Mammalogy, Lectures and Laboratory

Catalog description

This course examines the diversity and biology of mammals from an evolutionary perspective through an integrated lecture, laboratory and field experience. Students gain a foundational understanding of mammalian biology by exploring origins, evolution, diversity, biogeography, physiology, ecology, life history, and behavior, with emphasis on the defining traits of mammals and their variation across modern lineages. Laboratories complement lectures through hands-on study of specimens in the Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates. Field trips in New York provide opportunities to observe wild mammals, practice field identification, and apply methods in population biology. By integrating conceptual frameworks with specimen-based laboratories and field observations, students develop a deeper understanding of mammalian diversity and the evolutionary and ecological processes that shape it.