Biology Concentration for Major Program

 

Biological Diversity & Systematics

The immense variety of living things is one of the defining features of the natural world. The study of biological diversity is a scientific discipline in its own right, closely connected to ecology and evolutionary biology.

 

Biodiversity science addresses how new species are formed, the ecological processes that maintain such a wide variety of different kinds of organisms, and why organisms become extinct. It is concerned with the characteristics of different organisms, and emphasizes the detailed study of particular groups. Our knowledge of diversity is organized through the study of systematics which seeks to understand the history of life through the phylogenetic and genetic relationships of living things. An appreciation of diversity and a knowledge of the principles and procedures of systematics are essential in ecology and evolutionary biology, and underlie all work in resource utilization and conservation biology.

KEY COURSES:
Credits
Department
 Courses Course Title
3
Biology
 BIOL 304 Evolution
3
 BIOL 305 Animal Diversity
3
 BIOL 373 Biometry
 
OTHER SUGGESTED COURSES:
3
Biology
BIOL 240
Monteregian Flora
3
BIOL 310
Biodiversity & Ecosystems
3
BIOL 320
Evolution of Brain and Behaviour
3
BIOL 324
Ecological Genetics
3
BIOL 350
Insect Biology and Control
3
BIOL 352
Vertebrate Evolution
3
BIOL 355
Trees: Ecology and Evolution
3
  
BIOL 377
Independent Reading Project
3
  
BIOL 418
Freshwater Invertebrate Ecology
3
  
BIOL 427
Herpetology
3
BIOL 428
Biological Diversity in Africa
3
BIOL 429
East African Ecology
3
  
BIOL 463
Mammalian Evolution
3
  
BIOL 465
Conservation Biology
3
  
BIOL 466
Independent Research Project 1
3
  
BIOL 467
Independent Research Project 2
6
  
BIOL 468D1/D2
Independent Research Project 3
9
  
BIOL 469D1/D2
Independent Research Project 4
3
  
BIOL 515
Advances in Aquatic Ecology
3
  
BIOL 540
Ecology of Species Invasions
3
  
BIOL 555D1/D2
Functional Ecology of Trees
3
  
BIOL 569
Developmental Evolution
3
  
BIOL 571
Experimental Evolution & Ecology
3
BIOL 594
Advanced Evolutionary Ecology
3
Redpath Museum
REDM400
Science and Museums
3
REDM405
East African Natural History
       
SUGGESTED FIELD COURSES:
3
Biology
BIOL 331
Ecology/Behaviour Field Course
3
  
OR BIOL 334D1/D2
Applied Tropical Ecology
3
  
OR BIOL 573
Vertebrate Paleontology Field Course
3
  
OR BIOL 335
Marine Mammals
       
SUGGESTED COURSES GIVEN AT MACDONALD CAMPUS:
3
NRC
ENTO 440
Insect Diversity
3
ENVB 313
Phylogeny and Biogeography
3
Plant Science
PLNT 358
Flowering Plant Diversity
3
NRC
WILD 307
Natural History of the Vertebrates
3
WILD 350
Mammology
3
WILD 420
Ornithology
3
WILD 424
Parasitology
 

 

Animal Behaviour | Biological Diversity & Systematics | Conservation Biology
Evolutionary Biology | Human Genetics | Molecular Genetics & Development
Neurobiology | Ecology