Fish Ecology (Spring Semesters)
This course covers the ecology and conservation of fishes in a variety of aquatic habitats, with a focus on California, and explains the physical factors (e.g., stream flow, substrate, and salinity), biotic factors (e.g., predation and competition), and human-related factors (e.g., dams, water abstraction, logging, fishing, and colonial management systems) that affect the distribution and abundance of fishes. We learn to link general ecological principles with specific habitats, species, and conservation challenges. In doing so, we discuss strategies for conserving aquatic ecosystems as well as the wildlife and people they support. This course includes three hours of work in a lab setting every week. This lab work focuses on the inland fishes of California, and introduces standard methods in fish and stream ecology, including field methods, as well data entry, visualization, and basic statistical concepts (ESPM C115C / IB C176L, 3 units).
Biology and Geomorphology of Tropical Islands (Fall Semesters, co-taught)
Set on the island of Mo’orea, in French Polynesia, this field course covers the biology, geomorphology, and the peopling of Polynesia, and also emphasizes relationships between people and nature. This course teaches fundamentals of the scientific process, from the formulation of research questions and hypotheses to experimental design, data collection in the field or lab, statistical analysis, and manuscript writing. Each student carries out an independent research project selected from topics associated with Mo’orea (freshwater, marine, or terrestrial ecology). Students gain hands-on experience in field research, complete an independent research project, and present it during a research symposium at the end of the semester (ESPM C 107 / IB 158LF, 13 units).
Seminar on Wildlife & Conservation Biology (Fall and Spring Semesters, shared responsibility with Berkeley Wildlife faculty)
Seminars cover a broad range of topics in applied vertebrate ecology. This is a 1 unit, pass/no pass seminar class that meets once per week (ESPM 198 / 298, 1 unit) and can be repeated.
Past teaching
Freshwater Ecology (Spring Semesters through 2017, co-taught with Mary Power, now taught by Albert Ruhi)
Advanced Topics in Fisheries Science (Fa-22, Fa-20, Sp-09, ESPM 290, 1-2 units)
DeCal on Strawberry Creek Restoration (Spring 2011, ESPM 98 /198, 1-2 units)