| Zoology |
ZOOL 801 - Conservation Biology
Credits:
4.00
Critical and quantitative investigation of current issues in
the conservation of biological systems. Habitat restoration,
nonidigenous species, harvest strategies, conserving genetic
diversity, population viability analysis, global climate
change, endangered species recovery, habitat fragmentation,
and reserve design are addressed. Case studies include
examples drawn from terrestrial, aquatic, and marine
systems. Weekly laboratories include trips to local habitats
of concern. A statistics course is highly recommended.
Prereq: general ecology or permission. Special fee. Lab.
(Not offered every year.)
ZOOL 805 - Population Genetics
Credits:
4.00
An exploration of the forces affecting the frequency and
distribution of allelic variation in natural populations.
Emphasis on the relative roles of mutation, selection,
random drift and inbreeding in structuring genetic
variation, and on the quantification of the genetic
structure of populations. Prereq: principles of genetics;
applied biostatistics I recommended. (Also offered as
GEN 805.) Special fee. Lab. (Not offered every year.)
ZOOL 808 - Stream Ecology
Credits:
4.00
Ecological relationships of organisms in flowing water;
streams as ecosystems. Lectures on physical and chemical
features of streams, floral and faunal communities, and
factors controlling populations of benthic invertebrates.
Laboratory exercises employ both field and laboratory
experimental techniques. Weekly seminars on original
research papers. Special fee. (Not offered every year.)
ZOOL #809 - Environmental Physiology of Animals
Credits:
4.00
Animal responses to natural changes or extremes of the
physical environment. Emphasis on adaptation of animals to
major environmental parameters such as nutrient levels,
light, temperature, and ionic environment, as well as
temporal (seasonal, daily) changes in these major
environmental factors. Examples from several levels of
organization including biofeedback mechanisms. Prereq:
general ecology; principles of animal physiology;/or
equivalent. (Not offered every year.)
ZOOL 810 - Ichthyology
Credits:
4.00
An introduction to the evolution, systematics, anatomy,
physiology, and ecology of fishes, with an emphasis on
New England species. Prereq: principles of biology or
equivalent. Lab. (Offered alternate years.)
ZOOL 811 - Zooplankton Ecology
Credits:
4.00
Methods of sampling populations; factors regulating temporal
and spatial distribution; trophic interactions of
communities; role of zooplankton in nutrient cycles of
lakes. Experimental techniques employed in field trips to
freshwater habitats. Seminars examine current research in
the primary literature. Prereq: general ecology and
limnology, ZOOL/PBIO 817, or equivalent; permission. (Not
equivalent; permission. (Not offered every year.)
ZOOL 812 - Mammalogy
Credits:
4.00
Evolution, ecology, behavior, physiology, and diversity of
mammals. Focuses on conceptual issues such as the relations
of structure, function, physiology, and ecology of species;
reproductive physiology and life history strategies; and the
evolution of mating systems and social structure. Requires
familiarity with mammalian groups to the family level and
identification of local fauna to species. Prereq; principles
of biology or equivalent. Lab. (Not offered every year.)
Special fee.
ZOOL 813 - Animal Behavior
Credits:
4.00
Introduces the naturalistic study of animal behavior.
Emphasizes the evolution, development, physiology, and
ecology of behavior. Topics include the genetic and acquired
bases of behavior; neuroethology and behavioral
endocrinology; communication; orientation; foraging
strategies; reproductive ecology; and the evolution of
altruistic behavior. Prereq: principles of biology I and II
or equivalent. Lab.
ZOOL 815 - Molecular Evolution
Credits:
4.00
Rates and patterns of evolutionary change in biomolecules;
forces affecting the size and structure of genomes;
molecular mechanisms of organismal evolution. Emphasis on
integrating evidence from biochemistry, molecular genetics
and organismal studies; as well as on methods for
reconstructing phylogeny from molecular sequences. Some
knowledge of statistics is recommended. Prereq: principles
of genetics. (Also offered as GEN 815.) Special fee. Lab.
(Not offered every year.)
ZOOL 817 - General Limnology
Credits:
4.00
Introduction to the ecology of freshwater systems, with
emphasis on lakes. Origins of lakes and effects of
watersheds on lake chemistry, nutrient cycling, and the lake
food web are explored. Other topics include the impact of
human disturbances on productivity and aquatic food web and
methods used for the management and restoration of lakes.
Comparisons are made of the structure and functions of lake
ecosystems found in temperate, tropical and arctic regions.
Prereq: general ecology or equivalent. (Also offered as
PBIO 817.)
ZOOL 819 - Field Limnology
Credits:
4.00
Ecology of lakes and other freshwater habitats examined
through field studies. Emphasizes modern methods for
studying lakes, analysis and interpretation of data, and
writing of scientific papers. Seminars on research papers
and student presentations of class studies. Field trips to a
variety of lakes, from the coastal plain to White Mountains;
investigate problems, such as eutrophication, acidification,
biodiversity and biotoxins. Capstone experiences include
interaction with state agencies, lake stakeholders and the
submission of written manuscripts for publication. (Also
offered as PBIO 819.) Special fee. Lab.
ZOOL 823 - Quantitative Genetics
Credits:
4.00
Analysis of continuous variation in populations
simultaneously segregating at multiple loci. Genetic and
nongenetic factors and the complex interactions between
them; models and methods of analysis, for both theoretical
and practical applications. Prereq: principles of genetics;
applied biostatistics I is strongly suggested. (Also offered
as GEN 823.) Special fee. Lab. (Not offered every year.)
ZOOL 825 - Marine Ecology
Credits:
4.00
Marine environment and its biota, emphasizing intertidal and
estuarine habitats. Includes field, laboratory, and an
independent research project. Prereq: general ecology;
permission. Marine invertebrate zoology, oceanography, and
statistics are desirable. (Also offered as PBIO 825.)
Special fee. (Not offered every year.)
ZOOL 829 - Developmental Biology of the Vertebrates
Credits:
4.00
Principles of animal development, primarily in vertebrates,
emphasizing the comparative approach and the integration of
classical and molecular data. General topics include
embryonic patterning, differentiation, morphogenesis, germ
layers and their specific derivatives, environmental effects
in development, and limb development. Special topics include
maternal and embryonic adaptations, reproductive technology,
and evolutionary perspectives on development. Prereq:
introductory course in developmental biology. Special fee.
Lab. (Not offered every year.)
ZOOL 831 - Systems Approach to Biological Ocean Science
Credits:
3.00
Broad survey of biological ocean science for advanced
undergraduate and graduate students. Uses an
interdisciplinary, "systems" approach to focus on major
opportunities and challenges for ocean science in the
future. Classes meet for one three-hour session each week
and include lecture, discussion, demonstration, and
laboratory sessions appropriate to the subject material
with presentations by guest speakers. Focus of the course
is different each time it is offered; topics have included
temporal and spatial scales of variation, estuarine
ecosystem dynamics. May be repeated. Prereq:
permission. (Also offered as EOS 831.)
ZOOL 832 - Lake Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Credits:
4.00
Lectures and seminars on interpreting lake water quality,
developing a natural history inventory for lakes, the
process of creating a lake management plan, and resolution
of conflicting uses of lakes. Students develop actual lake
management plans in cooperation with government agencies and
lake associations. Guest speakers from state agencies and
non-governmental organizations. Introductions to and use of
GIS (Geographic Information Systems) methods for the
analysis of lakes and watersheds. Present lake management
issues from scientific and social science points of view.
Open to students from all disciplines. (Also offered as PBIO
832.) Special fee. Lab.
ZOOL 833 - Behavioral Ecology
Credits:
4.00
Behavioral adaptations of animals to their environment
including the evolution of behavior and behavioral genetics;
foraging and competition for resources; reproductive
ecology, mating systems and parental care; and the evolution
of cooperative behavior. Examples include both vertebrates
and invertebrates. Emphasis is on critical understanding of
concepts as exhibited in oral and written exercises.
Students conduct independent investigations. Prereq: animal
behavior or ecology or evolution course. Lab. (Offered in
alternate years.)
ZOOL 840 - Introduction to Biogeography
Credits:
4.00
Biogeography is an integrative field of inquiry that unites
concepts and information from evolutionary biology, ecology,
systematics, geology, and physical geography. This course
covers theories and data from several disciplines with
emphasis on evolutionary aspects of biogeography. Attention
is given to the biogeography of individual taxa rather than
groups of species or communities. Prereq: General Ecology.
An evolution course is strongly recommended. Recitation.
ZOOL 845 - Biology and Diversity of Insects
Credits:
4.00
Study of the biology of insects, the most diverse group of
organisms, focusing on why they are unique, how they have
become so diverse, and the basis of their success. The
laboratory is designed to develop an understanding of insect
diversity through utilization of different sampling
techniques in several habitats, sorting to "morphospecies",
and use of biodiversity indices. Prereq: principles of
biology I and II or equivalent. Special fee. (Not offered
every year.)
ZOOL 850 - Biological Oceanography
Credits:
4.00
Biological processes of the oceans, including primary and
secondary production, trophodynamics, plankton diversity,
zooplankton ecology, ecosystems and global ocean dynamics.
Field trips on R/V Gulf Challenger and to the Jackson
Estuarine Laboratory. Prereq: one year of biology or
permission of instructor. (Also offered as EOS 850,
ESCI 850.) Special fee. Lab. (Not offered every year.)
ZOOL 872 - Fisheries Biology
Credits:
3.00
Principles of fisheries science, with emphasis on techniques
used to assess the biological characteristics of exploited
fish populations and the use of such information for
fisheries management. Prereq: ZOOL 810; permission.
(Not offered every year.)
ZOOL 873 - Physiology of Fish
Credits:
4.00
Investigation of the physiological processes responsible for
maintaining homeostasis in fishes. Focus is on the function
and regulation of the major organ systems during stress and
environmental adaptation. Topics include reproduction,
osmoregulation, digestion, endocrinology and sensory
perception. Prereq: animal physiology or equivalent;/ or
permission.
ZOOL 877 - Neurobiology and Behavior
Credits:
4.00
Survey of fundamental concepts and recent discoveries in
neurobiology. Topics include structure and function of
neurons, development, cellular basis of behavior (sensory
and motor systems), neuropharmacology, and neural plasticity
(learning). Prereq: principles of biology I and II or
permission. Physiology also desirable.
ZOOL #878 - Neuroscience Techniques
Credits:
4.00
A techniques- and laboratory-oriented course designed for
students of the behavioral and physiological sciences who
wish to understand the basic electrophysiological properties
of neurons and how they interact. Both invertebrate and
vertebrate systems to illustrate principles of synaptic
transmission, integration, sensory information processing,
and the control of movement. Prereq: ZOOL 877 or
equivalent. Lab. (Not offered every year.)
ZOOL 895 - Advanced Studies
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
Independent study in various areas, including but not
limited to: animal behavior; departmental biology; ecology;
electron microscopy; evolution; genetics; histology; history
of biology; invertebrate biology; neurobiology and behavior;
physiology; teaching practices; underwater research;
vertebrate biology; biological techniques. Course sections
for advanced work, individual or group seminar. May include
reading, laboratory work, organized seminars, and
conferences. Prereq: permission of department chairperson
and staff concerned.
ZOOL 896 - Special Investigations
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
See description for ZOOL 895.
ZOOL 899 - Master's Thesis
Credits:
1.00 to 10.00
Prereq: permission of department chairperson and
prospective supervisor. Cr/F.
ZOOL 901 - Research Methods
Credits:
2.00
Introduction to the range of research approaches in zoology
and to the skills needed for success in graduate school and
beyond. Topics include scientific writing, graphical
methods, library techniques, scientific methods and
experimental design, research techniques available, and
seminar presentation. Cr/F. (Offered every fall.)
ZOOL #926 - Comparative Physiology
Credits:
4.00
Laboratory modules designed to enable students to
investigate nutrition, metabolism, neural function,
reproduction, and homeostatic mechanisms, of animals,
especially invertebrates. Emphasis on conducting effective
physiological studies. Prereq: principles of animal
physiology or equivalent; permission. Special fee. (Not
offered every year.)
ZOOL 997 - Seminar
Credits:
1.00 to 2.00
Reports on recent zoological literature. Subject fields are
those listed under ZOOL 895, 896; not all areas available
every semester. Required of graduate students in zoology.
Cr/F.
ZOOL 998 - Seminar
Credits:
1.00 to 2.00
See description for ZOOL 997. Cr/F.
ZOOL 999 - Doctoral Research
Credits:
Cr/F.