In-class writing assignment

The written assignment will be done at the beginning of class on Thursday, April 30 and is worth 50 points towards your final grade. You will be asked to research a question outside of class using your text and other sources. Some suggested topics are listed below, but do not feel restricted to these. In class on April 30 you will write a well organized, informative response. Your essay should be about 1.5-2 pages (handwritten) in length. To prepare for the in-class writing, you should read at least one scholarly paper on your chosen topic. Bring the citation for the scholarly paper(s) you used in to class written on a 3 x 5 card or piece of paper. This will be handed in with your essay. Grades will be assigned based on style (clarity, grammar, organization) and content (factual accuracy, originality, completeness). Getting the message across clearly is just as important as knowing what you want to say!

The assignment:      Many mammals show unusual adaptations that are related to sensory systems (sight, hearing, touch, smell, electroreception, etc.). Pick one taxon (species, family, order - what ever level you choose) and discuss the anatomical specializations associated with one particular sensory system. The anatomical specializations may be skeletal or soft tissue (neural, muscular, etc.). You should be sure to explain the functional significance of each anatomical modification (i.e., what is it about the particular modification that makes the sensory system more efficient than that found in other mammals?).

Here are some possible ideas (just to get you started thinking about it). You are encouraged to come up with your own ideas, as long as they fit the requirements of the assignment.

  • Primates - stereoscopic vision and/or color vision
  • Nocturnal primates - tapetum lucidum
  • Carnivores - visual adaptations
  • Microchiroptera - hearing/echolocation adaptations
  • Echolocation in Rosettus bats (Megachiroptera)
  • Echolocation in cetaceans
  • Adaptations for hearing in water in cetaceans or sirenians
  • Platypus - electroreception and other sensory adaptations of bill
  • Hearing in subterranean rodents
  • Hearing/echolocation in cetaceans
  • Vibrissae in rodents
  • Tactile sensory perception in the star of the star-nosed mole
  • Hearing/subsound production in elephants
  • Sense of smell in lagomorphs or rodents or carnivores
  • Heat sensing nasal pits of the vampire bat
  • Body vibrissae in naked mole-rats
  • Body vibrissae in sirenians
  • Tactile receptors in the trunk of elephants
  • Chemical senses in elephants (use of vomeronasal organ)
  • Chemical senses in rodents (use of vomeronasal organ; e.g., pregnancy block)