Why are vertebrates so successful on Earth? In this hands-on comparative biology course you will systematically examine the evolutionary history of form and function by exploring key adaptations that allowed vertebrates to diversify and thrive in the aquatic, terrestrial, and arboreal habitats they occupy today. In lab you will hone your dissection skills as you track ancestral and derived characteristics in 5 representative species on the vertebrate tree of life. Lab.

Why are vertebrates so successful on Earth? In this hands-on comparative biology course you will systematically examine the evolutionary history of form and function by exploring key adaptations that allowed vertebrates to diversify and thrive in the aquatic, terrestrial, and arboreal habitats they occupy today. In lab you will hone your dissection skills as you track ancestral and derived characteristics in 5 representative species on the vertebrate tree of life. Lab.

This course is about insects, the animal taxon that represents 50% of all life forms on Earth. During this course students will explore this incredible diversity by studying insects from inside out and learning about major evolutionary events in the last 500 million years that shaped this incredible diversity. This course will also highlight the beneficial and detrimental roles insects play in human society: students will gain insights into medical and veterinary entomology, coastal entomology, principles of sustainable pest management and insect conservation. Throughout the course, students will broadly apply online tools for insect identification and will be exposed to community driven nature conservation and monitoring efforts using online applications, such as inaturalist and bugguide. Lab.

Introduces the culture practices employed for production of aquatic organisms. Topics include ecological and environmental considerations, selective breeding, nutrition, diseases, processing, and marketing. Emphasis on finfish.