Biology   (BIOL)

Faculty of Arts and Science

Biology 0520

Foundations of Biology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Introduction to concepts concerning the organization of life, from macromolecules and cells to ecosystems. Dynamic and interactive properties of living systems. Diversity and classification of living organisms with particular emphasis on evolution as a unifying theme in biology.

Prerequisite(s):Admission to the Undergraduate Certificate in Indigenous Student Success AND
Biology 20

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 1010

Cellular Basis of Life

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Fundamental principles of cellular biology, including structure and function, metabolism, genetics, and molecular biology of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Attention will be given to the application of cellular and molecular biology in medicine, agriculture and biotechnology.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 30, Biology 0520 or Biology 2500 AND
One of Chemistry 30, Chemistry 0500, or Chemistry 0520 AND
One of Mathematics 30-1, Mathematics 0500, Mathematics 0520, or admission to the B.H.Sc. in Public Health
OR
One of admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Agricultural Studies or admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Environmental Science

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 1020

Diversity of Life

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Comparative examination of the diversity of the major lineages of eukaryotic organisms from an evolutionary perspective.

Recommended Background:
One of Biology 30 or Biology 0520

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 2000

Principles of Genetics

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Fundamental principles of heredity, including Mendelian laws and genetic recombination. Topics include general concepts of gene structure, inheritance, organization, and expression.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 1010 AND
Biology 1020 AND
One of Chemistry 1000 or Chemistry 1110
OR
Biology 1010 AND
One of Chemistry 1000 or Chemistry 1110 AND
One of admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Agricultural Studies or admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Environmental Science

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 2001

Research Internship I: Scientific Discovery

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 1-5-0

Experimental approaches and methodology specific to disciplines within the Life Sciences. The scientific process of discovery including: hypothesis testing; experimental design; qualitative and quantitative analysis tools; data acquisition, management and presentation; library resource utilization; scientific writing and presentation. Students will work in small groups under the supervision of several faculty members.

Prerequisite(s):Admission to the Concentration: Research Internship for the major in Biological Sciences AND
One of Biology 1010 or Biology 1020

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 2002

Research Internship II: Scientific Data and Analysis

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 1-0-0

Other hours per term: Variable

Working in small groups, students will engage in novel research projects under the supervision of faculty members. In close consultation with faculty, students will propose a set of experiments to address a novel and current research question. Students will be trained in experimental approaches and methodology appropriate to their project. As a cohort, students will be trained in the scientific process of discovery including: evaluating methodology; data acquisition, management and presentation; appropriate methods for analyzing data; critical evaluation of scientific discovery; scientific writing and presentation.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 2001

Lib Ed Req:Science

Note:Contact hours will vary, but will average about five hours per week. Students should be aware that this course involves regular contact with the research supervisor(s) as well as some independent work.

Biology 2003/Health Sciences 2003

Epidemiology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Scope and application of epidemiology in relation to factors that affect health and contribute to disease in a global context.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 1010 or admission to the Faculty of Health Sciences

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 2090/Geography 2090

Biogeography

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Other hours per term: 0-0-16

Geographic and spatial relationships of individuals, species, ecosystems, and biomes. Topics include biodiversity, dispersal, evolution and environmental change. Two eight-hour field excursions will be scheduled on Saturdays.

Prerequisite(s):One of Geography 1000, Biology 1010, or Biology 1020

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 2150

Biostatistics

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Introduction to statistics and experimental design in the biological sciences. Topics include descriptive statistics, data visualization, experimental design, goodness-of-fit tests, contingency analysis, two-sample and multi-sample comparisons, correlation, and regression. Includes practical instruction using the statistics program R.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 1010 AND
Biology 1020 AND
One of Mathematics 1410, Mathematics 1560, Mathematics 1565, or Statistics 1770
OR
One of admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Agricultural Studies or admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Environmental Science

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 2200

Principles of Ecology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Examination of relationships between animals, plants, and their non-living and living environment. Topics include energy flow, nutrient cycles, ecological succession, and the ecology of individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 1010 AND
One of Biology 1020 or admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Agricultural Studies

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 2300

Cell Biology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Structure and function of a cell, from the most general properties shared by all cells, to the unique, highly intricate functions particular to specialized cells. Exploration of a range of fundamental concepts in cell biology including cellular ultrastructure, metabolism, signaling, extracellular cellular matrix, and histology.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 1010 AND
One of Biology 1020, admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Agricultural Studies, or admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Environmental Science

Corequisite(s):Biochemistry 2000

Equivalent:Biology 3850 (Cell Biology) (Prior to 2020/2021)

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 2500

Biology and Society

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Exposure to the biology behind commonly reported topics in the media with the goal of increasing biological literacy. Students will be prepared to make better informed decisions about the biology that impacts daily life.

Equivalent:Biology 1850 (Biology and Society) (Prior to 2020/2021);
Biology 2850 (Biology and Society) (Prior to 2020/2021)

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 2806/Health Sciences 2806

Immunology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Biological role of immunity and natural resistance.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 1010 or admission to the Faculty of Health Sciences

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 3000

Gene Expression and Regulation

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Molecular mechanisms of gene expression and control at the different stages of the gene expression pathway in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Fundamental concepts of molecular biology and molecular cloning applications.

Prerequisite(s):Biochemistry 2000 AND
Biology 2000 AND
Biology 2300

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 1 - Cellular and Molecular Biology

Biology 3001

Research Internship III: Communicating Science

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 1-0-0

Other hours per term: Variable

Working individually, students will engage in novel research projects under the supervision of faculty members. In close consultation with faculty, students will review literature related to a specific area, and then propose and execute a set of experiments to address a novel and current research question. Students will be trained in advanced experimental approaches and methodology. As a cohort, the students will be trained in science development and communication including: establishing a meaningful research project; defining a project within a broad context; different forms of written presentation; effective oral presentation styles and format; making science accessible to a general audience.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 2002

Lib Ed Req:Science

Note:Contact hours will vary, but will average about five hours per week. Students should be aware that this course involves regular contact with the research supervisor(s) as well as considerable independent work.

Biology 3005

Genomes

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Examination of the processes involved in maintaining the stability of the cellular genome. Topics include DNA damage and repair, DNA recombination, transposable DNA elements, and epigenetics.

Prerequisite(s):Biochemistry 2000 AND
Biology 2000 AND
Biology 2300

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 1 - Cellular and Molecular Biology

Biology 3095/Geography 3095

Advanced Biogeography

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Other hours per term: 0-0-8

Examination of the past and present distribution, abundance, trends, ranges, diversity, evolution, and movements of living organisms. Detailed case studies of select taxa, including for example, marine mammals, trees, and insects, and comparison of biomes, the role of abiotic factors such as weather and fire, and ecological relationships among organisms. Theory and practical applications include aspects of ecological, historical, and conservation biogeography. Techniques in geographical and statistical analysis of spatial attributes and relationships. A one-day field trip may be included depending on weather.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 2090/Geography 2090, Biology 2200, or admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Environmental Science

Equivalent:Geography 4030 (Advanced Biogeography) (prior to 2021/2022);
Environmental Science 4000 (Advanced Biogeography) (prior to 2021/2022)

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 3 - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Biology 3110

Cell Signalling

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

A comprehensive overview of cellular communication. Emphasis will be placed on cell growth, cell cycle, motility, and stem cells from cell biology and experimental perspectives.

Prerequisite(s):Biochemistry 2000 AND
Biology 2000 AND
Biology 2300

Substantially Similar:
Biology 3105 (prior to 2020/2021);
Biology 3115 (prior to 2020/2021)

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 1 - Cellular and Molecular Biology

Biology 3210

Experimental Methods in Molecular and Cellular Biology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Modern techniques in cell biology including elementary DNA sequence analysis, DNA purification, gene transfer systems, cell culture, cell staining and labelling, cell cycle analysis, and Western blotting.

Prerequisite(s):Biochemistry 2000 AND
Biology 2000 AND
Biology 2300

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 1 - Cellular and Molecular Biology

Biology 3300

Evolution

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-1-0

Study of the mechanisms underlying the evolutionary process. Topics include natural selection, quantitative genetics, adaptation, and speciation.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 2000 AND
One of Biology 2200 or admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Environmental Science

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 3310

Developmental Biology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Genetic mechanisms controlling embryonic development, pattern formation, morphogenesis, and cell differentiation in selected model organisms.

Prerequisite(s):Biochemistry 2000 AND
Biology 2000 AND
Biology 2300

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 2 - Organismal Biology

Biology 3400

Principles of Microbiology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Introduction to microorganisms with an emphasis on metabolism, growth and control of growth, genetics, ecology, and microbial diversity, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, algae and viruses.

Prerequisite(s):Biochemistry 2000 AND
Biology 2000 AND
Biology 2300

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 1 - Cellular and Molecular Biology

Biology 3420

Animal Physiology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Organization and diversity of animal functions, including muscle contractions, respiration, circulation, osmoregulation, digestion, thermoregulation and the roles of the endocrine and nervous systems. Emphasis on vertebrates.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 2000 AND
Biology 2300 AND
One of Biology 2150 or Geography 2700

Recommended Background:
Biology 2200 AND
Chemistry 2600

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 2 - Organismal Biology

Biology 3460

Plant Physiology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Physiological basis for plant growth. Topics include water relations, photosynthesis, mineral nutrition, active transport, hormones, and physiological acclimation to environmental stress.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 2000 or Biology 2300 AND
One of Biology 2150 or Geography 2700 AND
One of Biology 2200 or admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Environmental Science

Recommended Background:
Chemistry 2500

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 2 - Organismal Biology

Biology 3520

Invertebrate Zoology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Phylogeny and evolution of protozoans and invertebrate animals. Emphasis is on functional diversity of form and function, ecology, physiology, conservation, and behaviour of selected groups.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 2000 or Biology 2300 AND
One of Biology 2150 or Geography 2700 AND
One of Biology 2200 or admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Environmental Science

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 2 - Organismal Biology

Biology 3530

Vertebrate Zoology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Comparative survey of the morphology, evolution, classification, and natural history of the vertebrates.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 2000 AND
One of Biology 2150 or Geography 2700 AND
One of Biology 2200 or admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Environmental Science

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 2 - Organismal Biology

Biology 3560

Integrative Plant Biology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

An overview of plant structure and function with emphasis on flowering plant morphology and diversity. The molecular mechanisms of plant growth and development, including the adaptation and acclimation of plant form and function, will be explored.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 2150 or Geography 2700 AND
One of Biology 2000 or Biology 2300

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 2 - Organismal Biology

Biology 3630

Field Biology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Other hours per term: 0-0-70

Theory, implementation and analyses of ecological field experiments.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 2150 or Geography 2700 AND
One of Biology 2200 or admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Environmental Science

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 3 - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Note:The seven-day mandatory field component is completed prior to the regular fall term. This component is based out of a field camp located in Cypress Hills Provincial Park. A fee to offset field-related expenses and accommodation will be applied.

Biology 3660

Field Botany

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Lectures, laboratory, and field exercises provide an introduction to the identification, classification, distribution, and ecology of local vascular plants. Mandatory field trips comprise the laboratory component of the course. As this is a field course, students should be prepared for moderately strenuous exercise in a variety of weather conditions.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 2150 or Geography 2700 AND
One of Biology 2200 or admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Environmental Science

Equivalent:Biology 3850 (Field Botany and Ecology) (prior to 2019/2020)

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 3 - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Biology 3700

Ecosystem Ecology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Examination of processes controlling ecosystem function. Topics include controls on ecosystem species composition, carbon acquisition, water use, decomposition, and nutrient cycling. Field work, computer simulations, and calculations are included in laboratory assignments.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 2150 or Geography 2700 AND
One of Biology 2200 or admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Environmental Science

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 3 - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Biology 3710

Population Biology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Population genetics and population ecology, with emphasis on mutation, genetic drift, gene flow, selection and quantitative genetics, population growth, population regulation, demography and life tables, life-history evolution, and species interactions.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 2150 or Geography 2700 AND
One of Biology 2000 or Biology 2300 AND
One of Biology 2200 or admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Environmental Science

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 3 - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Biology 3720

Community Ecology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Exploration of ecological patterns and processes at the community level. Topics include patterns of biological diversity, species coexistence and niche theory, community assembly, and metacommunities. Analysis of community structure using multivariate statistics.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 2150 or Geography 2700 AND
One of Biology 2200 or admission to the Post-Diploma B.Sc. in Environmental Science

Equivalent:Biology 3850 (Community Ecology) (prior to 2020/2021)

Lib Ed Req:Science

List/Subfield:Biology List 3 - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Biology 4100

Advances in Biotechnology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Recent and advanced aspects of molecular biology and biotechnology.

Prerequisite(s):Two of Biology 3000, Biology 3005, Biology 3110, Biology 3210, or Biology 3400

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4130

Medical Genomics

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Recent and advanced aspects of molecular genetics, bioinformatics and high throughput genomics, with an emphasis on cloning and human diseases.

Prerequisite(s):Two of Biology 3000, Biology 3005, or Biology 3110

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4140

RNA Biology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Examination of the cellular roles of RNA molecules and their effects on gene expression. Focus on RNA structure, protein-RNA complexes, RNA viruses, RNA processing, and modern experimental techniques used in the study of RNA function.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 3000

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4155

Cannabis and Health

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Introduction to human endocannabinoid system. Structure, function, and importance for human health, and changes in the function of endocannabinoid system in various diseases. Includes an introduction to variations in Cannabis sativa, including physiology and biochemistry of phytocannabinoids and terpenoids synthesis.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 3000, Biology 3005, or Biology 3110

Equivalent:Biology 4850 (Cannabis and Health) (prior to 2020/2021)

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4180

Natural Products

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Natural products are chemicals that are produced in nature and are used in medicine, agriculture, and personal care products. This course will examine the biology of natural products and include a multidisciplinary perspective: chemistry, ecology, business, and traditional knowledge. It will provide students with a scientific background to contribute to the growing Canadian and global use of natural products.

Prerequisite(s):Two of Biology 3000, Biology 3005, Biology 3110, or Biology 3210

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4210

Environmental Genomics

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Application of genomics to the field of environmental science. High-throughput methods in genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and epigenomics are first discussed, before exploring their applications in fields including, but not limited to, metagenomics, biodiversity, environmental remediation, and toxicogenomics.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 3000, Biology 3005, Biology 3110, or Biology 3420

Equivalent:Biology 3850 (Environmental Genomics) (prior to 2020/2021)

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4230

Molecular and Cellular Biology of Cancer

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Recent developments in molecular and cellular biology of cancer. Topics include genetics and epigenetics of cancer, models of carcinogenesis, roles of oncogenes, DNA repair and genome instability, anti-cancer treatment strategies.

Prerequisite(s):Two of Biology 3000, Biology 3005, or Biology 3110

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4440

Toxicology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Science of toxicology, including sources of toxicants, toxicokinetics, biotransformation, factors influencing toxicity, and target-organ toxicology with emphasis on the mechanisms of action of toxicants. Topics include cellular responses, biomarkers of exposure and effects, and species differences in vulnerability to toxicants.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 3000, Biology 3110, or Biology 3420

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4500

Seminars in Biological Sciences

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Emphasis on understanding principles of research in the modern Biological Sciences through weekly presentations from established researchers and associated readings from the primary literature.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 3300 AND
One course (3.0 credit hours) from subfield List 1 (Cellular and Molecular Biology) AND
One course (3.0 credit hours) from subfield List 2 (Organismal Biology) AND
One course (3.0 credit hours) from subfield List 3 (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4570

Plant Breeding and Genetics

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Overview of past, present, and emerging methods and techniques to develop improved new cultivars, or varieties, of plants, particularly crop plants. Topics include both classical and molecular tools for plant breeding, genetic analysis of traits, application of molecular markers, concepts and techniques of tissue culture, gene transfer, seed production, intellectual property, risks, and case studies of breeding the most important crops.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 2000 AND
One of Biology 3460 or Biology 3560

Equivalent:Biology 3850 (Plant Breeding and Genetics) (prior to 2020/2021)

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4605

Conservation Biology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Application of genetic, ecological and evolutionary theory to the understanding and management of biodiversity.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 3300 AND
One course (3.0 credit hours) from subfield List 3 (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)

Equivalent:Biology 3605 (prior to 2020/2021)

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4700

Molecular Ecology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Application of genetic data to study the ecology of individuals, populations and communities. Emphasis is on the use of molecular markers to study biogeography, dispersal, mating systems, biodiversity, ecological interactions, speciation, and conservation genetics.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 3300 AND
One course (3.0 credit hours) from subfield List 3 (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4710

Evolutionary and Ecological Modelling

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Analytical and simulation modelling in ecology and evolution. Population growth, selection, models of disease, the evolution of cooperation, and the evolution of aging.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 3300 AND
One course (3.0 credit hours) from subfield List 3 (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)

Recommended Background:
Statistics 1770

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4740

Behavioural Ecology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Examination of how ecological contexts shape animal behaviour through natural selection. Topics include foraging, competition, sociality, mating systems, and communication.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 3300 AND
One course (3.0 credit hours) from subfield List 3 (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4800

Biology of Parasitism

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Application of ecological and evolutionary principles to host-parasite interactions. Topics include parasite biodiversity, ecological epidemiology, host-parasite coevolution, and applied parasitology.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 3300 AND
One course (3.0 credit hours) from subfield List 2 (Organismal Biology) or List 3 (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4810

Advanced Biostatistics

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Advanced statistics and experimental design in the biological sciences. Topics covered include probability theory, the theoretical foundations and applications of general linear models and generalized linear models, model selection, survival analysis, and other advanced topics. The course includes practical instruction using the statistics program R.

Prerequisite(s):Biology 2150 AND
Biology 2200 AND
Third-year standing (a minimum of 60.0 credit hours)

Equivalent:Biology 3810 (prior to 2020/2021);
Biology 4850 (Advanced Biostatistics) (prior to 2024/2025)

Substantially Similar:
Statistics 3700

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4825/Geography 4825

Biogeochemistry

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-0-0

Overview of element cycling on Earth, from local to global scales. Transfer of energy and nutrients within terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Movement of elements (for example, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulfur) along with their incorporation into other minerals and solutes as they transfer from the atmosphere, through terrestrial ecosystems, and into aquatic systems. Emphasis will be placed on how modern biogeochemical cycles of individual elements came to be, and how human activities are modifying these cycles.

Prerequisite(s):One of Chemistry 2000, Chemistry 2120, Geography 3440/Environmental Science 3440, or Geography 3400 AND
One of Biology 2150 or Geography 2700 AND
Third-year standing (a minimum of 60.0 credit hours) AND
A major in Biological Sciences, Geography, or Environmental Science

Equivalent:Biology 4850 (Biogeochemistry) (prior to 2024/2025);
Environmental Science 4000 (Biogeochemistry) (prior to 2024/2025)

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4840/Geography 4840

Limnology

Credit hours: 3.00

Contact hours per week: 3-3-0

Limnology (the study of lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and wetlands) is the science that underlies protection of water quality and fisheries. Introduction to aquatic communities and the properties of aquatic ecosystems. Topics covered include: the watershed and its hydrology; fluxes of nutrients and materials through aquatic systems; ecosystem structure and habitat dynamics; an evaluation of major plant, animal, and microbial communities; food webs and feeding interactions; human impacts on limnological properties of systems.

Prerequisite(s):One of Biology 2200, Geography 3440/Environmental Science 3440, or Geography 3400 AND
One of Biology 2150 or Geography 2700 AND
Third-year standing (a minimum of 60.0 credit hours)

Lib Ed Req:Science

Biology 4995

Undergraduate Thesis

Credit hours: 6.00

Contact hours per week: Variable

This is a research-oriented course in which students will conduct empirical research, report orally on the work, and submit a report in the form of an Undergraduate Thesis, which will be made publicly available. In consultation with their Thesis Supervisor, students will define a research problem and formulate a research plan.

Prerequisite(s):Fourth-year standing (a minimum of 90.0 credit hours) AND
A minimum GPA of 3.30 calculated on all completed University of Lethbridge courses or calculated on all University of Lethbridge and transferable courses taken within the terms containing the last 20 courses (60.0 credit hours), whichever is higher AND
Six Biology courses (18.0 credit hours)

Note:Contact hours will vary. Students should be aware that this course involves regular contact with the Thesis Supervisor as well as considerable independent work.