Biological Sciences (BIOL)

ANSC 808 - Ruminant Nutritional Physiology

Credits: 3

Anatomy of the ruminant gastrointestinal tract, physiological factors related to rumen function, and microbial and whole-body metabolism of carbohydrates, protein, and lipids. Prereq: general microbiology or equivalent.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

ANSC 810 - Dairy Nutrition

Credits: 4

Feeding and related management of dairy cows, nutrients and their use, digestive anatomy, physiology, energy systems, forage quality and conservation methods, metabolic disorders, ration balancing. Prereq: principles of nutrition; nutritional biochemistry or equivalent, permission.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

ANSC 815 - Physiology of Lactation

Credits: 4

Examines the biological and biochemical influences of the lactation process. Emphasis on the physiological effects of environments, hormones, and nutrition on milk synthesis and secretion, mammary physiology, and maternal response. Prereq: physiology of reproduction, permission.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

ANSC 827 - Advanced Dairy Management I

Credits: 4

Advanced management evaluation of milking procedures, reproduction, nutrition, mastitis, and calf and heifer management. Prereq: principles of nutrition, permission.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

ANSC 828 - Advanced Dairy Management II

Credits: 4

Advanced management evaluation of dairy cattle, housing, milking equipment, milk quality, record keeping, herd health, financial, personnel management, environmental issues. Visits to farms in the area to provide critical assessments of dairy farm businesses. Prereq: advanced dairy management I, permission. Special fee.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

ANSC 895 - Investigations

Credits: 1-4

Investigations in genetics, nutrition, management, diseases, histology, equestrian management/agribusiness, physiology, cell biology, microbiology, dairy management, or teaching experience. Prereq: permission.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credits.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

ANSC 899 - Master's Thesis

Credits: 1-6

Master's students must enroll for a total of 6 credits of this course. Students may enroll in 1-6 credits per semester. Cr/F.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

ANSC 995 - Non-thesis Investigations in Animal Science

Credits: 1-4

Advanced investigations in a research project, exclusive of thesis project. Elective only after consultation with the instructor. Offered both fall and spring semesters.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credits.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

ANSC 999 - Doctoral Research

Credits: 0

Cr/F.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

BIOL 801 - Plant Physiology

Credits: 4

Knowledge about principles of plant physiology is critical to understand how plants work and what happens between planting a seed and picking up a flower or a fruit. This course focuses on fundamentals of plant physiology and metabolism using lecture and laboratory investigations. Lecture topics include: plant-water relations, mineral nutrition, photosynthesis and respiration, plant metabolism, signaling and hormones, growth and development, and plant-environment interactions. Labs will be project-based and students will conduct experiments to explore basic plant processes. Prereq: Knowledge of plant biology and chemistry (introductory plant biol/botany and college level general or organic chemistry); or permission.

Equivalent(s): PBIO 801

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL #802 - Lab Techniques in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry

Credits: 4

The course provides a hands-on experience with instrumentation and experimental procedures for analysis of plant growth and metabolism. Experiments demonstrate the regulation of plant growth and development in response to environmental and chemical factors, analysis of cellular contents and processes, and use of modern instrumentation and analytical tools for physiological and biochemical studies. Experiments deal with plant water relations, photosynthesis, plant hormones, enzyme kinetics, use of spectrophotometry and fluorometry, aseptic procedures, and liquid and thin-layer chromatography. Special lab fee. Prereq: BIOL 411, BIOL 412, BIOL 701/801 or permission of instructor.

Equivalent(s): GEN 802

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL 804 - Plant-Microbe Interactions

Credits: 3

Microbes and plants have developed intriguing strategies to encourage, resist or profit from their coexistence. The primary objective of the course is to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the various ways in which microbes interacts with plants, the outcomes of that interplay, and applications of these interactions and explore how these interactions impact ecosystem function. Prereq: BIOL 411 and BIOL 412, BMS 503 and BMS 504 or GEN 604.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL 805 - Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology

Credits: 4

The overarching goal of this course is to examine the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying neuronal function. This course builds on fundamental knowledge in neuroscience. Students will be exposed to primary literature regarding the most advanced techniques in neuroscience, with emphasis in cellular and molecular processes. Students will learn how different model organisms have been used to understand neurons. Graduate students should have a strong background in chemistry, biochemistry and cell biology, and must obtain permission to register.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL 806 - Data Science with R for the Life Sciences

Credits: 4

Introduces students to the basic data analysis and programming tools commonly used throughout the life sciences. Students will become proficient in R programming, data wrangling and cleaning, the principles of open and reproducible science, SQL database management, version control via Git/Github, building maps, and Bash command lines. Data sets and case studies from across the life sciences will be used throughout the course. The class culminates with an small group project.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL 809 - Plant Stress Physiology

Credits: 3

Plants cannot move in order to avoid challenging environmental conditions. Hence, plants developed other mechanisms that allow them to cope with stress. This course focuses on the mechanisms deployed by plants to respond to stressful conditions, some responses being nothing short of chemical and biological warfare. Biotic and abiotic stresses covered include pathogens, herbivores, drought, salinity, temperature, UV radiation, and heavy metals. Agricultural and ecological implications are discussed.

Equivalent(s): PBIO 809

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL 811 - Experimental Design & Analysis

Credits: 4

Design and analysis of biological and ecological research experiments. "Real world" studies used to discuss the identification of hypotheses, appropriate experimental design, and the application of statistical analyses including ANOVA, ANCOVA, correlation and regression, cluster analysis, classification and ordination techniques. Theoretical statistical concepts tailored to consider students' own thesis and dissertation research, allowing statistical problems to be addressed at various stages of the research process. Common computer packages used for analyses include Excel, JMP, Systat and R.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL 812 - Experimental Design Seminar

Credits: 2

Explore the experimental design of your own and your classmates' current or proposed graduate research projects. Learn to recognize the difference between good and bad experimental designs by analyzing recently published studies in your field of interest. Learn the secrets of statistical reviewers and how to avoid mistakes that will prevent your work from being published. Prereq: BIOL 811 or upper level stats course.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL 814 - Model Organisms in Biological and Medical Research

Credits: 2

Animals, plants, and microbes serve as powerful tools for both basic and biomedical research. This course integrates historical, philosophical, sociological, and biological perspectives to examine how models are chosen and used. and how to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. Students will study particular model species in depth, and address general epistemological questions about the choice and use of model organisms. This course is designed for graduate students and advanced undergraduates interested in research.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL 820 - Plant-Animal Interactions

Credits: 4

Animals and plants engage in a range of interactions, from plant-pollinator and plant-ant mutualisms to plant-herbivore and carnivorous plant antagonisms. This course will explore the consequences of a variety of interactions on the evolution of traits in both animals and plants, considering implications for both conservation and agriculture. Weekly recitation. Prereq: BIOL 412.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL 827 - Animal Communication

Credits: 4

This course examines the principles underlying how animals communicate with each other and why they communicate the way they do by using perspectives drawn from a broad range of disciplines including physics, chemistry, ecology, psychology, economics, and behavioral ecology. Students will explore the primary literature, and work in teams to conduct independent research. The course is intended for advanced undergraduate or graduate students interested in neuroscience and behavior, evolution, wildlife and conservation biology, or zoology.Prereq: BIOL 412.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL 828 - Marine Bioacoustics

Credits: 3

Marine bioacoustics is a highly interdisciplinary field of science that requires knowledge of marine biology, oceanography, physics, and engineering. This course provides an introduction to the role of acoustics in aquatic biological systems and how acoustics is used to study biological processes and ecosystem dynamics. Topics include: marine animal hearing; sound production; behavior; echolocation; remote sensing; research methods; and the impacts of sounds on marine animals. It is suggested that students have a strong background in biology. College level physics and calculus is suggested.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL #829 - Agricultural Waste Management

Credits: 4

The management of agricultural wastes is crucial in the development of sustainable agricultural practices. This course covers principles of managing, handling, treating, and applying animal manures and organic byproducts from an agricultural system perspective. Topics include waste characterization, descriptions of systems and technology, utilization of wastes as resources (land application, composting electricity generation, fertilization, etc.), land application principles, preparations of waste management plans, and potential impacts to the environment. Prereq: SAFS 502 or permission of instructor.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL 852 - New England Mushrooms: a Field and Lab Exploration

Credits: 4

This is a hands-on field, lab and lecture course in the identification, classification, life histories, and ecology of mushrooms and other macrofungi. Lectures focus on macrofungal ecology and systematics. Laboratory instruction emphasizes morphological, microscopic, and molecular identification techniques, plus the use of smart-phone field note recording and on-line resources. Several field trips are required in addition to the weekly laboratory. Previous experience with fungi is not required. Grades are based on a collection, a project, and presentations. Prereq: Intro course in Biology or Plant Biology, or permission.

Equivalent(s): PBIO 852

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL 855 - Biological Oceanography

Credits: 3

Biological processes of the oceans, including primary and secondary production, trophodynamics, plankton diversity, zooplankton ecology, ecosystems and global ocean dynamics. Prereq: BIOL 411 or BIOL 412 or equivalent.

Equivalent(s): ESCI 850, ZOOL 850

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL 873 - Physiology of Fishes

Credits: 4

Investigates the physiological processes responsible for maintaining homeostasis in fishes. Focuses on the function and regulation of the major organ systems during stress and environmental adaptation. Topics include reproduction, osmoregulation, digestion, endocrinology, and sensory perception. Special Fee.

Equivalent(s): ZOOL 873

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL 895 - Advanced Studies

Credits: 1-4

Advanced research or seminar, supervised by a faculty member.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

BIOL 899 - Master's Thesis

Credits: 1-10

Master's thesis research. Cr/F.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 10 credits.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

BIOL 901 - Introductory Graduate Seminar

Credits: 2

This seminar provides an introduction to the Biological Sciences Graduate Program, offering students an overview of program structure and requirements, introducing faculty research and campus resources, and helping participants develop skills and strategies useful in graduate school. Requirements include preparation of a written research proposal and a brief oral presentation. Cr/F.

Equivalent(s): ZOOL 901

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

BIOL 902 - Writing and Publishing Science

Credits: 2

Participants in this seminar (1) make significant progress on one or more of their current academic writing projects; (2) increase their understanding of the genres, protocols, and mechanisms of scientific writing and publishing; and (3) develop strategies and skills for getting professional writing done efficiently and well, in graduate school and beyond. Cr/F.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

BIOL 950 - Scientific Communication

Credits: 2

Professional success in science depends on the ability to communicate, both by publishing in professional journals and by explaining the implications of research to a broad audience. This course covers a wide range of topics related to scientific communication. Students work on multiple forms of communication, practice communicating science to the public, strengthen peer reviewing skills, explore online scientific communities, and enhance awareness of relevant economic, legal, and ethical issues.

Equivalent(s): LSA 950

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

BIOL 999 - Doctoral Dissertation Research

Credits: 0

Doctoral dissertation research. Cr/F.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

MEFB 817 - Lake Ecology

Credits: 4

Introduction to the ecology of freshwater systems with emphasis on lakes. Origins of lakes and the effects of watersheds on lake chemistry and nutrient cycling are explored. Other topics include the impact of human disturbances on productivity and aquatic food webs 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 biology.

Equivalent(s): PBIO 817, ZOOL 817

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

MEFB #819 - Field Studies in Lake Ecology

Credits: 4

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. Prereq: introductory biology. Special fee. Lab.

Equivalent(s): PBIO 819, ZOOL 819

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

MEFB 825 - Marine Ecology

Credits: 4

Marine environment and its biota, emphasizing intertidal and estuarine habitats. Includes field, laboratory, and independent research project. Prereq: general ecology; permission. Marine invertebrate zoology, oceanography, and statistics are desirable. Special fee. (Not offered every year.)

Equivalent(s): PBIO 825, ZOOL 825

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

MEFB #832 - Lake Management

Credits: 4

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 lake management plans in cooperation with governmental agencies and lake associations. Guest speakers from State agencies and non-governmental organizations. Introduction to and use of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) methods for the analysis of lakes and watersheds. Presents lake management issues from scientific and social science points of view. Open to students from all disciplines. Special fee. Lab.

Equivalent(s): PBIO 832, ZOOL 832

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

MEFB 847 - Aquatic Plants in Restoration/Management

Credits: 4

A field-intensive class focusing upon freshwater and marine vascular plants with an emphasis on species commonly associated with ecological restoration, the identification and conservation of rare species, and the adaptations and management of invasive species of aquatic habitats in New England. Field trips emphasize the flora of various wetland habitats, including open water and vegetated fresh water wetlands, as well as coastal and estuarine habitats. Lectures and readings examine the current trends in research and management focusing upon specific taxa and pertinent facets of their taxonomy, physiology, and natural history. Prereq: BIOL 566 or permission. Special fee.

Equivalent(s): PBIO 847

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

MEFB 872 - Fisheries Biology: Conservation and Management

Credits: 4

Globally, many fished populations are declining, but 3.2 billion people eat fish and the average human eats >40 pounds of fish a year. This course identifies what biological characteristics are important to management and how they are measured. The course also explores quantitative methods describing fishery-population interactions and other management tools. Lastly, students will earn about the impacts of fishing on ecosystems. Prereq: BIOL 411 and BIOL 412 or equivalent.

Equivalent(s): ZOOL 872

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR #801 - Ecological Sustainability and Values

Credits: 4

Deeper more fundamental philosophical questions, including spiritual values questions, are being asked concerning the ecological/environmental challenge of our time; its causes and resolution. Aspects of this challenge--environmental education, energy, food, agriculture, and natural resources--analyzed with ethics and values approaches. Students develop ways of responding to problem identification and resolution.

Equivalent(s): EC 802

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 803 - Watershed Water Quality Management

Credits: 4

Principles of land use as they relate to water quality and quantity. Lectures focus on biogeochemical cycles and the watershed approach to land and water resource management. Labs and field trips focus on methods of water sampling and analysis. One year of chemistry is recommended. Prereq: freshwater resources or watershed hydrology, or permission. Special fee. Lab/field trips.

Equivalent(s): WARM 803

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 806 - Soil Ecology

Credits: 4

Examines the ecological relationships between soil microorganisms and their biotic and abiotic environment, with emphasis on the role of soil microorganisms in biogeochemical cycling. Specific objectives are to examine the biodiversity present in soil systems, factors controlling microbial community composition and diversity, and linkages between soil microbial communities, soil physical properties, and soil organic matter and nutrient cycling dynamics. Prereq: Introduction to principles of biology, general chemistry or equivalent, or permission. Lab. Special fee.

Equivalent(s): SOIL 806

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 807 - Environmental Modeling

Credits: 4

Environmental Modeling introduces students to a range of key mathematical and computer modeling concepts and the ways they can be used to address important scientific questions. The course is divided into four topical sections: Population and Community Ecology, Hydrology, Biogeochemistry, and Ecosystems. In each section, modeling concepts and skills are presented together with environmental information to emphasize the linkage between quantitative methods and relevant scientific results. Prereq: MATH 425. (Also listed as EOS 807.)

Equivalent(s): EOS 807

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR #812 - Mammalogy

Credits: 4

Evolution, ecology, behavior, physiology and diversity of mammals. The focus of the course is on conceptual issues, such as the relation of structure, function, physiology and ecology of species; reproductive physiology and life history strategies; and the evolution of mating systems and social structure. Familiarity of mammalian groups to the family level and identification of local fauna to species will be required. Prereq: BIOL 411 and BIOL 412 or equivalent. Lab. (Not offered every year.) Special fee.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 820 - International Environmental Politics and Policies for the 21st Century

Credits: 4

Students examine policies for managing human activities to sustain the health of regional ecosystems and planetary life-support systems. Selected problems of the international commons (oceans, marine resources, atmosphere, migratory species); global and regional carrying capacity (population, resource consumption), internationally shared ecosystems (trans-boundary watersheds, water-bodies, tropical forests); and the relevant international institutions and politics for policy formation, conflict resolution, and implementation. Using a policy-analytic framework, students develop case studies to assess international policies and institutional arrangements to achieve the objectives of Agenda 21--Earth Summit Strategy to Save the Planet. Prereq: permission.

Equivalent(s): EC 820

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 824 - Resolving Environmental Conflicts

Credits: 4

Theories and practices of environmental dispute settlement. Roles of public, non-governmental and governmental organizations. Effectiveness of public participation initiatives in influencing public policy decisions and/or resolving environmental conflicts. Alternative approaches to consensus (policy dialogues, joint problem solving; strategic planning; negotiation, mediation) as well as litigation. Specific cases are critiqued and evaluated; conflict resolution skills are developed. Students observe and/or participate in ongoing local decision processes. Prereq: permission. Lab. Special fee.

Equivalent(s): EC 824

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 829 - Silviculture

Credits: 4

The science and art of establishing, growing, and tending forests to meet multiple objectives. Basics of forest stand dynamics applied to the problems of timber management, wildlife habitat, water quality, and carbon sequestration. Prereq: NR 425 and NR 527 or permission. Special fee.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 830 - Terrestrial Ecosystems

Credits: 4

Processes controlling the energy, water, and nutrient dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems; concepts of study at the ecosystem level, controls on primary production, transpiration, decomposition, herbivory; links to Earth-system science, acid deposition, agriculture. Prereq: forest ecology and introduction to botany or principles of biology, or permission.

Equivalent(s): EOS 830

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 834 - Tropical Ecology

Credits: 4

This course introduces students to the ecology of different tropical ecosystems, and involves students in analyzing and interpreting ecological field data and remotely sensed data. An important emphasis is to understand patterns and processes across scales - from individual plants to ecosystems and landscapes. The also addresses important global issues in the tropics, including climate change, land use change, diverse ecosystem services, and sustainable resource management.

Equivalent(s): FOR 834

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 840 - Inventory and Monitoring of Ecological Communities

Credits: 4

Provides an introduction to the major concepts associated with monitoring change in ecological communities. Students develop an appreciation for such issues as: identification of appropriate baselines for comparison; use of indicator species; the tools used to inventory common, rare, and secretive species; how trend data are analyzed; and the implications of failing to detect an indicator species. Restricted to senior wildlife majors others by permission. Special fee. Lab.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 843 - Ecology and Society in a Changing Arctic

Credits: 4

Students will gain an in-depth understanding of the effect of climate change on ecology and people in the Arctic, which is experiencing rapid climate change. As a team, students will tackle a research project and contribute new knowledge in the form of a peer-reviewed publication, policy brief, outreach product, or other technical document. Graduate students are expected to be leaders in this inquiry-based course, particularly in the statistical analysis in R and writing of products.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 844 - Biogeochemistry

Credits: 4

Examines the influence of biological and physical processes on elemental cycling and geochemical transformations from the molecular to the global scale, involving microorganisms, higher plants and animals and whole ecosystems; factors that regulate element cycles including soils, climate, disturbance and human activities; interactions among the biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere; transformations of C, N, S, and trace elements. Prereq: one semester biology and two semesters chemistry or permission. (Also offered as EOS 844.)

Equivalent(s): EOS 813, EOS 844

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 845 - Forest Management

Credits: 4

Forest land ownership; management objectives; forest inventory regulation and policy; forest administration; professional responsibilities and opportunities. Restricted to Natural Resources majors. Lab. Special fee.

Equivalent(s): FOR 845

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 849 - Forest Inventory and Modeling

Credits: 4

Applied sampling and statistical techniques for assessing current forest conditions and predicting future growth, yield, and structure. Topics include plot and point sampling, ecological inventory, and evaluation of site quality and stand density. Prereq: MATH 420 and BIOL 528. Special fee.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 851 - Aquatic Ecosystems

Credits: 4

Energy flow and nutrient cycling in streams, rivers and lakes, with an emphasis on understanding the control of primary productivity, decomposition and community structure by both hydrologic and biotic drivers. Role of aquatic ecosystems in carbon and nitrogen budgets at watershed, regional, and global scales. Impacts of environmental changes such as global climate change and suburbanization on aquatic ecosystems. Lab. Prereq: General Ecology.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 857 - Remote Sensing of the Environment

Credits: 4

Practical and conceptual presentation of the use of remote sensing and other geospatial technologies for mapping and monitoring the environment. This course begins with the use of aerial photographs (photogrammetry, and photo interpretation) and includes measures of photo scale and area, parallax and stereo viewing, object heights, flight planning, photo geometry, the electromagnetic spectrum, camera systems and vegetation/land cover mapping. The course concludes with an introduction to other geospatial technologies including digital image analysis, global positioning (GPS), and geographic information systems (GIS). Conceptual lectures are augmented with practical homework assignments and hands-on lab exercises. Prereq: algebra. Special fee. Lab.

Equivalent(s): GEOG 757

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 859 - Digital Image Processing for Natural Resources

Credits: 4

Introduction to digital remote sensing, including multispectral scanners (Landsat and SPOT) radar, and thermal imagery. Hands-on image processing including filtering, image display, ratios, classification, registration, and accuracy assessment. GIS as it applies to image processing. Discussion of practical applications. Use of ERDAS image-processing software. Knowledge of PCs required. Prereq: NR 857 or equivalent and permission.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 860 - Geographic Information Systems in Natural Resources

Credits: 4

This course in geographic information systems (GIS), covers advanced theory, concepts, and applications of GIS for natural resource and related disciplines. Discussion of database structures, data sources, spatial data manipulation/analysis/modeling, data quality and assessment. Students conduct a project of their design exploring aspects of GIS most useful to them. Lecture emphasizes concepts and applications through a text and selected peer-reviewed articles. Lab uses the latest version of ArcGIS software and provides hands-on experience. Prereq: introductory GIS course. Permission required.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 861 - Environmental Soil Chemistry

Credits: 4

Chemical transformations in soils are the basis for soil fertility and plant productivity in natural and managed ecosystems, and also influence key ecosystem processes including soil organic matter turnover and soil-atmosphere exchange of trace gases. This class will explore soil chemistry processes and transformations related to soil nutrient cycling, plant nutrient acquisition, and other critical environmental services. Prereq: a course in soil science or instructor permission.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 882 - Forest Health

Credits: 4

Forests cover over 30% of the land surface of the Earth and are incredibly important ecologically, economically, and to the health of the planet. While forests show great capacity to withstand disturbance, these ecosystems are increasingly threatened worldwide by climate change, native and introduced insects and disease, poor management practices, land clearing, drought, fire, and pollution. This course offers an overview of the dominant threats to forests, their causes and consequences, and options for monitoring, management, and mitigation. Special fee.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 887 - Advanced Topics in Sustainable Energy

Credits: 4

This course will engage students in advanced topics in sustainable energy. Course reviews basic structure of our energy system, energy markets and economics, and the environmental, economic and technological of our energy landscape. Focus will be on electricity and building use with introductions to the transportation system. Students will gain the knowledge to evaluate innovations in technology, policy and financing necessary to implement sustainable energy goals from conservation and efficiency to renewables and energy storage. Prereq: NR 507 or CHE 410 or POLT #444.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 899 - Master's Thesis

Credits: 1-10

Usually 6 credits, but up to 10 credits when the problem warrants. Cr/F.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 10 credits.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

NR 903 - Approach to Research

Credits: 2

Provides incoming graduate students with an overview of the scientific method, peer review, and various research approaches and methods. Ethics, institutional and individual responsibilities, and effective communication are also addressed in a seminar and discussion format. Cr/F.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

NR 905 - Grant Writing

Credits: 2

The ability to secure financial support for research and outreach activities is becoming increasingly important. This course is intended for graduate and post-graduate level students who need to write proposals for their graduate work or to gain external funding from government agencies. Students will gain in-depth understanding of the proposal writing process through class discussions, insights shared by UNH faculty, and by writing a research proposal following the entire process.

Equivalent(s): SOIL 905, WARM 905

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

NR 907 - Genomes to Phenomes Seminar

Credits: 1

This seminar-style class examines linkages between genotype, phenotype and fitness in natural populations through readings of the primary literature. Topics covered include organismal adaptation, evolutionary ecology, adaptive capacity, resilience to climate change, environmental genomics, microbiome evolution, and environmental DNA monitoring. Students will gain an appreciation for the role of genomics ecological, evolution, and conservation science.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 2 credits.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

NR 908 - Landscape Genetics

Credits: 3

This course provides interdisciplinary training and overview of landscape genetics -- the application of genetic and genomic tools to the study of organismal connectivity, dispersal and gene flow across the landscape. The course caters to graduate students in both basic and applied ecology and ecological genetics/genomics. Through a combination of online lectures distributed across multiple participating institutions and in-class seminar-style format, students learn from international experts and discuss papers with local peers.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 909 - Analysis of Ecological Communities and Complex Data

Credits: 4

This course introduces you to a suite of tools appropriate for analyzing and interpreting multivariate data arising from agroecological (and other ecological) research. In this course we cover a variety of multivariate analyses, including clustering, ordination (principle components analysis, nonmetric multidimensional scaling, correspondence analysis), group comparisons (multi-response permutation procedures, PerMANOVA, indicator species analysis, discriminant analysis, mantel test), and other hypothesis-driven techniques, including structural equation modeling.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR #910 - Forest Stand Dynamics

Credits: 4

Discussion and presentation on forest dynamics to include soil-site quality evaluation, individual tree growth, stand growth and yield, stand and forest management, and related resource politics. (Not offered every year.)

Equivalent(s): FOR 910

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 913 - Hierarchical Modeling in Ecology

Credits: 4

This course uses modern Bayesian statistical modeling approaches to analyze ecological data, with an emphasis on applied hierarchical models. These models will be used to examine ecological systems and related topics including: population and community dynamics, experimental design, spatial patterns, species abundance and diversity, community organization, metapopulations, and landscape processes. To be successful in the course students should have taken a course in statistics and have working knowledge of the R programming language. Pre-req: Statistics.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 947 - Ecosystem Science: Theory, Practice, and Management Applications for Sustainability

Credits: 4

This course is designed for graduate students to explore in detail the fundamental principles and practical application of ecosystem science. Emphasis will be placed on understanding historical context as well as the most recent peer-reviewed literature. Writing assignments will emphasize local, regional, and international applications of ecosystem science to address environmental sustainability.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 965 - Community Ecology

Credits: 4

This course investigates how community properties -- species richness, and abundance distribution -- are influenced by evolutionary history, landscape phenomena such as dispersal and migration, and local factors such as the physical environment, disturbance, competition, predation, and positive interactions. Mechanistic models of community dynamics, including succession, are discussed. The influence of species diversity on ecosystem function is discussed, and all aspects of the course are related to conservation science.

Equivalent(s): NR 865

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 993 - Natural and Environmental Resources Seminar

Credits: 1 or 2

Presentation and discussion of recent research, literature, and policy problems in the natural and social sciences influencing resource use. Cr/F.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

NR 995 - Investigations

Credits: 1-4

Investigations in Natural Resources may include topics in environmental conservation, forestry, soil science, water resources, and wildlife management. Permission required.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

NR 996 - Natural Resource Education

Credits: 2

Responsibilities include set-up, teaching, and grading of one lab section per week or equivalent lecture experience. Meets the teaching requirement for M.S. degree students. Cr/F.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

NR 998 - Directed Research

Credits: 1-4

Student designs and conducts original research that culminates in a paper of publishable quality. Alternative to NR 899 for those choosing non-thesis degree option. Cr/F. IA (continuous grading).

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credits.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

PBIO 899 - Master's Thesis

Credits: 1-10

May be repeated up to a maximum of 10 credits. Cr/F.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 10 credits.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

ZOOL 810 - Sharks and Bony Fishes

Credits: 4

Some fish swimming today are hundreds of years old, whereas others complete their life cycle in two months! This course provides an introduction to the diversity of fishes found across the globe, including elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) and teleosts (bony fishes). Particular attention will be paid to fishes local to New Hampshire and New England. Students will learn about fish anatomy, physiology, and ecology. Prereq: BIOL 411, BIOL 412, or equivalent. Lab. (Offered in alternative years.) Special Fee.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

ZOOL 833 - Behavioral Ecology

Credits: 4

Behavioral ecology is the evolution of animal behavior played out on the stage of ecology--why might a certain behavior be adaptive in a certain context? In this course, we will pursue in-depth, high-level explorations of the central topics of animal behavior, all through the lens of evolution. We will also focus heavily on improving reading, writing, and presentation skills.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

ZOOL 836 - Genes and Behavior

Credits: 4

Genes and behavior examines the genetic underpinnings of animal behavior, and how behavior evolves on a genetic level. The course primarily relies on readings from the primary literature, using examples from laboratory model organisms, animals in their natural habitats, and humans. Topics include aggressiveness, social behavior, personality, parental care, communication, mating behavior, novelty seeking behavior, and foraging. This interdisciplinary course examines these behaviors at multiple levels, including genomics, population genetics, molecular genetics, epigenetics, endocrinology, and neurobiology. Prereq: GEN 604 and ZOOL 613 or equivalent.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

ZOOL 877 - Neuroethology: The Neural Basis of Animal Behavior

Credits: 4

Students taking this course will discover how some of the most remarkable behavioral adaptations in animals can be understood by examining specialized sensory systems and neural circuits. By exploring the complex interactions between animal behavior, neural systems, evolutionary relationships, anatomy, physiology and ecology, students will be better equipped to understand the neural basis of behavior. A culminating writing project will help sharpen students' scientific writing skills, and the ability to understand the primary neuroethology literature. Prereq: BIOL 411 and BIOL 412, or permission. Physiology (ZOOL 625), or another introductory neurobiology course, also desirable.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

ZOOL 895 - Advanced Studies

Credits: 1-4

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.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

ZOOL 899 - Master's Thesis

Credits: 1-10

Prereq: permission of department chairperson and prospective supervisor. Cr/F.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 10 credits.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

ZOOL #997 - Seminar

Credits: 1-2

Reports on recent zoological literature. Subject fields are those listed under ZOOL 895 and ZOOL 896; not all areas available every semester. Cr/F.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

ZOOL #998 - Seminar

Credits: 1-2

Reports on recent zoological literature. Subject fields are those listed under ZOOL 895 and ZOOL 896; not all areas available every semester. Cr/F.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

ZOOL 999 - Doctoral Research

Credits: 0

Cr/F.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading