Biology 3000 Level Courses
3011 EVOLUTION
A lecture-tutorial course investigating modern theories of biological evolution
and natural selection. Discussion of these ideas requires an understanding of
the types of evidence for biological change in organisms, Mendelian genetics and
mechanisms of inheritance, sources of genetic variability in natural populations
and genetic equilibrium of populations.
Prereq: Biology 2601; or permission of the Department.
3101 MICROORGANISMS
An introduction to the protists (algae, bacteria, fungi, protozoa) and to the
viruses. The intent of this course is to make students familiar with the
characteristics and nomenclature used to distinguish: (1) cells and viruses, (2)
the major protists, and (3) sub-groups within each protist group. The natural
and applied roles of these organisms will be discussed. Special emphasis will
be placed on discussion of the bacteria because of the great diversity of
habitats which are occupied as well as the equally great diversity of roles
performed. Laboratory work will introduce the students to microbiological
techniques and methods of identification.
Prereq: Biochemistry 2001; or permission
of the Department.
3111 APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
Discussion will center on microorganisms as models to study interrelationships
between physiology and ecology of the groups. Students will also be introduced
to microorganism growth and the principles of co-ordinated regulation that
achieve balanced growth and allow for transition from one environment to another.
Prereq: Biology 3101; or permission of the Department.
3201 ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY; ADAPTATION AND ENVIRONMENT
This course will cover the physiological mechanisms and adaptions of ectothermic
and endothermic animals at the whole animal, organ and systems level. Topics
such as respiration, water balance and regulation will be covered. This course
should be of particular interest to student whose focus is on whole animal and
higher levels of organization.
Prereq: Biology 2401 and Biochemistry 2001;
or permission of the Department.
3211 ANIMAL CELL PHYSIOLOGY
This course addresses the topics of muscle function, nerve function, and cell
to cell communication. Laboratory exercises at a sophisticated level form an
integral component of the course. The information should be of particular
interest to students whose focus is on Cellular Biology.
Prereq: Biology 2401, Biochemistry
2001, Physics 1051; or permission of the Department.
3301 MARINE BIOLOGY
This course will provide a broad introduction to marine organisms and marine
biological processes through lectures, field trips, and laboratory sessions.
Topics of lectures will include: the biology of planktonic, benthic and nektonic
organisms from a variety of marine environments; the reproductive biology of
benthic organisms; the trophic structure of the oceans and marine food webs;
seasonal and geographic variations in marine productivity. A study of various
local habitats will be made during field trips.
There will be a four day visit to the Huntsman Marine Laboratory in St. Andrews, N.B.
Students will be expected to contribute to their own accommodation costs.
Prereq: Biology 2101, 2401; or permission of the Department.
3311 ANIMAL DEVELOPMENT
An introductory lecture and laboratory course on animal development. Emphasis
will be placed on the development of marine invertebrates, especially the sea
urchins, from which a great deal of existing knowledge on development processes
is derived. However, the development of selected vertebrates will be studied as
well. Topics to be covered include gametogenesis and gametic structure, events
at fertilization, mechanisms of cleavage and gastrulation, the organization of
the early embryo as derived from experimental manipulation, pattern formation
and regeneration.
Prereq: Biology 2401; or permission of the Department.
3331/3341 SELECTED TOPICS IN MARINE SCIENCE I AND II
The courses taken for these credits will be from among those offered in the
Summer at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews, N.B. Since course
offerings will change yearly, students must obtain permission from the Department
before enrolling for any course. All costs associated with the course must be
borne by the student.
Prereq: Biology 2101, 2301, 2401; or permission of the Department.
3351 MARINE BOTANY
A lecture, laboratory, and field course summarizing recent advances in our
understanding of macroscopic plant growth in the sea. This progress has been based
upon studies involving morphology, development, physiology, and ecology. The
following topics will be emphasized: the sea as an environment for plants to grow,
production of marine plants, morphogenesis and geographic distribution
of marine plants and use of marine plants.
Prereq: Biology 2301, 3301; or permission of the Department.
3401 ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
A course which will present the development, physiology, ecology and evolution
of animal behaviour. Topics to be discussed will include basic concepts of
behavioral organization; physiology of behaviour, learning and memory phenomena;
behaviour of communication; reproductive behaviour and mating systems; spatial
distribution patterns and social systems; migrations and orientation mechanisms;
feeding and anti-predator behaviours. Field excursions and laboratory exercises
will permit students to observe and to quantify different behaviours in a variety
of animal species.
Prereq: Biology 2101, 2401; or permission of the Department.
3411 ICHTHYLOGY
This course provides an overview of the general biology of fish-like chordates, with
particular emphasis on the teleost fishes, the most diverse and abundant taxonomic
group of living vertebrates. Lectures will focus on adaptations that have allowed
fishes to occupy most aquatic habitats and to become the most evolutionary successful
group of vertebrates. Lectures will cover aspects of form and function, ecology and
behaviour of evolutionary relationships. Laboratory exercises will provide students
with practical experience at identifying specimens and learning about their form,
function, behaviour, ecology and evolution.
Prereq: Biology 2101 and 2401; or permission of the Department.
3451 ENTOMOLOGY
Insects surpass all other organisms in their diversity and numbers, comprising
over two thirds of the earth's known animals. This course will introduce students
to this class of organisms by covering the following six areas: structure, function
classification and phylogeny, behaviour and ecology. Throughout the course,
evolutionary forces influencing the animals and systems involved will be stressed.
Discussions will emphasize the use of the comparative methods to determine what
these forces might be.
Prereq: Biology 2401; or permission of the Department.
3501 NATIVE FLORA (VASCULAR PLANTS)
A field-oriented course on identification, taxonomy, and ecology of
vascular plants and bryophytes.
Prereq: Biology 2301; or permission of the Department.
3551 ECOLOGY OF THE MARITIME PROVINCES
Flora, vegetation and soils of forest, coastal and settlement areas
in relationship to geological and climatic controls and to land-use
history since European settlement. Ecological history of the Maritime
Provinces from the late glacial epoch to the present.
Prereq: Biology 2101; or permission of the
Department. Geoscience 1001 and 1021 and
Biology 3501 are recommended prerequisites.
3651 INTRODUCTION TO ORNITHOLOGY
An introduction to the study of birds through lectures, laboratories
and field trips. All of the bird families represented in the Maritime
region will be discussed with special emphasis on anatomy, structural
adaptations, behaviour and physiology. The species composing the bird
communities of the Sackville area will be examined during field trips.
Prereq: Biology 2101, 2401; or permission of the Department.
3701 BIOMETRICS
This lecture course will introduce data analysis, the principles of
experimental design and the formulating and testing of hypotheses.
Graphical and statistical (t-test, chi-square test, anova) analyses
of laboratory and field collected data will be described, and their
appropriate use in Biology discussed.
Prereq: Biology 1501, the completion of the
Mathematics/ Computer Science
requirement on the Bachelor of Science, and at least two second-year
Biology courses; or permission of the Department.
3711 CHEMICAL ECOLOGY
This course deals with the Biochemistry of
interactions between animals, plants and microorganisms that occur in the
natural environment. Strong emphasis is placed on the role of so-called
"secondary metabolites" or "natural products" such as alkaloids,
flavonoids, terpenoids, etc., in the insect-plant, vertebrate-plant,
plant-plant and vertebrate-vertebrate relationships.
Prereq: Biology 2101, Chemistry 2131;
or permission of the Department.
3751 COMPARATIVE CHORDATE ANATOMY
A lecture and laboratory course in which the structure, function
and diversity of vertebrate animals will be examined and compared.
It will discuss successive modifications of structural and functional
systems found in vertebrates, and speculate on the survival value of
these systems and on their relationships to contemporary environments.
Prereq: Biology 2401; or permission of the Department.
3801 THEORETICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY
This course begins with the classical growth curves, competition
and predator-prey equations by Lotke, Volterra and others. The
use of these simple mathematical models in niche and community
theory is discussed, and the alternative approaches to
interpreting natural communities are introduced (e.g. system
analysis, neutral community models). The underlying assumptions
are discussed in the light of modern neo-Darwinian and
physiological approaches.
Prereq: Biology 2101, Either Biology 2301 or
2401; Mathematics 1111,
1121 ; or permission of the Department.
3901 PLANT DEVELOPMENT
A lecture and laboratory course designed to explore the question
of development of anatomical structures within vascular plants.
The role of heredity and environment in signalling pattern
development from a single fertilized seed to the multicellular
reproductive plant will be discussed. Particular attention will
be paid to the function of plant growth factors as signal devices.
Prereq: Biology 2301 and Biochemistry 2001;
or permission of the Department.
3911 PLANTS AND HUMAN SOCIETY
This course will deal with the interactions between plants and
human societies from the time of the introduction of agriculture
until the present. It will include the consideration of the
evolution of vascular plants, especially those important to
agriculture and forestry. It will emphasize the origins of
agriculture on various continents; it will discuss economic
botany and the present day commercial uses of plants.
Consideration will be given to interrelations between plants
and societies in their dietary, cultural and religious connotations.
Finally, the course will consider world food shortages, Either
present or potential, and possible ways to alleviate these.
Prereq: First year level Biology; or permission of
the Department.
3941 PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
A lecture and laboratory course designed to present a general
introduction to the physiology of plants. Topics that will be
discussed include photosynthesis, from the level of light entrapment
to that of the fixation of carbon dioxide; translocation of
sugars and the storage of energy rich food reserves; transpiration
and water loss from leaves, as well as uptake and water transport
within the plant; and mineral nutrition including uptake and
transport of nutrients as well as their distribution and use.
Prereq: Biology 2301 and Biochemistry 2001;
or permission of the Department.
Next: Biology 4000 Series
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