Great Transitions in Vertebrate History

Catalog description

The major vertebrate groups-fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals-arose through great transitions in size and form. These transitions opened up previously inaccessible habitats for those groups to radiate throughout, creating the remarkable diversity we observe today. In this class, students will learn about the major transitions that occurred in vertebrate history within the context of Earth's geological history. Students will also learn about the adaptive changes in anatomy and life history that have allowed those radiations to successfully radiate in those habitats. Students will also learn about species whose unique attributes allow them to occupy the most extreme habitats on earth, such as the deep sea, arctic, and high elevation habitats.