Courses

This course provides an introduction to ecology, covering interactions between organisms and the environment at scales of populations, communities, and ecosystems. Ecological principles are used to explore the theory and applications of major issues facing humanity in the 21st century, including population dynamics, disease ecology, biodiversity and invasive species, global change, and other topics of environmental sustainability.

Full details for BIOEE 1610 - Introductory Biology: Ecology and the Environment

Considers explanations for pattern of diversity and the apparent good fit of organisms to the environment. Topics include the diversity of life, the genetics and developmental basis of evolutionary change, processes at the population level, evolution by natural selection, modes of speciation, long-term trends in evolution, origin of humans.

Full details for BIOEE 1780 - An Introduction to Evolutionary Biology and Diversity

Considers explanations for pattern of diversity and the apparent good fit of organisms to the environment. Topics include the diversity of life, the genetics and developmental basis of evolutionary change, processes at the population level, evolution by natural selection, modes of speciation, long-term trends in evolution, origin of humans.

Full details for BIOEE 1781 - Introduction to Evolution and Diversity

This on-campus and international field course combination provides participating students with a broad introduction to the research process in field ecology, with literature and hands-on examples drawn from the fauna and flora of coastal Patagonia (Argentina), an area that provides us with unprecedented access to both marine and terrestrial wildlife as well as exposure to conservation challenges and success stories. The course begins in the latter part of the Fall semester (BIOEE 2525) when it meets twice weekly for seven weeks, largely to discuss relevant papers from the scientific literature with an emphasis on best practices in designing field studies to address questions in Neotropical ecology, behavioral ecology, conservation, and evolutionary biology. During the 2+ week field component in January (BIOEE 2526), students travel among field sites in Patagonia and put this knowledge to work in an experiential context by designing and implementing a series of research projects, including numerous short 'blitz' projects and several longer, more intensive independent projects; many of these field studies involve close-hand observations of marine mammals, penguins, or other seabirds. This course (BIOEE 2527) is focused on building skills in data analysis and scientific writing, based on the data collected in the field by each student.

Full details for BIOEE 2527 - Neotropical Wildlife Biology

This course in vertebrate organismal biology explores the anatomy and function of vertebrates with an emphasis on vertebrate evolution. Lectures cover topics such as the origin, anatomy, physiology, paleontology, and evolution of vertebrate groups, with a focus on organ systems (such as the nervous, circulatory, and respiratory systems), life history, locomotion, behavior, ecology, and conservation. This course prepares students for advanced courses on the biology of fishes, amphibians and reptiles, birds, and mammals; pre-vet and pre-med students benefit from its comparative anatomical approach to understanding the organization of the vertebrate body.

Full details for BIOEE 2740 - The Vertebrates: Comparative Anatomy, Function, Paleontology, and Evolution

Ecology and Environmental Science are running into a 'big data' era. The unprecedented data sources provide opportunities for novel scientific exploration and solutions to real-world problems, which, however, usually requires robust quantitative analysis and informative visualization. This course aims to increase students' literacy and hands-on skills on common quantitative methods in ecology and environmental sciences, including accessing and curating data, statistical inference, regression, data-based predictions (also known as machine learning), and visualizing the results. Students will be using public data sets from organismal to landscape scales, including spatial data sets from the Google Earth Engine platform. Example codes will be provided in both Python and R.

Full details for BIOEE 3550 - Data Analysis and Visualization in Ecology and Environmental Science

Introductory survey of the development, computer implementation, and applications of dynamic models in biology and ecology. Case-study format covering a broad range of current application areas such as regulatory networks, neurobiology, cardiology, infectious disease management, and conservation of endangered species. Students also learn how to construct and study biological systems models on the computer using a scripting and graphics environment.

Full details for BIOEE 3620 - Dynamic Models in Biology

Why are chilies so spicy? This course examines the chemical basis of interactions between species and is intended for students with a basic knowledge of chemistry and biology. Focuses on the ecology and chemistry of plants, animals, and microbes. Stresses chemical signals used in diverse ecosystems, using Darwinian natural selection as a framework. Topics include: plant defenses, microbial warfare, communication in marine organisms, and human pheromones.

Full details for BIOEE 3690 - Chemical Ecology

This course introduces students to the field of infectious disease ecology, an area of study that has developed rapidly over the past three decades and addresses some of the most significant challenges to human health and conservation. Students will learn about the incredible diversity of parasitic organisms, arguably the most abundant life forms on the planet, and examine how pathogens invade and spread through host populations. Throughout the course, an emphasis will be placed on understanding of infectious diseases dynamics at the population level, and on quantitative approaches for studying pathogen spread and impacts. Specific topics include types of pathogens and their ecological properties, epidemiology and impacts on host populations, types of transmission, evolution of resistance and virulence, drivers of the emergence of new diseases, parasites in the context of ecological communities, strategies for controlling outbreaks, and the role of parasites in biodiversity and conservation.

Full details for BIOEE 4000 - Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases

How do plants respond to antagonists, such as herbivores and pathogens? What are the checks and balances that keep mutualist organisms in their tight interactions? How are symbioses organized on molecular, metabolic and ecological levels? What are the molecular, plant hormonal, and metabolic mechanisms mediating plant biotic interactions with other organisms? What ecological and evolutionary consequences do these interactions have for the fitness of the plants and their interactors? This course provides an overview of plants' myriad interactions with antagonists and mutualists, from microbes to multicellular organisms, and explains the underlying ecological and evolutionary concepts. It gives an introduction to the study of induced plant responses in the light of a behavioral biology framework.            

Full details for BIOEE 4460 - Plant Behavior and Biotic Interactions, Lecture

Laboratory course covering topics presented in BIOEE 4460/BIONB 4460/PLSCI 4460.

Full details for BIOEE 4461 - Plant Behavior and Biotic Interactions, Laboratory

Multidisciplinary course dealing with the social and environmental impact of food production in the United States and developing countries. Agroecosystems of various kinds are analyzed from biological, economic, and social perspectives. The impacts of traditional, conventional, and alternative agricultural technologies are critically examined in the context of developed and developing economies. Specific topics include biodiversity and ecosystem services in agriculture, transgenic crops, land use for energy production, urban agriculture, and sustainable development.

Full details for BIOEE 4690 - Food, Agriculture, and Society

This course covers many aspects of avian biology, including ecology, behavior, evolution, anatomy, physiology, and conservation. This is an active learning-style offering in which students complete pre-class work through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Bird Academy online learning platform, and then engage in interactive activities and exercises during class periods. BIOEE 4750 may be taken alone, or students can choose to enroll simultaneously in the associated laboratory classes, BIOEE 4751.

Full details for BIOEE 4750 - Ornithology, Lectures

This laboratory course covers many aspects of avian biology, including ecology, behavior, evolution, anatomy, physiology, and conservation. Some laboratory sessions will involve dissection of avian material, and the study of skeleton and scientific study skin specimens. Other sessions will involve outdoor activities including observations of avian behavior and demonstrations of standard ornithological field techniques, including methods of capturing, handling, and banding birds.

Full details for BIOEE 4751 - Ornithology, Laboratory

Surveys the major groups of invertebrate organisms and their evolutionary histories, and the theoretical and practical principles of paleontology, from biostratigraphy to macroevolution. Intended to fill out the biological backgrounds of Earth and atmospheric science students concerning the nature and significance of the fossil record for their respective studies, and the paleontological backgrounds of biology students interested in ecology and evolution.

Full details for BIOEE 4790 - Paleobiology

The department offers "trial" courses or seminars under this number. Offerings vary by semester. The same course is not to be offered more than twice under this number. For 2022-2023 descriptions, please go to the department website.

Full details for BIOEE 4940 - Special Topics in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Designed to give qualified undergraduate students teaching experience through actual involvement in planning and assisting in biology courses. This experience may include supervised participation in a discussion group, assisting in a biology laboratory, assisting in field biology, or tutoring.

Full details for BIOEE 4980 - Teaching Experience

This course introduces students to the field of infectious disease ecology, an area of study that has developed rapidly over the past three decades and addresses some of the most significant challenges to human health and conservation. Students will learn about the incredible diversity of parasitic organisms, arguably the most abundant life forms on the planet, and examine how pathogens invade and spread through host populations. Throughout the course, an emphasis will be placed on understanding of infectious diseases dynamics at the population level, and on quantitative approaches for studying pathogen spread and impacts. Specific topics include types of pathogens and their ecological properties, epidemiology and impacts on host populations, types of transmission, evolution of resistance and virulence, drivers of the emergence of new diseases, parasites in the context of ecological communities, strategies for controlling outbreaks, and the role of parasites in biodiversity and conservation.

Full details for BIOEE 6000 - Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases

Ecology and Environmental Science are running into a 'big data' era. The unprecedented data sources provide opportunities for novel scientific exploration and solutions to real-world problems, which, however, usually requires robust quantitative analysis and informative visualization. This course aims to increase students' literacy and hands-on skills on common quantitative methods in ecology and environmental sciences, including accessing and curating data, statistical inference, regression, data-based predictions (also known as machine learning), and visualizing the results. Students will be using public data sets from organismal to landscape scales, including spatial data sets from the Google Earth Engine platform. Example codes will be provided in both Python and R.

Full details for BIOEE 6550 - Data Analysis and Visualization in Ecology and Environmental Science

Designed to give graduate students experience in defining questions and designing field investigations. The course is based at the Archbold Biological Station in central Florida over spring break and during the following week. The class visits several ecosystems including sand pine scrub, cattle ranches, cypress swamps, and the Everglades.

Full details for BIOEE 6602 - Graduate Field Course in Ecology

Lectures and intensive study of special topics in the field of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Content varies each semester.

Full details for BIOEE 7600 - Special Topics in Evolution and Ecology

Group intensive study of current research in plant-insect interactions. Topics vary from semester to semester but include chemical defense, coevolution, insect community structure, population regulation, biocontrol, tritrophic interactions, and mutualism.

Full details for BIOEE 7640 - Plant-Insect Interactions Seminar

Group discussion on professional activities for academic ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Topics include: writing a CV, publication strategies, finding a postdoc, the tenure process, grant writing, manuscript reviews, networking, public speaking, and scientific collaboration.

Full details for BIOEE 7650 - Professional Development in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Dissertation research conducted by a Ph.D. student in the field of ecology and evolutionary biology with advice and consultation of a major professor who is a member of the field.

Full details for BIOEE 9990 - Ph.D. Dissertation Research