Courses Offered:

BIO 195M: Wildlife Sampling and Identification

This is a course-based research experience in the biological sciences. Students build research skills through open-ended, authentic experimentation or observations of the natural world. Students gain practice reading scientific literature, formulating and testing hypotheses, analyzing data, interpreting results, communicating in disciplinary style, and working in teams. The wildlife sampling and identification version of the course is focused on developing the field skills needed to observe, monitor, and study wildlife species in New England. The current iteration of the course focuses on the mammals of Maine and utilizes camera trapping to examine their distributions and activity. Intended for students majoring in Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, or Environmental Studies, or preparing for a health-related career; it is recommended that students taking BIO 195 simultaneously enroll in CHEM 107 or CHEM 108.

BIO 244: Biostatistics

A course in the use of statistics in the biological sciences, focusing on core concepts and skills necessary for the analysis and interpretation of data, including types of data, the fundamentals of study design, sampling distributions, the meaning and interpretation of p-values and confidence intervals, statistical errors, and power. Students learn to select and carry out appropriate statistical tests for a variety of simple datasets. Statistical methods considered include analyses such as binomial tests, Fisher’s exact tests, t- and chi-square tests, ANOVAs, correlation and regression, and simple nonparametric techniques for numerical data. Prerequisite(s): Prerequisite(s): BIO 195, or ENVR 203, 240, or 310

BIO/ENVR 246: Conservation Biology

The work of conserving the ecological systems on which we and other species rely draws on many disciplines, including biology, policy, ethics, and other disciplines to conserve biological diversity. This course focuses on the biological aspects of conservation work while also considering their context within a complex, interdisciplinary endeavor. Students examine conservation at multiple scales, including the conservation of species, biological communities, and ecosystems. Classroom activities help students develop scientific reasoning skills and apply them to conservation problems. Readings and discussions encourage students to consider social, ethical, and other perspectives on conservation work. Prerequisite(s): BIO 190, 195 or ENVR 203, 240, or 310.

BIO/AFR 291: Decolonizing Nature: Race, Conservation, and the Future of the Wilds

This interdisciplinary course interrogates the colonial and racial foundations of modern conservation. From the invention of “wilderness” to the dispossession of Indigenous lands in the name of environmental and wildlife protection, we examine how conservation ideals have been weaponized to serve imperial and racial logics. Students will analyze case studies from North America and Africa, critically assessing dominant narratives of conservation and their legacies. Readings from Du Bois, Marable, Mullings, and Taylor, among others will guide discussions on the transnational construction of conservation’s racist roots while opening space to imagine decolonial futures for land, people, and more-than-human life. Prerequisite(s): AFR 100, AFR/HIST 105, or BIO 195.

BIO/ENVR 329: Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management

As biodiversity loss occurs rapidly around the globe, wildlife conservation is one of humanity’s most complex and critical challenges. Wildlife population declines primarily stem from an inherent conflict between two competing forces – the finite capacity of ecosystems and an increasing demand placed on those systems by humans. Since wildlife conservation is often said to be “10% working with wildlife and 90% working with people,” students will explore how human actions, attitudes, and perceptions affect wildlife conservation and management. This course investigates how citizens, governments, and organizations protect wildlife in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures while also considering a variety of stakeholder needs and opinions. Using case studies and data from the field, students will examine terrestrial ecosystems and associated human dimensions, analyze qualitative data, and learn advanced skills needed to be successful conservation biologists and managers. Recommended background: BIO246 or ENVR223. Prerequisite(s): BIO206, ENVR203, or 204.

BIO 470: Collaborative Thesis in Ecology

Bobcat (Lynx rufus), a cryptic mesocarnivore, are the most widely distributed wild felid in North America, ranging from southern Mexico to southern Canada and throughout the contiguous United States. Populations are believed to be stable or increasing throughout their range, however, populations have fluctuated considerably with historical land use changes (e.g., agricultural conversion, increased development, etc.), predator control measures, and fur and sport hunting. In Maine, populations were controlled via state sponsored bounty programs until 1975 but have not been systematically studied in ~50 years. This Biology Seminar & Research Capstone Course will explore bobcat distribution and ecology in central Maine. Prerequisite(s): Biology 270.