Week 1
Lesson 1
Introduction to Mammalogy
Welcome to Advanced Mammal Ecology! In this lesson, we will learn about mammalian characteristics and the three categories of mammals: monotremes, metatherians (marsupials), and eutherians.
 Week 2
Lesson 2
Mammalian Taxonomy
In this lesson, we will learn about taxonomy, the study of classifying animals by their genetic relationships. We will start using binomial nomenclature as we discuss eight of the most important mammalian orders.
 Week 3
Lesson 3
Feeding and Foraging Strategies
This lesson is about animal diets, from frugivores (fruit-eaters) to myrmecophagous (ant-eating) animals and everyone in between! We will also discuss how animals find their food and learn about theories of solitary and group foraging. 
 Week 4
Lesson 4
Adaptations (Morphology, Locomotion, and Anatomy)
In this lesson, we will explore the concepts of adaptation, acclimatization, and natural selection, focusing on the various types of adaptations seen in mammals and their trade-offs. We will also look at examples of locomotion adaptations and the fascinating phenomena of mimicry and signaling in animal behavior.
 Week 5
Lesson 5
Competition, Migration, and Home Ranges
In this lesson, we will explore competition dynamics among animals, such as intraspecific and interspecific competition, dominance hierarchies, and the competitive exclusion principle. We'll also examine migration patterns and territorial behaviors in mammals, including the signals that trigger migration.
 Week 6
Lesson 6
Social Behavior Part 1 (Parental Care)
In this lesson, we'll discuss parental behaviors in mammals, covering how they care for their offspring and why it's important. We'll explore different types of care, from lactation to paternal and alloparental care, while also touching on survivorship curves and concepts like personal and inclusive fitness.
 Week 7
Lesson 7
Social Behavior Part 2 (Mating Systems and Communication)
In this lesson, we'll explore socioecology and communication in mammals, covering various forms like verbal, auditory, and non-verbal communication. We'll also examine mammalian social structures, from monogamous to eusocial communities, and discuss concepts such as altruism and reciprocation.
 Week 8
Lesson 8
Extinct Animals & Review
In this lesson, we'll focus on extinction events and the factors behind them, including mass extinctions, background extinctions, and anthropogenic extinctions caused by human activity. We'll also explore prehistoric extinctions of megafauna and recent extinctions, touching on breeding back efforts, the concept of speciation, and the concept of "Lazarus taxa."