Biodiversity, Sustainability, Conservation: Costa Rica (BIOL 4970/7970)
This course focuses primarily on tropical ecology/biodiversity and the scientific method. We go on a 10-day field excursion to three sites in Costa Rica. Students experience Costa Rican culture, explore diverse tropical ecosystems, and learn about sustainable agricultural practices, and conduct research projects related to ecology and conservation.
Spring semesters at Auburn University (the field trip occurs over spring break)
Co-taught with Dr. Djibo Zanzot
Spring semesters at Auburn University (the field trip occurs over spring break)
Co-taught with Dr. Djibo Zanzot
Principles of Ecology (BIOL 3060)
This course provides an overview of the major topics in ecology. We cover ecological systems from different levels of organization, including individual organisms, populations, communities, and entire ecosystems. We emphasize major processes that generate ecological patterns. The laboratory components of this course involves conducting small research projects and emphasizes the scientific method.
Spring semesters at Auburn University
Spring semesters at Auburn University
Herpetology (BIOL 5740/6740)
This course covers the biology and diversity of amphibians and reptiles. Our discussions in lecture cover evolutionary history, taxonomy, anatomy, physiology, ecology, behavior, reproduction, and natural history of reptiles and amphibians. The laboratory component covers anatomy, classification, and identification, with particular emphasis on species from the southeast United States.
Spring semesters at Auburn University
Often co-taught with Dr. Jamie Oaks
Spring semesters at Auburn University
Often co-taught with Dr. Jamie Oaks
Vertebrate Biodiversity (BIOL 4020)
This course is a broad overview of the biology and diversity of vertebrate animals. Our discussions in lecture cover (but are not limited to) evolutionary history, taxonomy, anatomy, physiology, ecology, behavior, and natural history of vertebrate animals. The laboratory component of this course covers anatomy, classification, and identification of vertebrate, with particular emphasis on species from the southeast United States.
Fall semesters at Auburn University
Fall semesters at Auburn University
Human Population and the Earth's Environments (ENV 108)
This non-majors course covers current and emerging environmental issues (e.g., human population growth, energy use, loss of biodiversity, water resources, pollution, climate change, etc.) and provides a solid introduction to the highly inter-related environmental and social issues of our world.
Fall 2012 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Fall 2012 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Evolutionary Biology (BY 429, BY 491 capstone, BY 629)
This course introduces the history of evolutionary thought and modern evolutionary theory. Discussions cover (but are not limit to) the history of life, mechanisms of evolutionary change, adaptation, speciation, and molecular evolution. We also discuss historical and contemporary studies of evolution on a wide variety of topics and organisms.
Spring 2013, 2014, 2015 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Spring 2013, 2014, 2015 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Seminar in Ecology (BY 492, BY 692, BY 792)
Topic: Evolutionary Ecology of Developmental Plasticity
This seminar will include discussions on a variety of topics that relate to how the environment shapes phenotypic development. We will cover a variety of topics (e.g., adaptive plasticity, mechanisms of plasticity, polyphenisms, maternal effects, endocrine disruptors, phenotypic accommodation) that are fundamental in understanding environmental sources of phenotypic variation within populations.
Fall 2014 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
This seminar will include discussions on a variety of topics that relate to how the environment shapes phenotypic development. We will cover a variety of topics (e.g., adaptive plasticity, mechanisms of plasticity, polyphenisms, maternal effects, endocrine disruptors, phenotypic accommodation) that are fundamental in understanding environmental sources of phenotypic variation within populations.
Fall 2014 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
