Tara Rajaniemi, PhD

Patterns and processes shaping distributions, abundance, and diversity of species. Topics include interactions between pairs of species, structuring of multispecies communities, and responses of species pairs and larger species networks to the physical environment. These questions are explored through conceptual frameworks of communities, mathematical models, foundational publications in the field, and current research. Plant, animal, and microbial communities are considered.

Students with senior standing (or others with consent of the instructor) report on and discuss current biological problems as presented in principle journals, abstracts and reviews. The work of each seminar is usually built upon a single unifying content area.

Patterns and processes shaping distributions, abundance, and diversity of species. Topics include interactions between pairs of species, structuring of multispecies communities, and responses of species pairs and larger species networks to the physical environment. These questions are explored through conceptual frameworks of communities, mathematical models, foundational publications in the field, and current research. Plant, animal, and microbial communities are considered.

One to four hours in varied formats Selected topics in Biology. In recent years these have included physiology and biochemistry of marine animals, evolutionary ecology, biology of marine mammals, morphometrics and phylogenetic systematics, and extremophiles.

Terms and hours to be arranged. Graded A-F.

Terms and hours to be arranged. Graded A-F.

Terms and hours to be arranged. Graded A-F.

Terms and hours to be arranged. Graded A-F.