Faculty Courses‎ > ‎

History of Faculty Courses

 

 

 

 Biol 3111Introduction to Ecology

Teach the fundamentals of ecology to non-ecology majors. The course covers all aspects of ecology, from autoecology, developmental and behavioral ecology, through population and community ecology, ecosystems, biogeography and global change.

By:Nicholas Brokaw, Elvia Meléndez-Ackerman,Alonso Ramírez, John Thomlinson, and Xiaoming Zou
 Bio3410LBotany Labs Coordinator

Complements Course Biol 3410. Practices in some aspects of Cellular Biology, Anatomy and Morphology, Physiology and Taxonomy of the Botanical Area at a descriptive and at an experimental level.

By:Elvia Meléndez-Ackerman
 Biol. 5540Limnology

This is an advance class on limnology including both theoretical principles and laboratory practice.  It focuses on the studies of the physical, chemical and biological properties of inland waters (i.e., lakes, rivers, creeks, estuaries, and groundwater).

 

 

By:Alonso Ramírez andJorge R. Ortiz Zayas

 Biol. 6007Plant Reproductive Ecology

Study of plant reproductive biology with emphasis on flowering plants, ecological and evolutionary proceses, hypotheses testing and field techniques.

 

By: Elvia Meléndez-Ackerman (with James Ackerman-Biology)
 Biol. 6190Advanced Ecology

The goal of this course will be to connect principles of tropical forest ecology with relevant management issues. However, the emphasis will be on ecology, as a prerequisite for thoughtful consideration of management. Subjects will include, for example: tropical forests in the global context; tree life histories, populations, and communities; forest dynamics; plant-animal interactions; evolution and biodiversity; deforestation and fragmentation; indigenous people; economics of exploitation; conservation strategies. Student writing and speaking skills will be emphasized.

By: Nicholas Brokaw
 Biol. 6745Biometry

Introduction to probability and probability distributions, parameter estimation and hypothesis testing.  Analysis of variance, regression, and analysis of discrete data.  Introduction to circular statistics and topics in multivariate analyses.

By: Jess Zimmerman
 Biol. 6990Foundations of Tropical Ecology

A readings course in which students selected a classic article on tropical ecology, added two to four more recent articles to amplify the theme, and then led a discussion among the class. Topics covered included tropical biogeography and palaeoenvironments, species diversity, forestry, conservation, extinction, resource economics, and restoration, among others.

By: John Thomlinson
 Biol. 6990Landscape Ecology

Teach the foundations and advanced techniques of landscape ecology to biology graduate students. The course covers the conceptual background and history of landscape ecology, patch dynamics, landscape mosaics, and management and conservation at a landscape scale. Students are required to write a research paper on an advanced issue within landscape ecology. Topics have included tropical landscape restoration, how herbivory structures tropical landscapes, and landscape ecology concepts applied to marine systems and microcosms, among many others.

By: John Thomlinson
 Biol. 6995Biogeochemistry

During the last two decades, tropical environmental issues have attracted a great deal of scientific and public attention.  These issues include, for example, tropical deforestation linked with global warming, and land use changes associated with sustainability of plant primary productivity and maintenance of tropical biodiversity.  This course will introduce some of the fundamental biogeochemical principles which are used in studies of tropical ecological issues.  A strong theme of this class will examine how natural biogeochemical processes operate and how human activities can alter these processes.  The subject has been divided roughly into two parts: natural biogeochemical processes, and interactions between natural and anthropogenic processes.  In the first part, we will discuss biogeochemical processes occurring in atmosphere, land, and in ocean.  In the second part, we will use all that covered thus far to understand the anthropogenic effects on the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, cations, and sulfur and the implications to a variety of environmental issues.  Thus the course will analyze biogeochemical cycles from several different points of view, emphasizing an integrated approach.

By: Xiaoming Zou
 Biol. 6996Biology Seminar –Evolution

Principles of evolution with emphasis on current theoretical models and experimental approaches to the study of population-level proceses. Topics include natural selection, genetic drift, migration, mutation, adaptation and speciation.

By: Elvia Meléndez-Ackerman
 CINA 4157Aquatic Resources

This class covers the basic principles of hydrology, geomorphology, water chemistry, stream and lake ecology, and water resources management.  It includes field trips to rivers, lakes, and to sewer and aqueduct systems.

By: Jorge R. Ortíz Zayas
 CINA 4995Fluvial systems: ecology and management

This course focuses on the ecology and management of rivers, particularly those in tropical islands.  It covers both theoretical and practical applications of stream ecosystem concepts, stream restoration, and water policy

By: Jorge R. Ortíz Zayas
 CINA 4990Introduction to Remote Sensing

Introduce students to the basic laws of physics governing the behavior of electromagnetic radiation, techniques of satellite image capture, image pre-processing, image classification, and post-classification analysis. The students conduct a studio-style lab for the class, in which they classify the land cover in a satellite image of part of Puerto Rico.

By: John Thomlinson
 CINA 4990Advanced Remote Sensing

This is primarily a laboratory course, in which students learn the advanced techniques of image analysis and apply them to images of regions of Puerto Rico. Topics covered include principal components analysis, resolution merging, RADAR imagery, texture analysis, hybrid classification schemes, and neural nets

By: John Thomlinson
 CINA 4990Landscape Ecological Analysis

Teach the fundamentals of landscape ecology to environmental science majors. The course covers the conceptual background of landscape ecology, patch dynamics, landscape mosaics, and management and conservation at a landscape scale. The lab part of the course is a problem-solving studio, in which teams of students address a current environmental problem facing Puerto Rico and determine how to resolve it, using their understanding of landscape principles.

 

 

By: John Thomlinson
 Quim 3001General Chemistry I

Introduction to the basic principles of general chemistry with emphasis on atomic and molecular structure, matter status and thermochemistry.

By: Olga L. Mayol-Bracero
 Quim 3002General Chemistry II

Introduction to the basic principles of general chemistry with emphasis on solutions, kinetics, chemical equilibrium, acids and bases, ionic equilibrium, thermodynamics, electrochemistry and nuclear chemistry.

By: Olga L. Mayol-Bracero
 Quim 5995Special Topics in Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry

Basic principles and concepts of environmental chemistry focusing on atmospheric and water pollution.  Special emphasis is given to the situation of air and water pollution in Puerto Rico.

By: Olga L. Mayol-Bracero
 Quim 8206Seminar in Analytical Chemistry

Discussion of different topics in the area of atmospheric chemistry, focusing on the sampling, analysis and characterization of atmospheric aerosols and on the impact they have on the environment.

By: Olga L. Mayol-Bracero
 Quim 8992Special Topics in Analytical Chemistry

Chemistry and Physics of Atmospheric Aerosols - This is a graduate course that presents an introduction to the chemistry and physics of atmospheric aerosols. The topics discussed include aerosol fundamentals; sources and sinks; formation; physical, chemical and optical properties; sampling methods; analytical techniques; and aerosols’ impact on the environment, focusing on climatic effects.

By: Olga L. Mayol-Bracero

 

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