BIOL 488 - Environmental Physiology

Units: 3
Concepts in environmental physiology emphasizing adaptations to environmental stressors. Physiological strategies for living in extreme environments and impacts of exposure to recent environmental challenges (e.g., climate change, pollution) also discussed.

Prerequisites: BIOL 370.
Equivalent Quarter Course: BIOL 4516.
Possible Instructional Methods: Entirely On-ground.
Grading: A-F or CR/NC (student choice).
Course Typically Offered: Fall ONLY

Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Compare and contrast how environmental factors act as physiological stressors in a variety of different organisms;
Describe the physiological adaptations (ranging from the cell/molecular to the whole organism levels) that have evolved in response to physiological stressors imposed by the environment;
Interpret, evaluate, and apply physiological data, graphical displays of information (e.g., graphs, tables, concept diagrams), and mathematical expressions in order to explain phenomena in environmental physiology;
Gather, present, and evaluate scientific evidence to construct explanations/arguments that support or refute claims concerning relatively recent and anthropogenic environmental stressors (such as climate change and environmental pollutants) and their impact on living organisms;
Clearly and effectively communicate explanations/arguments in a variety of formats (e.g., visual presentations, journal entries, essay questions)