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Zoology 962, Animal Communication, 2 credit graduate seminar, co-taught with Chuck Snowdon in Fall 2006
The study of animal communication has a long and rich history, and has been addressed from diverse perspectives. In this seminar we weave together cognitive, physiological, and evolutionary perspectives to give students a broad understanding of the various influences on the way that animals communicate.
Zoology 957, Speciation, 1 credit graduate seminar, taught Fall term 2004
The study of speciation is experiencing a renaissance, as new theory & new methods allow biologists to address long standing & difficult questions on how new species arise. Rapid progress is being made in understanding Darwin's "Mystery of Mysteries". This seminar covers theoretical and empirical work on speciation – from the development of ideas during the modern synthesis to present day work investigating the processes of speciation (natural & sexual selection, drift, chromosomal changes). We also cover topics such as reinforcement, sympatric speciation, phylogenetic approaches & genetics of speciation.
Zoology 425, Evolution of Behavior, 3 credits, taught Fall term
This course investigates how evolutionary processes shape behavior, focusing on the influence of natural, sexual, and kin selection. The course provides the conceptual background needed to understand behavioral evolution, and applies this to understanding important and current topics in animal behavior. I emphasize theoretical principles, design of experiments, and interpretation of data. The discussion teaches students to read and evaluate the primary literature in animal behavior; developing critical thinking skills that will apply broadly throughout their undergraduate careers and beyond.
Biology 151, Introductory Biology, 5 credits
I teach the section on evolution in this team-taught course. I develop the conceptual basis of evolutionary biology, focusing on the processes that give rise to diverse adaptations and new species and investigated evolutionary principles important in modern society (e.g., disease resistance & parasite evolution). I also cover the diversity of life, focusing on phylogenetic relationships and the evolution of major adaptations that allowed further diversification.
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