Biology 115: Natural History and Ecology

This course emphasizes applying basic ecological and evolutionary principles to inferring processes responsible for biological patterns students observe in the field. The core of the class is weekly trips in the region between the Columbia River and the Blue Mountains. On these trips students gain familiarity with common plants and animals of the region as part of the process of developing and applying skills observing biological patterns. Students learn to interpret these patterns in light of biological concepts learned in class. Two one-hour lectures and one five-hour field trip per week. Designed for nonscience majors with special applicability for environmental studies majors. Field trips begin at 11 a.m. and extend through the lunch hour and into the afternoon. Offered in alternate years.