General Ecology (BSC 385)

A required course for Biology majors at UA, this comprehensive ecology course introduces students to the study of ecological relationships between organisms and their environment, from the level of individuals through population, community and ecosystem ecology to the whole biosphere. I teach this course every Fall semester.

Community Ecology (BSC 652)

This course is an elective for graduate students in the Department of Biological Sciences. The course is a thorough investigation of theory and empirical studies examining ecological communities (plant, animal, microbial), including the niche, species interactions, food webs, community structure, diversity, island biogeography, succession, stability, and links to ecosystem function. Community Ecology provides the framework for understanding the main concepts and theories of community ecology, while familiarizing students with the important theoretical and empirical research in the field (both foundational classics and modern advances). I teach this course in the Spring semester of even-numbered years.

Aquatic Biology Seminar (BSC 484/584)

This seminar course is a cross-listed elective for undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Biological Sciences. The course consists of a survey of current issues and developments in stream and river ecology. The objective of the seminar is to survey recent scientific literature to gain a background in the most current developments in stream and river ecology. I co-teach this course with Dr. Alex Huryn every Spring semester.

Stable Isotope Ecology (BSC 695)

This is a new course co-taught with Dr. Behzad Mortazavi for the first time during the 2009 Spring semester. The course is a thorough treatment of the theory and application of stable isotope techniques in ecological science. Course content includes lectures, computer labs, field sampling in terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats, and hand-on experience with the stable isotope mass spectrometer at UA, as well as mixing model analysis and modeling of mixing and fractionation.

Fish Bioenergetics (BSC 695)

An interactive class based on lectures covering the theory of fish bioenergetics, reading of classic and current fish bioenergetics literature followed by group discussion, and hands-on experience using the standard software application for fish bioenergetics modeling (Fish Bioenergetics 3.0). Fish Bioenergetics introduces students to the theoretical underpinnings of estimating fish metabolism, familiarizes students with literature that applies fish bioenergetic theory to ecological field studies, and trains students to parameterize and use standard fish bioenergetics software. This course was offered during the Spring semester of 2007.

Frontiers in Ecology Seminar (BSC 695)

A seminar class based on reading of current ecological literature followed by group discussion. Frontiers in Ecology introduced students to recent, high-profile literature that related to three fast-moving areas of interest in ecological science: ecological stoichiometry; metabolic theory; and biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships. At the completion of Frontiers in Ecology students had gained basic knowledge and understanding of three current topics in ecology, practiced summarizing ecological concepts, both verbally and in writing, and participated in scientific discourse with their peers. This course was offered during the Fall semester of 2005.