assignments throughout the course help make sure that your are familiar with some of the content and concepts.

Quizzes: There will be five quizzes. We drop the lowest score to calculate your quiz grade. These will be administered via ELMS

Mid-term exams: There will be two midterms covering material since the beginning of the semester or the previous midterm.

Final exam: The final will be administered according to the standard schedule during finals week. Although cumulative in nature, It will emphasize material since the last mid-term .

Grade calculation: With diligent work it is possible for each student to attain an A in this class. Grading will be based on points gained from the examinations listed above, as follows:

100-97% = A+	96-94% = A	93-90% = A-
89-87% = B+	86-84% = B	83-80% = B-
79-77% = C+	76-74% = C	73-70% = C-
69-67% = D+	66-64% = D	63-60% = D-
<60% = F

Class description and attendance policy: Attendance won't be taken, however attendance is required. Exams will be based on lecture and discussion material and reading assignments. A participation score will make up 15% of your discussion grade. Posted web notes are intended as a synopsis of lecture material only and are made available as current and future reference material. We recommend printing these prior to class and making marginal notations. Actual lectures may include additional information. If you miss a lecture you must get full notes from a colleague.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the semester, every student should be able to:
• Identify, locate, and interpret technical literature in vertebrate paleontology
• Correctly interpret major features and many details of the osteology of extinct and extant vertebrates
• Display proficient knowledge of the pattern of vertebrate evolution
• Understand major connections between vertebrate development and evolution
• Critically evaluate paleontological analyses in the technical literature.

POLICIES

Expectations and Policies

Expectations & Attendance:
Attendance in the Zoom discussion meetings is required.

Attendance in laboratory is required. Prior to each lab there will be instruction about aspects of that day's material provided on Panopto and lab quizzes evaluating previous weeks' material on ELMS. The specimens will often be accessible during the week if you wish to revisit them before turning in your assignment; however, due to loss of specimens in the past some individual fossils might only be made available during lab time.

NOTE: Attendance means more than mere presence: it means "paying attention". Please take out your ear buds and refrain from texting/web-browsing/doing homework/etc. in class and in lab.

Communication:
Communication in this course will primarily be by means of the ELMS Annouoncement and Inbox email systems. Even given its online nature, there is the possibility that due to unusual inclement weather or other unexpected emergencies, the University may close. Please consult the University main webpage or call 301-405-7669 (SNOW) to confirm such cancellations. Dr. Holtz will contact students via ELMS in order to inform them concerning delays of due dates for projects to be handed in or for exams: typically these will be shifted until the next available class date.

General Policies:
The University has provided a page on Academic policies here. Each student is responsible for reviewing this page with regards to issues of Academic Integrity; the Code of Student Conduct; Sexual Misconduct; Discrimination; Accessibility; Attendance, Absences, or Missed Assignments; Student Rights Regarding Undergraduate Courses; Official UMD Communication; Mid-Term Grades; Complaints About Course Final Grades; Copyright and Intellectual Property; Final Exams and Course Evaluations; and Campus Resources. For specifics with regards to this course, see the following:

Laptop/Tablet/Smartphone Use:
Given the reliance on technology this semester, please make certain that you have access to appropriate hardware, software, and Internet connections. If you are concerned about your ability to connect remotely for this course, please consult the following information about solutions provided by the Division of Information Technology:

• General Technology Information, including laptop loaner requests
• Network Resources

NOTE: As part of the nature of the course, there will be a lot of memorization (less than a foreign language class, but more than that found in more mathematically-oriented introductory science classes). This will include lots of anatomical, geological, and paleontological terms, as well as evolutionary and temporal relationships. If you have difficulty memorizing, this may not be the class for you. Also, if there are words or concepts with which you are not familiar, feel free to ask Drs. Holtz or Merck (in discussion, at office hours, over email, etc.) for an explanation or clarification.

Copyright: © 2023 John W. Merck, Jr. and Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. as to this syllabus and all lectures. Students are prohibited from copying and selling course materials, from selling lecture notes, and from being paid to take lecture notes without the express written permission of the faculty teaching this course.

Part I: Introduction and Context

Date	Topic	Reading
Week one (Jan. 25-27):	1/26: Introduction to Vertebrata (TH) & The Fossil Record and Vertebrate Taphonomy (JM)	Reading: Bonnan, Chaps. 1-2
Week two (Jan. 30- Feb. 3):	1/30 Discussion: Basics: Anatomical Directions (JM) and Geologic Time (TH)

Week two, cont'd.:

1/31 Vertebrates within Metazoa (JM) 2/2 Body-Building - Vertebrate Development (JM)

Reading: Bonnan, Chap. 3

Week three (Feb. 6-10):

2/6 Discussion: Phylogenetic Systematics and Reading Cladograms (TH) Quiz I due 2/10 Homework I (Geologic Time & Phylogenetics) assigned, due 2/13 2/7 - End of schedule adjustment. 2/7 Fossil and jawless vertebrates (JM) 2/9 The rise of Gnathostomata and "Placodermi" (JM)

Reading: Bonnan, Chaps. 4

Week four (Feb. 13-17):

2/13 Discussion: The Vertebrate Cranium I: Regions and Structures (JM) Homework I due 2/14 Eugnathostomata, Chondrichthyes, and "spiny sharks" (JM) 2/16 The rise of Osteichthyes and basal Actinopterygii (JM)

Reading: . Bonnan, Chap. 6 Bonnan, Chap. 7 Coates, (2013) Sharks and the deep origin of modern jawed vertebrates The Palaeontological Association 57th Annual Meeting Podcast. Zhu, et al. (2013) The braincase and jaws of a Devonian "acanthodian" and modern gnathostome origins Nature 502, 188-193.

Week five (Feb. 20-24):

2/20 Discussion:The Vertebrate Cranium II: Just Look at the Bones! Quiz II due 2/24 2/21 Neopterygii (JM) 2/23 Sarcopterygii (JM)

Reading: Bonnan, Chap. 7 Bonnan, Chap. 8

Week six (Feb. 27 - Mar. 3):

2/27 Discussion: Vertebrate skeletal anatomy III - The axial skeleton (JM) Homework II ("Look at the Bones!") assigned. Be sure to use osteology reference and cheat-sheet! Due 3/6 2/28 Toward Tetrapoda (JM) 3/2 Crown Tetrapoda (JM)

Reading: Bonnan, Chap. 9 Bonnan, Chap. 10-11 Bonnan, Chap. 11 Chapter 3: Handy Genes of Shubin, 2007. Your Inner Fish (From The Army and Navy Academy) Coates et al., 2008. Ever Since Owen: Changing Perspectives on the Early Evolution of Tetrapods (with excellent illustrations)

Week seven (Mar. 6-10):

3/6 Discussion: The Appendicular Skeleton - Anatomy and Development (JM) Midterm Exam I due 3/10 3/7 Amniote origins and Introduction to Synapsida (TH) 3/9 Non-mammalian Therapsida and the Rise of Mammals (TH)

Reading: Bonnan, Chaps. 12, 20 Bonnan, Chap. 20

Week eight (Mar. 13-17):

3/13 Discussion: Mammalian Odontography (TH) Homework II due Homework III (Odontography) assigned, due 3/27 3/14 Mesozoic Mammal Diversity; Diversification of Crown-Mammals; Marsupialia (TH) 3/16 Placentalia I: Afrotheria, Xenarthra, and Euarchontoglires (TH)

Reading: Bonnan, Chap. 19 Bonnan, Chap. 21

Spring Break Mar. 20-24

Week nine (Mar. 27 - 31):

3/27 Discussion: The Amniote Skull (TH) Quiz III due 3/31 Homework III (Odontography) due 3/28 Placentalia II: Euarchontaglires and Laurasiatheria (TH) 3/30 Placentalia III: Ungulatamorpha (TH)

Week ten (Apr. 3-7):

4/3 Discussion:Biomechanics of terrestrial locomotion (TH) 4/4 Introduction to Sauropsida (JM) 4/6 Lepidosauromorpha (JM)

Reading: Bonnan, Chaps. 13-14 Bonnan, Chaps. 14-15

Week eleven (Apr. 10-14):

4/10 Discussion: Biomechanics of aquatic locomotion (JM) Midterm Exam II due 4/14 Apr. 11, Last day to withdraw with a W 4/11 Euryapsida (JM) 4/13 Introduction to Archosauromorpha (JM)

Reading: Bonnan, Chap. 15

Week twelve (Apr. 17-21):

4/17 Discussion: Bone Histology (TH) 4/18 Archosauriformes through Pseudosuchia (TH) 4/20 Introduction to Crocodylomorpha (TH)

Reading: Bonnan, Chaps. 16-17 Wilberg, et al. 2019. Evolutionary structure and timing of major habitat shifts in Crocodylomorpha. Scientific Reports 9: 514 (2019). doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-36795-1

Week thirteen (Apr. 24-28):

4/24 Discussion: The Biomechanics of Flight (JM) Quiz IV due 4/28 Homework IV (Locomotion) assigned 4/25 Introduction to Ornithodira; Pterosauria (TH) 4/27 Dinosauria Origins; Ornithischia (TH)

Reading: . Bonnan, Chap. 18 Witton, M.P. 2017. Pterosaurs in Mesozoic food webs: a review of fossil evidence. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 455: 7-23. doi: 10.1144.SP455.3 Benson, R.B.J. 2018. Dinosaur macroevolution and macroecology. Annual Reviews of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 49:379-408. doi: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110617-062231

Week fourteen (May 1-5):

5/1 Discussion: Thermal Metabolism of Fossil Vertebrates (TH) Homework IV due 5/2 Saurischia (TH) 5/4 Penneraptora (including Aves) (TH)

Week fifteen (May 8-11):

5/8 Discussion: TBD (TH) Quiz V due 5/11 5/9 "God's noblest creation"; Let's Go Terps! (JM) 5/11 Outstanding Problems in Vertebrate Paleontology (JM)

Finals week:

May 17-19 Final Exam

There is no perfect textbook for GEOL431, although Bonnan 2016 provides a good background to the information that vertebrate paleontologists work with. Serious students of vertebrate paleontology, however, should be aware of the landmark textbooks in the field, past and present. Before you start grad school, definitely acquaint yourself with the following landmarks:

• The inspiration of three generations of paleontologists from an age where there could be an undisputed master:
  Alfred S. Romer, 1966. Vertebrate Paleontology. University of Chicago Press. 468 pp.

• The ultimate resource for illustrations and morphology of fossil vertebrates:
  Robert L. Carroll. 1990. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. W. H. Freeman and Company. 698 p.

• A compact and accessible synthesis of current thinking on fossil vertebrates:
  Michael J. Benton. 2014. Vertebrate Palaeontology. Wiley-Blackwell; 4 edition. 480 pp.

• The grand resource of the future - eagerly awaited:
  Darren Naish. 20??. Working Title: The Vertebrate Fossil Record.

Additional reading on specific topics is cited in many lecture notes.

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PDF version of the Syllabus and Lecture schedule available on ELMS Latest revision: 18 January 2023