BIOL 330 - Introduction to Biological Data

3 units (fi 6)(FIRST, 3-0-3)

Expands on prior introductions to the scientific method and examines the steps involved in the planning, collection, organization, analysis and presentation of biological data. Classes will explore the types of data used to answer biological questions, review the importance of sampling design, assess the benefits and limitations of various data types for scientific inference, and teach basic principles of statistical modeling. Labs will teach students how spreadsheets, databases, cloud computing, and AI can be used to manipulate, analyze, and present the results of biological research. Prerequisites: BIOL 207 or BIOL 208; and STAT 151 or SCI 151.

BIOL 471 - Landscape Ecology

3 units (fi 6)(SECOND, 3-0-3)

Landscapes are holistic entities whose patterns influence ecological processes. Topics highlighted in this course include landscape components, morphology and dynamics; detecting spatial/temporal change in landscapes; issues of scales; movements of organisms, disturbances, and nutrients across landscape mosaics; and restoration, planning and management in a landscape context. Labs emphasize GIS applications to characterizing landscape patterns and heterogeneity in space and time, distributing and moving organisms across landscapes, and restoring or planning landscapes for conservation objectives. Prerequisites: MATH 115; STAT 151 or SCI 151; one of BIOL 431, BIOL 332 or BOT 332. Previous GIS course is useful. Credit cannot be obtained for both BIOL 471 and BIOL 571.

BIOL 571 - Landscape Ecology and Applications

3 units (fi 6)(SECOND, 3-0-3)

Landscapes are holistic entities whose patterns influence ecological processes. Topics highlighted in this course include landscape components, morphology and dynamics; detecting spatial/temporal change in landscapes; issues of scales; movements of organisms, disturbances, and nutrients across landscape mosaics; and restoration, planning and management in a landscape context. Labs emphasize GIS applications to characterizing landscape patterns and heterogeneity in space and time, distributing and moving organisms across landscapes, and restoring or planning landscapes for conservation objectives. Lectures and labs are the same as for BIOL 471, but with an additional research project and evaluation appropriate to graduate studies. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Credit cannot be obtained for both BIOL 471 and 571.