Instructor: Dr Miram Gleiber (UAlberta).
Overview: In this course, we will explore key theories about the structure and dynamics of populations, communities, and ecosystems in coastal marine environments. Through examining case studies of changing ocean biodiversity on Canada’s west coast, students will have the opportunity to become ‘ecological detectives’, learning and applying skills from the ecologist’s tool box to determine how and why events like biological invasion, harvesting, and climate change affect marine species. Ecological topics that we will explore include population growth and regulation, species interactions, food webs, and community resilience and recovery. Course activities include field trips and data collection, individual and team-based projects, interaction with experts, and discussions of cutting-edge primary literature. Students will also gain some hands-on training in statistical analysis and graphing using R, a powerful, open-source statistical programming language now used by most practising biologists. Through course activities, students will build analytical, communication, problem-solving, collaboration, and leadership skills that are essential in a research setting and beyond.
Required Text: There is no required text.
University of Victoria:
MRNE 437 – Marine Population Ecology & Dynamics
CRN #TBA
University of Calgary:
MRSC 537 – Marine Population Ecology & Dynamics
You will be registered by your department
University of Alberta:
MA SC 437 – Marine Population Ecology & Dynamics
You will be registered by your department
University of British Columbia
MRNE 437 – Marine Population Ecology & Dynamics
You will be registered by your department
Simon Fraser University
MASC 437-3 – Marine Population Ecology & Dynamics
You will be registered by your department
“I thought the whole course was great!! The readings, lecture material, and assignments all complemented each other really well. I thought the assignments were really well thought out and exposed me to methods I hadn’t used before (especially population modelling).”
“Stephanie truly cared about our well-being and our learning. Also, you can tell her passion for ecology runs deep and she does a great job at inspiring students to follow a path of ecology and conservation.”
“I really appreciated Stephanie’s enthusiasm and willingness to help out during some of the more stressful parts of the course in terms of assignments.”
