BIOL 23A-2: EcologyInstructor: Colleen Hitchcock Prerequisites: BIOL 16a, or a score of 5 on the AP Biology Exam, or permission of the instructor. Course Description: This writing-intensive course on Ecology is designed for those students enrolled in the Biology Major or Environmental Studies Program. We will explore the topics of ecological processes that shape the distribution and abundance of organisms and the influence of climate change at the species and community level.</br> </br>This course covers the major topics in ecology including:</br> - Adaptation & Natural Selection: How does evolution shape the morphology, physiology, and behavior of organisms?</br> - Biogeography & History: Why do species only occur in some of the habitats where they can live? </br> - Populations: How and why do populations (and gene frequencies) grow and decline? </br> - Communities: How do organisms interact with each other? How are communities assembled? How do they function? </br> - Climate Change: How is climate change impacting species at the individual through community levels? What evidence for climate change do we see in our local environment? </br> - Citizen Science: How is citizen science influencing ecological, conservation and natural history research? What is the place of citizen science in the future of research? How can you participate now and in the future?</br> Session: Extended Day: Online Time: Asynchronous Credit Hours: 4 Credits Course Format: 10-week Asynchronous Online format Brandeis Graduation Requirement Fulfilled: SN, WI Enrollment Limit: 8 students Course Classification: Undergraduate Level Course Course Tuition: $3,700 Course Fees: None Open to High School Students: No |
