Physiological Ecology, Bio 31

Course Description
What factors determine the distribution and abundance of organisms? This course is an exploration of environmental effects on fundamental physiological processes in plants and animals. Abiotic factors such as temperature and water availability interact with biotic forces such as predation, herbivory, and competition to constrain the ability of organisms to survive, grow, and reproduce. Physiological solutions that allow success in one environment may preclude it in another. This course seeks to build up from physiological principles to understand characteristics of populations, communities, and ecosystems. Laboratories will challenge students to generate and test their own hypotheses using contemporary theoretical frameworks and modern research apparatus.

Lectures