BIOE 172N - Introductory Ecology. 3 Credits.

Offered spring.  An introduction to ecological principles, stressing the structure and function of natural communities and examining human's role in these ecosystems.

Gen Ed Attributes: Natural Science

BIOE 342 - Field Ecology. 5 Credits.

Offered summers only at the Flathead Lake Biological Station. Students taking this course should have completed one semester of college-level biology, chemistry, and mathematics. The principles and practices of the study of animals and plants in their natural environments, including human influences, with focus on the Crown of the Continent area of the Rocky Mountains and taught entirely outdoors.

BIOE 370 - General Ecology. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOB 272. Analysis of the distribution and abundance of plants and animals. Includes individual, population and community-level processes (e.g., population growth and regulation, competition, predation, succession, nutrient cycling, energy flow and community organization).

BIOE 371 - General Ecology Lab (equivalent to 271). 2 Credits.

Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOB 161N, WRIT 101, BIOE 370, and either STAT 216 or WILD 240. BIOE 370 may be taken prior to or simultaneously with this course. Methods of describing and testing alternative explanations for patterns in nature. The use of scientific methodology in ecology.

BIOE 394 - Seminar/Workshop. 2 Credits.

Offered autumn.  Preparatory readings and attendance at seminars on a wide variety of ecological and wildlife management topics followed by critiques.

BIOE 400 - Aquatic Microbial Ecology. 3 Credits.

Offered summer only at the Flathead Lake Biological Station. Students taking this course should have completed one semester of college-level biology and chemistry and two semesters of college-level mathematics. This course is an immersive (2 week) summer class offered to both undergraduate and graduate students with interests in microbiology and ecology. The course includes lectures, laboratories, and several field-based sampling trips. The course provides conceptual foundation and hands-on field and laboratory training in modern methods in aquatic microbial ecology. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

BIOE 403 - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy. 4 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., BIOB 260 or BIOB 272. Comparative study of vertebrate morphology using evolutionary transitions among species to explore design and function. Laboratory includes systematic study of organ systems and workshops in the dynamics of biomechanics and functional morphology. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

BIOE 406 - Behavior & Evolution. 4 Credits.

Offered autumn, odd-numbered years. Prereq., BIOB 272. Diversity of animal  behavior in an evolutionary context including inheritance of behavior, diets, avoidance responses, mating systems and sexual selection, parental care, and evolution of animal groups and societies. Level: Undergraduate

BIOE 416 - Alpine Ecology. 3 Credits.

Offered summers only at the Flathead Lake Biological Station. Students taking this course should have completed one semester of college-level biology, chemistry, mathematics, and ecology. Distribution, abundance and life cycles of plants and animals and their unique ecophysiological adaptations to life in the rigorous environments of the high mountains above the timberline, with emphasis on the Crown of the Continent area. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

BIOE 428 - Freshwater Ecology. 5 Credits.

Offered spring. Prereq., BIOB 160.  Physical and chemical dynamics of lakes and streams. Diversity, distribution and dynamics of freshwater organisms. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

BIOE 439 - Stream Ecology. 3 Credits.

Offered summers only at the Flathead Lake Biological Station. Students taking this course should have completed two semesters of college-level biology and one semester of college-level mathematics, chemistry, and ecology. The biota and biogeochemical processes of running waters with unifying principles and contemporary research approaches. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

BIOE 440 - Conservation Biology. 3 Credits.

Offered summers only at the Flathead Lake Biological Station. Students taking this course should have completed one semester of college-level biology and ecology. Concepts and approaches for sustaining biodiversity and other natural goods and services provided by terrestrial and aquatic systems. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

BIOE 447 - Ecosystem Ecology. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. Prereq., BIOB 160 or BIOB 170N or BIOO 105N or BIOE 172N. Introduction to systems thinking and the ecosystem concept, review of water and energy balances, carbon cycling, nutrient cycling, trophic dynamics, and species effects on ecosystem function across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Level: Undergraduate

BIOE 448 - Terrestrial Plant Ecology. 4 Credits.

Offered autumn, even-numbered years. Prereq., BIOE 172N or BIOE 342 or BIOE 370 or FORS 330. The interrelationships between plants and plant communities and their natural environment. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

BIOE 451 - Landscape Ecology. 3 Credits.

Offered summers only at the Flathead Lake Biological Station. Students taking this course should have completed two semesters of college-level biology and mathematics and one semester of college-level ecology and chemistry. Biophysical processes that determine landscape and ecosystem structure and function using remote sensing tools, geographic information systems and dynamic models to demonstrate landscape change. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

BIOE 453 - Lake Ecology. 3 Credits.

Offered summers only at the Flathead Lake Biological Station. Students taking this course should have completed two semesters of college-level biology and one semester of college-level chemistry, mathematics, and ecology. The physical, chemical and biological characteristics of lake ecosystems with an emphasis on nutrient cycling, food web interactions and water quality. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

BIOE 458 - Forest and Fire Ecology. 3 Credits.

Offered summers only at the Flathead Lake Biological Station. Students taking this course should have completed two semesters of college-level coursework (sophomore standing). Patterns, processes, and disturbances of northern Rocky Mountain forests in the context of principles of population, community, landscape, and ecosystem ecology with particular emphasis given to ecology of wildfire. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

BIOE 485 - Plant Evolution. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn, odd-numbered years. Prereq., BIOB 272 and either BIOO 335 (preferred ) or BIOO 320. Lecture, reading and discussion on the evolutionary processes that shape major patterns of plant diversity.  Topics include but are not restricted to:  local adaptation, floral and mating system evolution, polyploidy, genome evolution, and speciation. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

BIOE 490 - Advanced Undergrad Research. 1-10 Credits.

(R-10) Offered every term. Restricted to students with junior or senior standing. Independent research under the direction of a faculty member. Graded credit/no credit. Level: Undergraduate

BIOE 594 - Seminar. 1-4 Credits.

(R-8) Offered intermittently. Presentations by student, faculty, and associates on issues and topics in their field. Level: Graduate