1. Great Strategies for Teaching Paleontology: Quaternary Faunal Environments Christopher L. Hill Boise State University, Boise, Idaho; chill2@boisestate.edu On the Cutting Edge - Teaching Paleontology in the 21st Century Cornell University and the Paleontological Research Institute, Ithaca, NY

2. Outline of Presentation Introduction: What is this activity? Context Goals Activity Description Adaptations

3. Introduction: What is this activity? Use online database FAUNMAP Compare spatial distribution of mammals Look at patterns of extinct and extant taxa Create inferences about past environments

4. Context Designed for upper-division undergraduate course in Quaternary Paleontology Majors in geosciences, geoarchaeology, environmental studies, anthropology Familiarity with using online resources a basic requirement

5. Goals Use present-day (late Holocene) as a basis for understanding past environments Link to paleoecological patterns Use online data-sets to observe patterns and develop inferences

6. Description Study environments of living North American mammals Log-on to FAUNMAP: http://www.museum.state.il.us/research/f aunmap/query/ http://www.museum.state.il.us/research/f aunmap/query/ Dowload distribution maps ◦ Taxon ◦ Time Interval Evaluate patterns Graded products: ◦Set of questions ◦Written Report

7. Class MammaliaSpecies (* = extinct in North America) Order DidelphimorphaFamily DidelphidaeOpossum Order XenarthaFamily DasypodidaeArmadillo Family MegatheridaeShasta groundsloth* Family MylondontidaeHarlan's ground sloth* Order InsectivoraFamily SoricidaeArctic shrew Order CarnivoraFamily CanidaeDire wolf*, gray wolf Family FelidaeCheetah*, saberooth cat*, lion* Family MustelidaeBlack-footed ferret Order ProboscideaColumbian mammoth*, Jefferson's mammoth*, woolly mammoth*, mastodon* Order PerrissodactylaHorse (Mexican horse*) Order ArtiodactylaFamily CamelidaeYesterday's camel* Family CervidaeStag moose*, caribou Family BovidaeHarlan's muskox*, muskox Family AntilocapridaePronghorn Order RodentiaFamily MuridaeEastern woodrat Order LagomorphaFamily LepordaePygmy rabbit, swamp rabbit

8. Quaternary Faunal Environments Using FAUNMAP at http://www.museum.state.il.us/research/faunmap/query/http://www.museum.state.il.us/research/faunmap/query/ Query the Database o List of taxa codes List of taxa codes o List of age codes List of age codes  Faunmap Query Form (scientific names) Faunmap Query Form  Faunmap Query Form (common names) Faunmap Query Form

9. Quaternary Faunal Environments Taxon: If we have it for this taxon, do you want the modern distribution? Yes No

10. Quaternary Faunal Environments Pick the time periods you want to study (note: for some species not all time periods will be represented). [wiho][wisc][lwsc][late][ehlg][holo][emho][mhol][lm ho][lhol][hiho][hist][ALL]wihowisclwsclateehlgholoemhomhollm holholhihohistALL

11. Quaternary Faunal Environments Rangifer tarandus (caribou) ALL (Pleistocene and late Holocene) and only late Holocene

12. Quaternary Faunal Environments Groundsloth Modern Opossum Extinct Armadillo

13. Quaternary Faunal Environments Pronghorn Cheetah

14. Quaternary Faunal Environments Columbia Jeffersonian Woolly

15. Adaptations Map downloading could be a team project If computers are not available, make maps available (good for observation > inference part of the activity) I tried letting the students pick taxa themselves (small mammals, large mammals, extinct mammals)