studying mammals

what is mammalogy?

the study of mammals'

belongs to class Mammalia

includes MRCA of monotremes and therians

monotremes

• mammals that lay eggs

therians

• mammals that give live birth

what evolutionary trait distinguishes mammals from synapsids?

• dentary-squamosal jaw joint (mandible)

what are characteristics of mammals?

• endothermic - high metabolic rate

• mammary glands

• gestation

• parental care (oviparous or viviparous)

why study mammals

• are resources themselves

• form critical components of ecosystem

  • move nutrients to different levels, keystone species

• domestication

  • veterinary medicine

  • model organisms

• zoonoses

17-18 century

• Carolus Linneus develops binomial nomenclature for naming animals

georges cuvier

• comparative anatomy

• fossils are remains of past organisms and document extinction

trapping

mammals are vertebrates and require permits to trap, handle, mark, or kill

• tranq gun, pitfall, tmahawk live, sherman live

marking

• some species have unique markings

  • polar bear rostrum (nose spot patterns)

  • lion vibrissae (whisker pattern)

  • spot patterns

cryptic species marking

• capture mark recapture

• coded metal/plastic tags (ear tags, bat bands)

• tattoos

• brands

• clipping fur

what chocies should i consider when monitoring?

• species

• research question

• cost

• effects on animal

what are physical signs of monitoring?

• powder tracking

• bait marking

• camera traps

• DNA markers (scat, hair, etc)