Teaching

Biol 456 Behavioral Ecology

We will explore evolutionary theory to understand how organisms adapt behavior to their environment. Topics discussed include game theory, kin selection, sexual selection, eusociality, orientation and navigation, and signal evolution. Laboratory sessions will focus on experimentation with live animals in the field and laboratory. Students will generate independent research projects that culminate in written and oral presentations.

Biol 360 Population Genetics and Evolution

We will explore population genetics and evolution to gain an understanding of how living organisms adapt to their environment. Topics discussed include natural and sexual selection, genetic drift, population genetics, the fossil record, micro- and macro-evolution, as well as the application of evolutionary theory. Students will read and discuss the primary literature to gain a greater understanding of evolutionary theory and the practice of scientific inquiry.

Biol 419 Capstone Seminar: Evolution of Behavior

We will examine how evolutionary processes shape behavior, focusing on the influence of natural, sexual, and kin selection. Topics include behavioral genetics, sexual selection, kin selection, evolution of domestication, evolution of flight, origin of life and multicellularity, game theory, evolutionary stable strategies, phylogenetics, and the comparative method. Students will read and discuss the primary literature and spend the semester developing a capstone project which will culminate in written and oral presentations.

Certified Capstone and Writing Intensive course.

Biol 424 Biology of Spiders

We will use an evolutionary framework to examine the biology, ecology, and behavior of arachnids. Topics discussed include natural and sexual selection, kin selection, sociality, ecology and behavior. Laboratory sessions include field trips and experimentation with arachnids in the laboratory. One four-hour laboratory session each week. Students will read and discuss the primary literature and apply their knowledge to their independent research projects.

Biol 130 Introduction to Environmental and Organismal Biology

We will explore the fundamentals of ecology, evolution, and organismal biology in this introductory course. Laboratory sessions will include dissection but be mainly based on experimentation with living organisms in the field and the laboratory.