Environmental Biology

The courses below are offered through the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology.

Department Chair: Shahid Naeem, 1017 Schermerhorn Extension
212-854-4499
sn2121@columbia.edu

Departmental Adviser: Matthew Palmer, 3 Claremont
212-851-1883

Departmental Offices: 10th floor, Schermerhorn Extension
212-854-9987

Web: www.columbia.edu/cu/e3b

NOTE

Course scheduling is subject to change. Days, times, instructors, class locations, and call numbers are available on the Directory of Classes.

Fall course information begins posting to the Directory of Classes in February; Summer course information begins posting in March; Spring course information begins posting in June. For course information missing from the Directory of Classes after these general dates, please contact the department or program.

Click on course title to see course description and schedule.

 

Fall 2009

Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology

Advanced Graduate Classes

  • EEEB V1010x. The Human Species: Its Place In Nature. 3 pts.

    Lab fee: $25. Designed to acquaint students with a variety of scientific disciplines through the investigation of human evolution, specifically Darwin's theory of evolution; Mendel's principles of inheritance, major patterns of evolution; primate behavioral morphology and evolution; and the fossil remains and evolutionary trends in human evolution. [Taught every fall.]

    Recitation Section Required.
    Course
    Number
    Call Number/
    Section
    Days & Times/
    Location
    Instructor Enrollment
    Fall 2009 :: EEEB V1010 :: Credit Sections
    EEEB
    1010
    73397
    001
    MW 10:35a - 11:50a
    602 Hamilton Hall
    M 9:00a - 12:00p
    602 Hamilton Hall
    J. Shapiro 69 [ More Info ]
  • EEEB W2001x. Environmental Biology, I: Molecules To Cells. 3 pts.

    Introductory biology course for majors in biology or environmental biology, emphasizing the ecological and evolutionary context of modern biology.

    Course
    Number
    Call Number/
    Section
    Days & Times/
    Location
    Instructor Enrollment
    Fall 2009 :: EEEB W2001 :: Credit Sections
    EEEB
    2001
    10530
    001
    TuTh 1:10p - 2:25p
    310 Fayerweather
    D. Rubenstein
    S. Naeem
    62 [ More Info ]
  • EEEB W4122x. Fundamentals of Ecology and Evolution. 4 pts.

    Prerequisites: EEEB W2001 and W2002 or equivalent or permission of instructor

    An advanced survey of the basic concepts and theories of ecology and evolution, with particular emphasis on topics relevant to conservation biology. By the end of the course students will have (1) gained a thorough knowledge of the intellectual history and intersections of these two disciplines, (2) forged some clear links between conservation, ecology, and evolution, and (3) gained quantitative confidence in the use of some basic models in ecology and evolution.

    Course
    Number
    Call Number/
    Section
    Days & Times/
    Location
    Instructor Enrollment
    Fall 2009 :: EEEB W4122 :: Credit Sections
    EEEB
    4122
    63747
    001
    MW 9:10a - 10:50a
    337 Seeley W. Mudd Building
    W 9:00a - 12:00p
    337 Seeley W. Mudd Bui
    J. Cracraft
    M. Uriarte
    27 / 20 [ More Info ]
  • EEEB G4645x. Cultural and Biological Diversity. 3 pts. enrollment limit 20

    Prerequisites: Instructor's permission

    This course examines the articulation of biological, linguistic, and cultural diversity.

    Course
    Number
    Call Number/
    Section
    Days & Times/
    Location
    Instructor Enrollment
    Fall 2009 :: EEEB G4645 :: Credit Sections
    EEEB
    4645
    41150
    001
    M 4:10p - 6:00p
    1015 Schermerhorn Hall
    E. Sterling
    P. West
    17 / 20 [ More Info ]
  • EEEB G6150x and y. Advances in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology. 3 pts.

    Survey of recent advances in the ecological, evolutionary, and environmental sciences. Enrollment limited to 20.

    Course
    Number
    Call Number/
    Section
    Days & Times/
    Location
    Instructor Enrollment
    Fall 2009 :: EEEB G6150 :: Credit Sections
    EEEB
    6150
    11000
    001
    Th 9:00a - 12:00p
    TBA
    Th 9:45a - 11:45a
    TBA
    R. Defries 11 / 15 [ More Info ]
    EEEB
    6150
    88602
    002
    W 1:10p - 3:00p
    1015 Schermerhorn Hall
    M. Uriarte
    R. Defries
    5 [ More Info ]

    Spring 2010

    Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology

    Advanced Graduate Classes

  • EEEB W3087y. Conservation Biology. 3 pts.

    Prerequisites: Introductory organismal biology course, ideally EEEB 2002.

    Applications of biological principles to the conservation of biodiverstiy. Because conservation biology is a cross-disciplinary field, some of the social, philosophical, and economic dimensions of biological conservation are also addressed.

    Recitation Section Required.
    Course
    Number
    Call Number/
    Section
    Days & Times/
    Location
    Instructor Enrollment
    Spring 2010 :: EEEB W3087 :: Credit Sections
    EEEB
    3087
    17896
    001
    M 4:10p - 6:00p
    1015 Schermerhorn Hall
    M. Palmer
    S. Spector
    30 [ More Info ]
  • EEEB G4134y. Behavioral Ecology. 3 pts.

    Prerequisites: Graduate students: EEEB 6110 and permission of instructor
    Undergraduate students: PSYCH W2420 or BC BIOL 3280 and permission of instructor

    An examination of evolutionary and behavioral ecological theory. The course will focus on natural selection, kin selection, and sexual selection, as well as related topics including cooperation, conflict, cooperative breeding, signaling, sex allocation, reproductive skew, and alternative mating strategies among others. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the theoretical bases of these theories, as well as empirical tests of these concepts. The course is writing intensive and written assignments will encourage critical assessment of theory, experimental design, and data analysis.

  • EEEB G4195. Marine Conservation Ecology. 3 pts.

    Prerequisites: EEEB G6110, EEEB G6112, or EEEB G6990, basic statistics, or permission of instructor

    This course provides an overview of marine ecology, introducing processes and systems from which the marine environment is formed and the issues and challenges which surround its future conservation.

    Course
    Number
    Call Number/
    Section
    Days & Times/
    Location
    Instructor Enrollment
    Spring 2010 :: EEEB G4195 :: Credit Sections
    EEEB
    4195
    88297
    001
    M 2:00p - 3:50p
    1015 Schermerhorn Hall
    K. McFadden 8 [ More Info ]
  • EEEB W4240y. Animal Migration in Theory and Practice. 3 pts. enrollment limit 25, field trips will be scheduled

    This course presents an overview of migration, from the selective pressures animals face in migrating to the mechanisms of navigation and orientation. We will explore migration in a variety of animal taxa. Bird migration will be studied in-depth, as birds exhibit some of the most spectacular long distance migrations and are the most well-studied of animal migrators. The challenges of global climate change and changing land use patterns, and how species are coping with them, will also be explored.

    Course
    Number
    Call Number/
    Section
    Days & Times/
    Location
    Instructor Enrollment
    Spring 2010 :: EEEB W4240 :: Credit Sections
    EEEB
    4240
    29592
    001
    Th 6:10p - 8:00p
    608 Schermerhorn Hall
    J. Rowden
    S. Elbin
    8 [ More Info ]
  • EEEB G4280y. Writing about global science for the international media. 3 pts.

    This is an interdisciplinary workshop for scientists, future NGO workers and journalists seeking skills in communicating 21st century global science to the public. Scientists will be given journalism skills; journalists will learn how to use science as the basis of their story-telling.

    Course
    Number
    Call Number/
    Section
    Days & Times/
    Location
    Instructor Enrollment
    Spring 2010 :: EEEB G4280 :: Credit Sections
    EEEB
    4280
    13548
    001
    Tu 6:10p - 8:00p
    325 Pupin Laboratories
    C. Dreifus 4 / 15 [ More Info ]
  • EEEB G4650. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Processes. 3 pts.

    Prerequisites: E3B courses in Ecology, Evolution and/or Biodiversity or instructor's permission.

    Survey of current advances in scientific research that focuses on the role biodiversity plays in governing ecological processes (e.g., biogeochemistry, resisting invasion by exotic species, or stabilizing communities) and ecosystem services (e.g., soil fertility, water quality, climate regulation).

    Course
    Number
    Call Number/
    Section
    Days & Times/
    Location
    Instructor Enrollment
    Spring 2010 :: EEEB G4650 :: Credit Sections
    EEEB
    4650
    73397
    001
    M 10:00a - 11:50a
    1015 Schermerhorn Hall
    S. Naeem 8 [ More Info ]
  • EEEB G5010. Statistical Modeling in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. 6 pts.

    Prerequisites: Basic statistics (e.g. STAT W1111 and STAT W1211), core E3B grad courses (EEEB G6110, EEEB G6112, or EEEB G6990), or permission of the instructor.

    An exploration of data-based models as tools for inference in ecological research. Emphasis on the formulation and development of scientific models, modern statistical and computational methods for estimating model parameters, and evaluation of alternate models using strength of evidence. Laboratory exeercises challenge students to apply these methods to real ecological data, including their own research. The course also explores the philosophical underpinnings of different statistical schools f thought including frequentist, likelihoodist, and Bayesian approaches. Enrollment limited to 12.

    Lab Required.
    Course
    Number
    Call Number/
    Section
    Days & Times/
    Location
    Instructor Enrollment
    Spring 2010 :: EEEB G5010 :: Credit Sections
    EEEB
    5010
    82497
    001
    TuTh 9:10a - 10:25a
    1015 Schermerhorn Hall
    M. Uriarte 0 / 12 [ More Info ]
    EEEB
    5010
    87148
    B01
    Tu 12:00p - 3:00p
    252 Engineering Terrace
    Instructor To Be Announced 0 / 0 [ More Info ]
  • EEEB G6150x and y. Advances in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology. 3 pts.

    Survey of recent advances in the ecological, evolutionary, and environmental sciences. Enrollment limited to 20.

  • EEEB G6200y. Professionalism In Science. 1 pt.

    Prerequisites: Graduate standing or instructor's permission.

    This seminar provides an introduction to important ethical, professional, and general methodological issues encountered by professionals in conservation biology and conservation policy. Enrollment limited to 25 students

    Course
    Number
    Call Number/
    Section
    Days & Times/
    Location
    Instructor Enrollment
    Spring 2010 :: EEEB G6200 :: Credit Sections
    EEEB
    6200
    63282
    001
    M 12:30p - 1:30p
    1015 Schermerhorn Hall
    K. McFadden 0 [ More Info ]