In this course we will first investigate the mechanisms of behavior--how do animals behave the way they do? We'll then spend the bulk of the semester exploring the ecology and evolution of behavior--why do animals behave the way they do? In lab, we will use hands-on activities to complement material from class, and you'll gain first-hand research experience when you design and conduct your own animal behavior study. Special fee. Lab. Prereq: BIOL 412 or equivalent.

In this course we will first investigate the mechanisms of behavior--how do animals behave the way they do? We'll then spend the bulk of the semester exploring the ecology and evolution of behavior--why do animals behave the way they do? In lab, we will use hands-on activities to complement material from class, and you'll gain first-hand research experience when you design and conduct your own animal behavior study. Special fee. Lab. Prereq: BIOL 412 or equivalent.

Evolutionary biology is about uncovering the past, understanding the present, and predicting the future of animals, plants, and microbes. Is also offers insight into how scientific ideas change through time. This course covers natural selection and adaptation, phylogeny, population genetics and structure, origins and extinction of species, domestication, and evolutionary medicine. Additional topics may include human evolution and evolutionary impacts, biogeography, and social evolution, as well as the intersections between evolution, ecology and development.

Some fish swimming today are hundreds of years old, whereas others complete their life cycle in two months! This course provides an introduction to the diversity of fishes found across the globe, including elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) and teleosts (bony fishes). Particular attention will be paid to fishes local to New Hampshire and New England. Students will learn about fish anatomy, physiology, and ecology. Prereq: BIOL 411, BIOL 412, or equivalent. Lab. (Offered in alternative years.) Special Fee.