BIOL 303 Ecology
An introduction to ecology, the study of interactions between organisms and their environments. The course covers topics at all levels of ecology (from individuals to ecosystems), with emphasis on theoretical principles and empirical examples of population ecology. Articles from the primary literature will be discussed to understand how ecological questions are currently studied. Topics include evolution of life histories, population growth, competition, and predator-prey dynamics. Laboratory work at Pine Lake and other local ecosystems will include research-oriented activities on animals and plants to expose students to scientific approaches to the study of ecology.