Biology of Amphibians, Spring 2019 Syllabus Mark Mandica | mark@amphibianfoundation.org | 678 379 TOAD (8623)

Week One 1.1 : Introduction to Amphibians

Introduction, Background and Context 1.2 : Introduction of Amphibians : Prehistory and evolutionary history of tetrapods.

Biogeography and evolution of amphibians through geologic time

Week Two 2.1 : Introduction to Caecilians : What is a caecilian?

Features and shared characteristics of Gymnophiona

2.2 : Gymnophiona Taxonomy and Biodiversity

Week Three 3.1 : Introduction to Salamanders : What is a salamander?

Features and shared characteristics of Caudata

3.2 : Caudate Taxonomy and Biodiversity

Week Four 4.1 : Introduction to Frogs : What is a frog?

Features and shared characteristics of Anura

4.2 : Anuran Taxonomy and Biodiversity, Part 1

Week Five 5.1-2 : Anuran Taxonomy and Biodiversity, Part 2

Week Six 6.1-2 : Reproduction and Metamorphosis

Week Seven 7.1 : Ecology: Obligate Ephemeral Wetland Breeders

Amphibian Migrations and Phenotypic Plasticity 7.2 : Physiology : Poikilothermy and Freeze Tolerance

How amphibians deal with extreme (including freezing) temperatures

Week Eight 8.1-2 : Atlanta’s Amphibians and the Nocturnal Songs of Frogs

Class readings, lectures and resources available here: http://amphibbio.amphibianfoundation.org