Teaching

ESPM 44 (2 units) - Biological Control

This introductory Lower Division course for non-biology majors explores the general principles of ecology and biological control in two one-hour lectures per week. The lectures provide students with a basic knowledge of the ecology of organisms, trophic interactions, food webs and ecosystems, using well illustrated examples from biological control programs. With this basic grounding in ecology, students are then introduced to the various ways in which natural enemy populations can be manipulated for the control of insect pests and weeds. Emphasis is placed on the use of classic and current examples and effective illustration.

ESPM 134 (3 units) – Fire, Insects, and Diseases in Forest Ecosystems

This Upper Division course integrates the three most important sources of disruption in forest ecosystems. It is a team-taught course that provides an interdisciplinary approach to the factors that predispose forest trees and stands to disruption, with an emphasis on the forest ecosystems of California. In my contribution to this class I discuss the insects in forest ecosystems and the linkage between insects, fire and diseases. Starting with a discussion of the diversity and success of insects, we go on to look at the key feeding groups (defoliators, phloem feeders, etc), and the ecological role of insects (impact on tree growth, population cycles, invasiveness) in forest ecosystems.  The course includes two weekend field trips.

ESPM 135 (3 units) - Biological Control of Pests

This Upper Division course presents biology majors with a detailed knowledge of the theory and practice of biological control through two one-hour lectures and one three-hour lab each week. The introductory lectures emphasize the general principles of population ecology and methods to estimate the impact of natural enemies on host populations. Subsequent lectures focus on the different approaches to the biological control of insect pests, weeds and plant pathogens in both managed and natural ecosystems. The labs involve visits to an apple orchard, a vineyard, and a rangeland environment to conduct field sampling of insect pests (or weeds) and their natural enemies, and to collect material for subsequent analysis in the lab.

ESPM 201A (3 units) - Research Approaches in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management

This is a required course for students entering the graduate program in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management. It is designed to address the following goals; (1) to introduce students to the diverse ways environmental problems are researched, comparing the approaches and methods of various disciplines represented among departmental faculty, (2) to establish a dialogue among students from different disciplinary backgrounds, (3) to encourage critical thinking through evaluation of research articles, and (4) to develop grant writing skills through preparation of research proposals and peer review.