Courses

• CAS BI 438: Tropical Montane Ecology
  Ecology of the montane zone of Ecuador including grassland, subalpine, and alpine scrub ecosystems. Examines the interrelationship of the flora and fauna of montane ecosystems, the exploitation of these environments for natural resources and agriculture, and the impending ecological consequences of such exploitation. Includes 15 hours of lecture presented during a two-week period, interspersed with several one- and two-day field trips to surrounding mountains. A total of two weeks is spent in the field. The field trips are dedicated to field activities and individual and group projects. Graduate credit may be awarded to full-time graduate students for conducting additional research projects to be assigned by the instructor.
• CAS BI 439: Tropical Rainforest Ecology
  Ecology of the Ecuadorian rainforest including principles applied to the function of the tropical rainforest, using the Amazon basin as an example. Examines the interrelationship of the flora and fauna of the rainforest ecosystems, the exploitation of these environments for natural resources, and the impending ecological consequences of such exploitation. Includes 35 hours of lecture presented during a two-week period in Quito, followed by three weeks of intensive study in the Ecuadorian rainforest. Time in the field is dedicated to field activities, with exposure to different habitats and their respective flora and fauna. A series of directed individual research projects is completed in the field. Graduate credit may be awarded to full-time graduate students for conducting additional research projects to be assigned by the instructor.
• CAS BI 440: Tropical Coastal Ecology
  Ecology of the coastal zone of Ecuador, including a survey of terrestrial and shallow marine ecosystems. Examines the interrelationship of the flora and fauna of coastal Ecuador, the exploitation of this environment for natural resources, and the impending ecological consequences of such exploitation. Includes 25 hours of lecture presented during a two-week period in Quito, followed by two weeks of intensive study along the coast of Ecuador. The field trips are dedicated to sampling and observation and both individual and group projects. Graduate credit may be awarded to full-time graduate students who conduct additional research projects to be assigned by the instructor.
• CAS BI 441: Studies in Tropical Ecology
  Ecology of tropical Ecuador. A capstone course in tropical ecology that immediately follows the series of the three field-based courses: Tropical Rainforest Ecology, Tropical Montane Ecology, and Tropical Coastal Ecology. Focuses on the evaluation and statistical analysis of previous data collected in the field, extensive library research, and preparation of individual and group reports. Graduate credit may be awarded to full-time graduate students who conduct additional research projects to be assigned by the instructor.
• CAS BI 442: Physiology and Biochemistry of Reproduction (PER/Neuro)
  Physiology and biochemistry of oogenesis, the ovarian cycle, and ovulation; spermatogenesis; and fertilization. Hormonal control of gametogenesis and gestation. Biochemistry of accessory sex glands; fertility and sterility; parturition and lactation; population and birth control. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion. (Offered alternate years.)
• CAS BI 443: Terrestrial Biogeochemistry
  The patterns and processes controlling carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Links between local and global scales are emphasized. Topics include net primary production, nutrient use efficiency, and biogeochemical transformation. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 444: Neuroethology (NEU)
  Cellular and molecular basis of behavior, with emphasis on functional physiology of neurons, interactions among neurons, and the organization of sensory-motor systems. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 445: Cellular and Molecular Neurophysiology (PER/Neuro)
  Cellular and molecular basis of neural excitability and synaptic transmission. The molecular understanding of ion channels is extrapolated to higher brain functions such as learning, memory, and sleep. Three hours lecture, three hours lab.
• CAS BI 446: Biology of the Cell Cycle (CM)
  Temporal organization and regulation of cellular function. Includes theory and analysis of methodologies applicable to cell proliferation, cell synchrony, molecular genetics, biochemistry, and physiology of cell cycle phases. Emphasis on the molecular regulation of growth and differentiation in eukaryotic organisms, from yeast to humans. Readings in original research literature; term paper. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 448: Biodiversity and Conservation Biology (EBE)
  The study of biological diversity and modern methods to protect endangered plant and animal species. The environment, population, and genetic and human factors that affect the survival of species are examined for temperate and tropical communities, as well as terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 454: Cell Motility and Cytoskeleton (CM)
  Investigation of the structures, molecules, and forces responsible for muscle contraction, cell locomotion, chromosome movement and cell division, ciliary and flagellar motion, bacterial chemotaxis, and other types of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell motility. Three hours lecture, with discussions.
• CAS BI 455: Developmental Neurobiology (PER/Neuro or CM)
  Fundamental principles of developmental neurobiology, stressing molecular mechanisms that underlie early neural development, differentiation, process outgrowth, and behavior. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 466: Marine Ecology (EBE)
  Processes that underlie the ecological functioning of marine populations, communities, and ecosystems. Primary production, secondary production, and demography. Fieldwork, labs, with focus on independent research projects. Taught at Woods Hole.
• CAS BI 468: Marine Microbial Ecology (EBE)
  Survey of the diversity of marine bacteria, algae, protozoa, fungi, and metazoa. Focus on fundamental role of their communities in the flow of materials and energy through aquatic ecosystems from Arctic to deep sea vents. Laboratory exercises examine the theory and application of methodological advances in the area of field microbial ecology.
• CAS BI 471: Readings in Biology
  Intensive library research on a well-defined subject, followed by individual conferences and discussion with a faculty member. May be taken as preparation for CAS BI 401, 402, 491, and 492. Does not carry major or minor credit in biology.
• CAS BI 472: Readings in Biology
  Intensive library research on a well-defined subject, followed by individual conferences and discussion with a faculty member. May be taken as preparation for CAS BI 401, 402, 491, and 492. Does not carry major or minor credit in biology.
• CAS BI 481: Molecular Biology of the Neuron
  Topics include electrical properties of neurons, a survey of neurotransmitters, molecular structure and function of receptors, synaptic transmission, intracellular signaling, and the molecular biology of sensory transduction. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 485: Biology of Single Cell Eukaryotes
  Free-living, symbiotic, and pathogenic unicellular eukaryotes: their taxonomy, distribution, structure, reproduction, life-cycles, metabolism, feeding, development, physiology, behavior, and use as experimental models in cell biology. Three hours lecture, with discussions.
• CAS BI 486: Biological Design for Sustainable Development (EBE)
  Study of biological constraints on the problem of human society's relationship with the ecosystems, terrestrial and marine, that sustain it. Case studies combining natural history, ecological theory, dynamical modeling, and experimental design in the search for workable solutions.
• CAS BI 491: Undergraduate Research in Biology IV
  Research in biological science for students at the senior level. Students design and implement a research project with a faculty member. A minimum of 12 hours per week in lab or field work, not including preparation or evaluation time. Research topic must be defined at the time of registration. Course grade is determined by laboratory performance and written report.

Note that this information may change at any time.

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