High Altitude Biology - Biology 409/509. New Course for Fall 2012! Course content in UNM WebCT (enrolled students only). We will examine the effects of high-altitude hypobaric hypoxia on life. We will cover (1) respiratory physiology; (2) mountain climbing, exercise physiology, and the diversity of hypoxic responses; (3) the three independent paths to high altitude adaptation in humans; (4) high altitude adaptation in vertebrates and insects; and (5) elevational diversity gradients and the ecology of montane ecosystems. Students can expect diverse reading assignments, guest lectures, and field trips. Grading will be heavily based on participation in student-led discussions and oral presentations.
Ornithology - Biology 486L (every other fall). Course content in UNM WebCT (enrolled students only). Co-taught with Professor Blair Wolf. Learn 300 species of birds in the museum and field, and discuss cutting edge research in bird evolution, ecology, and physiology.
Evolution - Biology 300 (every spring semester). Course content in UNM WebCT (enrolled students only). This upper division undergraduate course emphasizes the fundamentals of organic evolution (microevolutionary & macroevolutionary processes), human evolution, and the history and current state of evolutionary biology. The course uses no textbook, but heavily draws on web resources, current events, and readings from Charles Darwin, Douglas Futuyma, Stephen J. Gould, Sean Carroll, H. Allen Orr, Richard Dawkins, Rich Lenski, Richard Lewontin, E. O. Wilson, John Alcock, Carl Zimmer, Ken Miller, and many others.
General Vertebrate Zoology - Biology 386L. Course content in UNM WebCT (enrolled students only). This course emphasizes vertebrate diversity in morphology, physiology, ecology and natural history, from an evolutionary perspective.
Molecular Systematics Discussion Group - Biology 402/502 (every semester). Weekly discussions explore the hottest and most recent publications in the field of molecular systematics, with heavy emphasis on biogeography and bird-related papers.
Avian Specimen Preparation - Biology 402/502 (every spring semester). Co-taught with Andy Johnson. Learn to glean valuable data from dead birds and preserve scientific museum specimens for posterity. Students immortalize themselves in the scientific record by preparing 16 bird specimens.
Ornithological Field Expedition - Biology 419/519 (offered most summers, some falls). Co-taught with Andy Johnson. Discover bird diversity while exploring the world and doing novel research. This course requires extensive advanced preparation -- talk to me if you're interested in learning what it takes.
Museum Curatorial Methods - Biology 402/502. Co-taught with Andy Johnson. Learn how to be curator in a natural history museum and facilitate specimen-based science. We'll review best practices in all areas: fieldwork, regulatory compliance, archival standards, and database management.
Birds of the World - Biology 402/502. I anticipate teaching this course soon in response to popular demand -- contact me if interested! It would emulate Remsen's famous course at LSU. in which many familiar names appear in the all-time standings.