Lab fee: $25. This is an introductory course in human evolution. Building on a foundation of evolutionary theory, students explore primate behavioral morphology and then trace the last 65 million years of primate evolution from the earliest Paleocene forms to the fossil remains of earliest humans and human relatives. Along with Behavioral Biology of the Living Primates this serves as a core required class for the EBHS program. [Taught every fall.]Recitation Section Required.

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

This course will provide an introduction to ecosystem ecology. Topics include primary production carbon storage, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem feedbacks to climate change. By the end of the course, students will be well versed in the basics of ecosystem ecology and have exposure to some current areas of research. Topics covered will include some aspects that are well established and others that are hotly debated among scientists. Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to think independently and act like research scientists.Discussion Section Required.

Fish are an incredibly diverse group with upwards of 27,000 named species. They are important ecologically, represent one of the major vertebrate lineages and face numerous conservation threats. This course will provide students with the tools to understand how the evolution, systematics, anatomy, and diversity of fishes influence their conservation status.

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.

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.

Prerequisites: Introductory course in Biology

This taxon-based course provides students with a basic understanding of the diverstiy and natural history of the mammals. Broad coverage of mammalian biology includes: morphological adaptations, evolutionary history, ecology, social behavior, biogeography, and conservation.

Prerequisites: EEEB V1010 Human Species or instructor permission

This course explores human adaptation from a biological, ecological and evolutionary perspective. From our earliest hominin ancestors in Africa to our own species' subsequent dispersal throughout the world, our lineage has encountered innumerable environmental pressures. Using morphological, physiological and behavioral/cultural evidence, we will examine the responses to these pressures that helped shape our unique lineage and allowed it to adapt to a diverse array of environments.

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.

Prerequisites: instructor's permission

This collaborative course co-taught with experts from four universities will explore the diversity of social life on earth. Weekly course meetings will connect undergraduate students from around the country to explore social evolution in a comparative context. Through a combination of primary literature, lectures by leaders in the field, inter-collegiate discussions using social media, and student-led data analysis and comparative projects, students will gain different perspectives on social evolution from some of the world's leaders in the field.

A hands on course in genome level evolutionary approaches. The course will examine the approaches and technology involved in genome level data collection and analysis. Whole genome scans for population genetics and whole genome phylogenetics are two of the major subjects to be covered. The course will include a session in each class studying computer programs that are commonly used in both population genetics and phylogenetics at the genome level.

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.

Prerequisites: SDEV W3390 or EESC W4050 or permission of instructor

This class provides basic theory in landscape analysis and training in methods for analyzing landscapes, focusing on interpretation of satellite images. The class covers approaches and definitions in landscape analysis, data sources, land cover classification, change detection, accuracy assessment, projections of future land cover change, and techniques to interpret results of these analyses. Students will obtain hands-on experience working with data from a landscape related to his/her research or a landscape chosen by the instructors.Lab Required.

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. The course includes a spring break trip that is a requirement. There is a course fee of $1800 to cover expenses incurred on the trip. While in Belize, students will spend 1.5 hours every day in the water and thus, need to be able to swim and practice appropriate water safety. Final enrollment in the course will be determined by a water safety test conducted within the first two weeks of classes.

Prerequisites: Introductory course in Biology

This taxon-based course provides students with a basic understanding of the diverstiy and natural history of the mammals. Broad coverage of mammalian biology includes: morphological adaptations, evolutionary history, ecology, social behavior, biogeography, and conservation.

Prerequisites: Instructor's permission

This class examines the social, ecological, and political economic roles of what and how we eat from a global perspective.

Environmental programs worldwide are fraught with disputes between groups of people over natural resources. Such conflict can be highly complex, may undermine or deter environmental conservation efforts, and may even foster violence. These conflicts often involve disagreements between different human parties that are divided by culture, social values, and perceptions about the ethics and appropriatemess of how resources should be allocated or used. Combining specific case studies, ecological and social theory, and a complex systems approach, this course will enhance the proficiency of participants to understand, study, and manage natural resource-based conflicts. The course is designed for conservation scientists, environmental policymakers, rural development specialists, political ecologists, and conflict/peace workers.

Prerequisites: EEEB W2001 or equivalent

Students in this course will gain a thorough understanding of the principles of sampling in ecological research, from the initiation of a research question, through to sampling procedures, analysis options and presentation and communication of research results. They will gain experience in experimental and survey design and implementation through participating in small research projects throughout the semester, done within the classroom, laboratory and local riparian, coastal and terrestrial field environments.