Course Offerings
Spencer Hall
Department of Biology,
email: sprhall
at
office: (812-85)5-6009; Jordan Hall (JH)
015
Undergraduate
course: Invertebrate Biology (Z374)– Autumn 2009
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Description: Inverts compromise > 99% of all
animals on Earth and are remarkably diverse.
With this almost incomprehensible diversity as a backdrop, we will
consider how invertebrates have managed to solve life’s major problems
(surviving, growing and reproducing in benign-to-hostile environments),
organized around a few simple themes and guided by evolution and comparative
physiology. We will also survey
diversity of major invertebrate groups. Logistics: 3 credit lecture; MWF
11:15-12:05, JH A106 Office hours: W 2-4 pm, JH 015, and by
appointment Prerequisites: An intro biology course |
Graduate course:
Theoretical Ecology, L577: next taught Spring 2011
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Description: This course will empower
students to develop and analyze their own ecology-based models. Students will then harness those models as
statistical hypotheses using maximum likelihood-based techniques and
computing (Mathematica and Matlab). Topics include: one- and multi-species
models; solving for equilibria (attractors and
repellors); characterizing equilibria
using stability analysis; non-linear population dynamics: bifurcations,
oscillations, alternative stable states, catastrophes,
chaos; environmental variability; maximum likelihood; model competition
and information criteria. Pre-requisites: Introductory statistics,
calculus, and programming would be helpful – but relax, I will teach
you what you need to know if you have not taken such courses. Logistics: Mondays & Wednesdays,
1:30-2:45, JH 239 Course webpage (back Spring 2011) |
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