Environmental Science Policy and Management

Plant toxins and their effects on animals, hormonal interactions between plants and animals, feeding preferences, animal pheromones, and defense substances, biochemical interactions between higher plants, and phytoalexins and phytotoxins

Examines in a holistic framework fundamental biological, technical, socio-economic, and political processes that govern agroecosystem productivity and stability. Management techniques and farming systems' designs that sustain longterm production are emphasized. One Saturday field trip and one optional field trip

An ecosystem approach to the study of urban gardens with an organic perspective. Topics include fundamentals of horticulture, soil properties and fertility, pest and disease management, and food perservation. Laboratories include methods in garden design, plant propagation, compost technique, soil preparation, irrigation systems, pest management, individual or group projects, demonstrations, and discussions.

Introduction to the ecology of terrestrial tropical ecosystems, with particular emphasis on neotropical forests. Explores unique aspects of tropical ecosystems, especially nutrient cycles, net primary productivity, biological diversity, forest structure and dynamics, disturbance ecology, and the natural history of key forest organisms. Basic ecology is integrated with discussion of human disturbances, restoration of tropical ecosystems, and the global importance of tropical forests.

The ecological basis for range management activities, considered in the context of western range ecosystem types. Specific range improvement and range management practices are discussed in the context of ecosystem processes

The ecology of forests from the perspectives of ecosystem analysis, physiological plant ecology, and vegetation dynamics. Major emphasis on the understanding of forest ecology as a basis for management of forest ecosystems. Field laboratory exercises to illustrate ecological principles and to develop techniques for the assessment of forest ecosystems

Identification and ecology of aquatic insects, including their role as indicators of environmental quality.

Introduction to wildlife ecology and its relationship to management programs. Includes population, community, and ecosystem levels of organization, followed by selected case studies.

Ecology of insects: interactions with the physical environment; structure and functioning of insect populations and communities; behavioral ecology of predator-prey interactions; plant-insect interactions; social insects; pollination biology; applied insect ecology.

Introduction to the ecology of microorganisms. Topics include interrelationships of microorganisms and their environment; the role of bacteria, actinomycetes, algae, protozoa, and fungi in cycling of the elements, in macroecology and in global ecology; physical, chemical, and biological properties of terrestrial, aquatic, and organismal habitats; population dynamics.