It is assumed that all students enrolled in Biology 303 have mastered the material in the previous courses. This lecture-lab course covers basic principles of ecology including evolution, natural selection, ecosystem components, biomes, population biology, and behavioral ecology. Current and historical research and etymology of terminology are discussed.
Field work demonstrates ecological sampling techniques.
Labs include water and soil analyses and use of computers for statistical analyses. To study current issues in the major subdisciplines of modern ecology. To become familiar with basic quantitative and statistical techniques used in ecological research. To observe and analyze ecological principles in action in natural ecosystems. To communicate in ways appropriate to the biological sciences about the processes studied and results obtained.