Biogeography
IB 439 / GEOG 439 / ESES 439 / NRES 439 / ANTH 439
Spring (even years)
Biogeography deals with spatial and temporal patterns of biological diversity and the factors that govern the distribution and abundance of taxa. This course addresses two of its subfields: historical biogeography (the origin, dispersal, and extinction of taxa and biotas) and ecological biogeography (the role physical and biotic environments have played in determining taxonomic distributions). We explore the ecological, evolutionary, climatological, and paleontological foundations for the distribution of species and biological communities. We also review many of the field’s classical papers, the current synthesis of biogeographic theory, and the relevance of biogeography to modern conservation goals.
Environmental Biology (Online)
IB 105
Fall semesters
Introduction to ecological principles in relation to understanding environmental problems. Online lectures and discussion emphasize impacts upon ecosystems by human activities such as climate change, pollution, land use, and development of energy sources.
Past Courses:
Extinction: From Dinosaurs to Dodos
IB 106 / GEOL 106 / ESES 126
This course examined the role of extinction in shaping the history of life on Earth. We explored the big five extinction events, including the two mass extinctions that mark the rise and fall of the dinosaurs, and other periods of rapid ecological change. We examined the causes of these mass extinctions of the past, and study how animal and plant life recovered from them. A major theme of the course will be the ongoing modern extinction crisis, and the lessons we can learn from the past when addressing modern biodiversity loss, from the loss of the dodo bird in the 17th century to the threat of extinction faced by polar bears and other plants and animals today.
Intro to Graduate Studies
IB 546B
Fall semesters
Introductory course for incoming graduate students in Integrative Biology. We cover all the skills needed to succeed in graduate school, from mentoring to effective writing to research ethics.