Subject

Just in time for the discussion of the number of species in 2019, the newly described pocket shark, Mollisquama mississippiensis, a 5.5 inch long kitefin shark from the Gulf of Mexico. In  2017,  newly described species included an omnivorous rat from Sulawesi and a millipede with more than 400 legs from Sequioa National Park (also a marine worm that is described as "basically looking like a floating pastry").  2016 was a little more spectacular with a new beaked whale species in the genus Berardius. In 2015: the jellybean frog Noblella madreselva from the Andes and China's bonehouse wasp Deuteragenia ossarium.  2014's winner was the bat out of hell (Murina beelzebub). In 2013, a new carnivore species, the olinguito, was added.  Just after we discussed this in 2012, a new monkey species was discovered in DR Congo.  In 2010 it was the cowboy frog (Suriname), among others. In 2009 it was the Lesula monkey and the Yoda bat (New Guinea)...

Western black rhino goes extinct at the same time...

Reading

  1. CWP CH 13
  2. Pimm et al. 1995.  The future of biodiversity.  Science 269: 347-350.  pdf
  3. Mora et al. 2011.  How many species are there on earth and in the ocean?  PLoS Biology 9:1-8 e1001127 pdf
  4. Rosenberg et al. 2019. Decline of the North American Avifauna. Science advanced online DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw1313  Minus 3 billion birds in 50 years. Figures from Rosenberg et al.
  1. May 1988. How many species are there on earth? Science 241:1441-1449. (not assigned reading, just for background material in class). 

Exam 1

Important:  Exam 1 will be Wednesday 9/18 in class.

  1. Study Guide.  Only questions 1-5 in the guide will be covered on this exam.
  2. The essay questions will be broad, show-what-you-know style questions.  The best answers will:
    • be well organized and well written
    • be clear and direct
    • include supporting examples from class or the reading
    • include verbal, graphical and algebraic explanations when possible.