Courses
This course is an introduction to the field of ecology, the scientific study of the natural environment and of the relationships of organisms to their surroundings and to each other. The primary learning objectives for students in this course are: (1) to develop a knowledge base and understanding of key concepts and issues in contemporary ecology; (2) to become familiar with how ecological understanding is actually attained by researchers (i.e., the scientific method); and (3) to see how ecological knowledge and methods can be used to address important societal problems. Students will also refine their abilities for quantitative analysis and critical thinking.
Textbook:
Elements of Ecology, 7th edition, by Thomas M. Smith and Robert L. Smith, 2009
BIOL 350 general ecology
This course is an introduction to marine biology, with an emphasis on the ecological principles that control the distribution and abundance of organisms in a variety of marine habitats. The primary learning objectives for students in this course are: (1) to develop a knowledge base and understanding of key concepts and issues in contemporary marine biology; (2) to acquire practical skills used by marine biologists to describe habitats and communities, including the identification of local organisms and the collection, analysis, and interpretation of quantitative data; and (3) to develop the ability to critically analyze and evaluate scientific research through the discussion of published research papers and the writing of individual laboratory reports.
Textbooks:
Marine Biology: Function, Biodiversity, Ecology, 3rd edition, by Jeffrey S. Levinton, 2009
A Primer of Ecological Statistics, 2nd edition, by Nicholas Gotelli & Aaron Ellison, 2012
BIOL 353 marine biology w/ lab
BIOL 455/555 marine community ECOLOGY w/ lab
This course is an introduction to community ecology, with an emphasis on understanding the origin, maintenance, and consequences of variation in biological diversity within a variety of marine habitats. The primary learning objectives for students in this course are: (1) to develop a knowledge base and understanding of key concepts and issues in contemporary community ecology; (2) to collect, analyze, and interpret community-level data using modern approaches (e.g., multivariate analyses of community structure with PRIMER); (3) to develop the ability to critically analyze and evaluate scientific research, through the formal discussion of published research papers; and (4) to develop a detailed proposal for an independent research project in a local marine habitat.
Textbook:
Change in Marine Communities: An Approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation, 2nd
edition, by K. Robert Clarke and Robert M. Warwick, 2001
BIOL 664 seminar in marine biology
This graduate-level course is designed to develop students’ abilities to critically analyze and evaluate scientific research through the formal discussion of primary literature in the field of marine biology.