BIOL 490 Senior Seminar. A topical, undergraduate-level course focused on student presentations (oral + poster), writing assignments, and classroom discussion. Career opportunities and steps needed to achieve professional goals are also emphases of the seminar. Two credits, every semester. (Taught on rotating basis by Biology program faculty.)
The full syllabus for the BIOL 490 Senior Seminar can be downloaded here.
Instructors: Justin Ramsey, Jonas Science 168
Tara Ramsey, Jonas Science 168
Office Hours: Monday Noon-1, Tuesday Noon-1, Wednesday Noon-1, Friday 4-5 PM
(or by appointment)
Meeting Times: There is one, 2-hour session that meets once per week:
Tuesday, 4:00–5:50PM, Jonas Science 142
Course Schedule & Assorted Downloads (PDF format):
Week 01 --- Course Introduction
(Sept. 3) Assignment(s) Due: None
Week 02 --- ‘Biological Invasion I‘ Presentation + ‘Cane Toads’ film viewing
(Sept. 10) Assignment(s) Due: None
Week 03 --- ‘Biological Invasion II‘ Presentation + ‘Kudzu’ film viewing
(Sept. 17) Assignment(s) Due: ‘Hometown Invader‘ Report
Week 04 --- ‘Biological Invasion III‘ Presentation + ‘Mosquitos’ film viewing
(Sept. 24) Assignment(s) Due: Topic Selections
Week 05 --- ‘Online Literature Searching‘ + ‘Reading Scientific Papers’ Presentations
(Oct. 1) Assignment(s) Due: <In Class Quiz>
Week 06 --- ‘Careers in the Bio Sciences I’ Presentation + Scientific Literature Exercise
(Oct. 8) Assignment(s) Due: None
Week 07 --- ‘Careers in the Biological Sciences II’ Presentation + CV/Resume Exercise
(Oct. 15) Assignment(s) Due: Scientific Literature Exercise
Week 08 --- ‘Applications & Interviews‘ Presentation + Letter/Statement Exercise
(Oct. 22) Assignment(s) Due: CV/Resume Exercise
Week 09 --- ‘Use of PowerPoint‘ Presentation
(Oct. 29) Assignment(s) Due: Letter/Statement Exercise
Week 11 --- Presentation Session #1
(Nov. 5) Assignment(s) Due: <In Class Quiz> + First Term Paper (for presenters)
Amphibian Invaders—Cane Toads
Doody, J.S., R. Soanes, C.M. Castellano, D. Rhind, B. Green, C.R. McHenry, and S. Clulow. 2015. Invasive toads shift predator-prey densities in animal communities by removing top predators. Ecology 96:2544-2554.
Week 12 --- Presentation Session #2
(Nov. 12) Assignment(s) Due: <In Class Quiz> + First Term Paper (for presenters)
Terrestrial Plant Invaders—Kudzu
Yang, X., W. Huang, B. Tian, and J. Ding. 2014. Differences in growth and herbivory damage of native and invasive kudzu (Peuraria montana var. lobata) populations grown in the native range. Plant Ecology 215:339-346.
Week 13 --- Presentations Session #3
(Nov. 19) Assignment(s) Due: <In Class Quiz> + First Term Paper (for presenters)
Vectors of Disease 1—Mosquitos
Kotsakiozi, P., J.B. Richardson, V. Pichler, G. Favia, A.J. Martins, S. Urbanelli, P.A. Armbruster, and A. Caccone. 2017. Population genomics of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus: insights into the recent worldwide invasion. Ecology and Evolution 7:10143-10157.
Week 14 --- Presentations Session #4
(Nov. 26) Assignment(s) Due: <In Class Quiz> + First Term Paper (for presenters)
Soil Invaders—Earthworms
Hale, C.M., L.E. Frelich, and P.B. Reich. 2006. Changes in hardwood forest understory plant communities in response to European earthworm invasions. Ecology 87:1637-1649.
Mammal Invaders—Feral Pigs
Roemer, G.W., C.J. Donlan, and F. Courchamp. 2002. Golden eagles, feral pigs, and insular carnivores: how exotic species turn native predators into prey. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U.S.A. 99:791-796.
Week 15 --- Presentations Session #5
(Dec. 3) Assignment(s) Due: <In Class Quiz> + First Term Paper (for presenters)
Insect Invaders—Argentine Ants
Holway, D.A. 1999. Competitive mechanisms underlying the displacement of native ants by the invasive Argentine ant. Ecology 80:238-251.
Vectors of Disease 2—Ticks
Ostfeld, R.S., T. Levi, F. Keesing, K. Oggenfuss, and C.D. Canham. 2018. Tick-borne disease risk in a forest food web. Ecology 99:1562-1573.
Week 16 --- Presentations Session #6
(Dec. 10) Assignment(s) Due: <In Class Quiz> + First Term Paper (for presenters)
Aquatic Invaders—Rock Snot
Kilroy, C., and M. Bothwell. 2011. Environmental control of stalk length in the bloom-forming, freshwater benthic diatom Didymosphenia geminata (Bacillariophyceae). Journal of Phycology 47:981-989.
Wetland Invaders—Reedgrass
Bhattarai, G.P., L.A. Meyerson, and J.T. Cronin. 2017. Geographic variation in apparent competition between native and invasive Phragmites australis. Ecology 98:349-358.
Week 17 --- Final Wrap-Up
(Dec. 17) Assignment(s) Due: All Second Drafts! (Term Papers, CV/Resumes, etc.)
PowerPoints of Course Presentations:
Biological Invasions lecture I PDF
Biological Invasions lecture II PDF
Reading a Scientific Paper PDF
Online Literature Searching PDF
Careers in the Biological Sciences PDF
Applications & Interviews PDF
Videos:
“Cane Toads: An Unnatural History” Youtube Link
“Kudzu Vine” <no link available>
“The Amazing Story of Kudzu” Youtube Link
“Kudzu” (Oklahoma SUNUP video) Youtube Link
“Mosquito” (Discovery feature) <no link available>
CV & Resume Writing:
Course Examples (Resume/CV) Example 1 PDF Example 2 PDF
Useful Web Links for Resume/CVs
Examples with Commentary Towson Link 1 Towson Link 2
Guidelines for CVs UCLA Link Purdue Link
Science Job Suggestions Science Careers Link
Federal Job Suggestions Forest Service Link
Cover Letters & Personal Statements Link 1 Link 2