A crowd-sourced list of current GGE courses is available. Click here. (Subject to change. Please contact instructor for verification and for days/times).
Note: Course info is subject to change. Check Schedule Builder or classes.ucdavis.edu for the full list, course details, and updated info
Winter Quarter 2025
ECL 290s. Participatory seminars
290s will be listed here as they are announced.
ECL 290. 2 Units. The Biology of Bees in a Changing World. Instructor: Neal Williams nmwilliams@ucdavis.edu
Description: This participatory seminar will cover selected topics on non-Apis bee biology using global change as a focal point around which to discuss in depth diff erent aspects of the ecology, evolution and life history of bees. The seminar will involve two readings per week, and a presentation by participants during the allotted time. Readings will include multiples materials, such as passages from The Solitary Bees by: Bryan Danforth, John Neff , & Robert Minckley, and relevant journal articles. The Solitary Bees book is meant to provide relevant biological information to inform readers in the diversity of bee biology when considering ecological topics and global change.
CRN: 19294
Course day/time: Thursday 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: Briggs Hall 366
Course Flyer: Link
ECL 290. 1 Unit. One Health in Ecology. Instructor: Prof. David Rizzo. If you have questions, please contact: Lee Burrows (hrburrows@ucdavis.edu) & Hannah Shapiro (hgshapiro@ucdavis.edu)
Description: In this course, we will explore the concept of One Health, focusing on the interconnections between environmental health, animal health, plant health, and human health. We will consider how environmental changes, biodiversity, and ecosystem dynamics impact both wildlife and human populations, and how an integrated, interdisciplinary approach is essential for addressing these complex challenges. In addition to examining case studies that highlight the links between ecological and public health, we will discuss the roles of scientists in One Health initiatives, the challenges in promoting cross-sectoral collaboration, and strategies for integrating ecological perspectives into health policy and management. Topics may include zoonotic disease transmission, habitat conservation, and the role of ecosystem services in human well-being.
CRN: 19295
Course day/time: Tuesday 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
Location: Hutchison 176
Course Flyer: Link
ECL 290. 1 Unit. Using Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles to Advance Ecological Science. Instructor: Kevin Ringelman (ringelman@ucdavis.edu)
Description: This seminar/discussion course will center on the use of uncrewed aerial vehicles in wildlife monitoring, habitat assessment, disease surveillance, and other related topics. Format is anticipated to be graduate student-led reviews of the current literature with a focus on extension of UAV methods to new areas of ecological science.
CRN: 19296
Course day/time: TBD
Location: TBA
Course Flyer: Link
ECL 290. 1 Unit. Reconciliation Ecology: Rethinking Human-Nature Interactions. Instructor John Durand (jrdurand@ucdavis.edu)
If you have questions, please contact: Laura Kojima (lvkojima@ucdavis.edu)
Description: This course will explore research papers and foster discussions on how we can integrate nature conservation into urban, agricultural, and industrial landscapes. Each week, a student(s) will choose one or more papers that tie ecological theory to management practices within reconciled landscapes and lead a discussion on that topic.
CRN: 19297
Course day/time: Thursdays 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Center for Watershed Sciences Conference Room, 1105F
Course Flyer: Link
ECL 290. 1 Unit. Energetics in Aquatic Ecosystems. Instructors: Steve Sadro and Adrianne Smits
If you have questions, please contact: Lucas de la Maza Fernandez (ldelamaza@ucdavis.edu)
Description: This graduate seminar explores concepts and current topics relating to the flow of energy within aquatic ecosystems. Areas of exploration may include the history of the field, current metabolic theory, methods and approaches for quantifying ecosystem metabolic rates and energy flows, ecological stoichiometry, and the variable roles of biotic and abiotic factors in structuring energetics across a range of aquatic ecosystems. We will consider the implications of ongoing changes in climate and other anthropogenic effects on ecosystems energetics, and evaluate the utility of energetics as a management tool for characterizing the health or recovery of aquatic ecosystems. Given the broad scope of potential topics, the specific direction we take will depend in part on student interest. All students are expected to present on a topic and lead an associated discussion of a paper.
CRN: 19299
Course day/time: TBD
Location: TBD
ECL 290. 1 Unit. Modern Coexistence Theory: What is it and why should I care? Sebastian Schreiber (sschreiber@ucdavis.edu)
If interested and want to have an impact on the timing of the offering, please fill out this whenisgood poll with all of your availability by Friday at noon.
Description: Modern coexistence theory provides a powerful quantitative framework for understanding why species coexist. This seminar will explore how the theory has revolutionized our ability to measure and compare different mechanisms maintaining biodiversity, from niche partitioning and environmental fluctuations to species interactions. We'll examine its core theoretical foundations centered on the invasion criterion and the balance between stabilizing and fitness differences, and explore its application across diverse systems - from desert plants to microbial communities. By bridging theoretical and empirical approaches, modern coexistence theory generates testable predictions while offering practical tools for measuring coexistence mechanisms in real communities. This framework provides a new lens for addressing fundamental questions in restoration ecology, community assembly, and community phylogenetics.
CRN: contact instructor
Course day/time: TBD
Location: TBD
ECL 298s. Group Study
298s will be listed here as they are announced.
Fall Quarter 2024
ECL 290s. Participatory seminars
290s will be listed here as they are announced.
ECL 290. 1 Unit. Genomic Basis of Adaptation to Changing Environments. Instructors: Prof. Andrea Schreier and Dr. Shahinur Islam (sksislam@ucdavis.edu)
Description: All biomes are facing drastic changes in environmental conditions across the globe. An understanding of how most organisms will respond to these environmental changes is a major concern for biodiversity conservation in a rapidly changing environment. Recently developed genomic tools provide insights into the genomic bases of adaptation. In this course, we will seek recent literature that applies
and integrates genomic tools to investigate how species, communities, and ecosystems cope with changing environmental conditions. Students will sign up to lead a selected paper discussion and also prepare a set of questions to trigger the discussion for the entire class. Dr. Islam will provide an outline on topics of literature, but students are welcome to find their own papers.
CRN: 28903
Course day/time: Fridays 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Location: Pran Vohra Room (Meyer 3208)
ECL 290. 1 Unit. The Role of Science in Environmental Decision-Making. Instructors: Prof. Ryan Meyer (rmmeyer@ucdavis.edu) and Brandi Goss (begoss@ucdavis.edu)
Description: In this course, we will consider the role that science can play in various forms of decision making, and how science becomes useful. We will also grapple with the role of scientists themselves in complex processes that involve science, including management, policy, and politics. In addition to covering the challenges and barriers to making science useful, we will discuss strategies, tools, and mindsets that can help scientists play a constructive role in the issues that most matter to them. Topics will include science advising, co-production, and boundary organizations, with an emphasis on the environment, and plenty of exploration of the politics and culture of our science institutions. The course will be student-led and discussion-focused. Each week a student will be responsible for briefly presenting on and leading a discussion about two papers related to a progression of topics around environmental decision-making and the knowledge-implementation gap.
CRN: 28895
Course day/time: Thursdays 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: Center for Watershed Sciences Conference Room
ECL 290. 1 Unit. Current Topics in Forest and Fire Ecology. Instructors: Prof. Hugh Safford and Tessa Putz (trputz@ucdavis.edu)
Description: Fire-adapted forests around the world face many challenges with current and predicted novel conditions. This seminar will foster learning and discussion around contemporary issues in the fields of forest and fire ecology. Topics will focus on the impacts to forests under a changing climate, forest management barriers and opportunities, indigenous use of fire, and environmental justice aspects of wildfire. The course will include 2-3 guest lectures and the remaining meetings will be led by course participants through presentations and discussions.
CRN: 28896
Course day/time: Mondays 10:00 - 10:50 AM
Location: Wickson 2120B
ECL 290. 2 Units. Foundations and Applications of Animal Movement Ecology. Instructors: Prof. Justine Smith; Megan McDaniels (mmcdaniels@ucdavis.edu) and Mary Badger (mebadger@ucdavis.edu)
Description: Studying patterns of animal movement and resource selection is key to understanding how species perceive and respond to their surroundings, make decisions, and interact with each other and the environment, which can ultimately inform conservation approaches. This course is designed to assist students with learning the process of incorporating animal movement and space-use studies into their research, from foundational theories to study design and data analysis. Class content and assignments will be tailored to students’ specific research interests, and will culminate in a final project using students' existing project data or open-source data.
CRN: 28898
Course day/time: Wednesdays, 12:10 - 2:00 PM
Location: Meyer Hall room 4202
ECL 298s. Group Study
298s will be listed here as they are announced.
ECL 298. 1 unit. NSF GRFP Grant Writing. Instructor: Prof. Steve Sadro (ssadro@UCDAVIS.EDU)
CRN: 28909
Time: See flyer for more info
Location: contact instructor
Course Info/schedule: Link
Please sign up on the google sheet if you plan take the course (you can indicate your commitment as YES or MAYBE).
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Spring Quarter 2024
ECL 208. 4 units. Cons Biol Research. Instructor: Marissa Baskett
CRN: 38104
Time: Mondays and Wednesdays 10:00 am - 11:20 am; 11:30 am - 11:50 am
Location: Wickson 2124
ECL 214. 3 units. Marine Ecology. Instructors: John Stachowicz and John Durand
CRN: 38106
Time: Wednesday 1:10 pm - 3:30 pm
Location: 1350 Storer
ECL 271 | ECL 290. 1 unit. Research Conference in Ecology: Movement Ecology. Instructor: Elizabeth Crone (ecrone@ucdavis.edu)
Description: The way in which organisms move through landscapes is central to a range of ecological and evolutionary processes, including the ability of organisms to use isolated and fragmented habitat patches, the relationship between geographic location and gene flow, and the ability of organisms to track changing distributions of suitable habitat (in response to climate change).
This seminar is focused on understanding mechanisms of movement and their consequences. We will focus on papers that use diffusion as a mechanistic basis for the movement of animals, plants, and other organisms of interest to class participants. Readings will depend on student interest but are likely to range from theoretical models to empirical analysis of tracking data. In the late 20th century, these bodies of inquiry were developed somewhat in tandem. In the decades since then, there has been rapid growth of technology for tracking animal movement and statistical methods for analyzing movement data, but some separation of theoretical from empirical approaches. A challenge to us is to consider whether there are ways to bridge this growing gap.
ECL 271 CRN: 38109
ECL 290 CRN: 38114
Cross-listed with PBG 271
Time: Tuesdays 11:00 - 11:50 AM
Location: Storer Hall 0347
ECL 296. 1 unit. E&E Seminar. Instructor Jennifer Funk
CRN: 38122
Time: Thursdays at 3:10-4:30 PM
Location: Walker 1320
Speaker schedule: TBD
Note: cross-listed with PBG 292
Check Schedule Builder for course details and updated info
ECL 298. 2 units. Building Psychosocial and Planetary Resilience. Instructors: Stephen Wheeler, Philippe Raymond Goldin, Scott Fishman, Mandy Frazier.
If you have any questions, please contact Mandy Frazier (ajfrazier@ucdavis.edu)
Description: This experiential class offers valuable personal and social resilience skills to navigate and build a meaningful sustainable future & includes:
- Online talks from global experts in climate science and action
- In-person resilience training with faculty & mindfulness experts
- Group projects with an impact
CRN: 38125
Time: Fridays, 1:10 - 2:30 PM
Location: TLC 3211
Course Flyer
ECL 298. 2 units. Remote Sensing Applications in Ecology. Instructors: Troy Magney (tmagney@ucdavis.edu) and Ian Wright (irwright@ucdavis.edu)
Description: We will explore cutting-edge research and applications of remote sensing in ecology. Through weekly discussions of seminal papers and recent advancements, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how remote sensing technologies are revolutionizing ecological research and conservation efforts. Engage with peers and experts to critically evaluate methodologies, interpret results, and brainstorm innovative approaches to address pressing ecological questions using remote sensing techniques.
CRN: 38126
Course day/time: Tuesdays 12:10 - 2:00 PM
Location: Plant Reproductive Biology Conference Room 1111
ECL 290s. Participatory seminars
290s will be listed here as they are announced.
ECL 290. 1 Unit. Plant-soil feedbacks and ecological restoration. Instructors: Valerie Eviner and Justin Valliere (jmvalliere@ucdavis.edu)
Description: Soil properties exert a strong influence on plant communities, and plants also play an important role shaping soil biota, nutrient availability, and other characteristics. Such feedbacks between plants and soils can have important consequences for ecological restoration. This seminar will center around discussions of the role of plant-soil feedbacks in ecological restoration, implications for invasive plant management, and how practitioners may be able to manipulate these feedbacks to advance restoration.
CRN: Contact instructor
Course day/time: Mondays 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM
Location: PES 2004
ECL 290. 2 Units. Community and Citizen Science in Conservation. Instructor: Ryan Meyer (rmmeyer@ucdavis.edu)
Description: This 2-unit course will involve weekly discussion and exploration of community and citizen science (CCS) approaches and applications in conservation and related environmental topics. With an emphasis on practice, each session will focus on a different theme such as equity and justice, project design and implementation, participant and conservation benefits. Other topics will be identified and explored based on student interest, and students will also have an opportunity to develop ideas for CCS projects within their own research.
Students who complete the course will become eligible to apply for the CCS in Conservation Fellowship, offered annually by the UC Davis Center for Community and Citizen Science. Learn more.
CRN: 38113
Course day/times: Wednesdays at 1:10 PM - 2:40 PM
Location: Center for Community and Citizen Science, 1460 Drew Ave, Suite 100, Davis, CA 95618
ECL 290. 1 Unit. From Milestone to Stepping Stone: Peer Support for the Qualifying Exam. Instructors: Prof. Andrew Latimer, Paige Kouba
If you have any questions, please contact Paige Kouba (pvkouba@ucdavis.edu)
Description: Studying for the Qualifying Exam can be stressful—come join a peer-support project designed to share guidance and feedback as you prepare! If you're a pre-QE mentee, you'll learn how to manage scheduling, communicate with your committee, study effectively, and succeed on test day. If you're post-QE, you'll get to pass on your hard-won wisdom and help the next cohort navigate this challenging process. We will hold two workshops at the end of Winter Quarter before starting regular sessions in spring, when pre-QE students can practice their presentations before peers and mentors. Free lunch provided at all meetings!
CRN: 38115
Course day/times: Thursday 10:00 AM - Noon
Location: PES 2005
Course Flyer
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Winter Quarter 2024
ECL 200BN. 5 units. Principles of Ecology. Instructor: Susan Harrison
Time: Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 -11:50 AM
Section A01: Wednesdays, 12:10-1:00 PM; CRN 21013
Section A02: Wednesdays, 1:10-2:00 PM; CRN 21014
Section A03: Wednesdays, 3:10-4:00 PM; CRN 21015
Note: this course is restricted to graduate students only.
ECL 205. 4 units. Community Ecology. Instructor: Louie Yang
CRN: 21016
Course days/time: MW 2:10-4:00 PM
Location: Briggs 366
ECL 212B. 4 units. Environ Policy Evaluation. Instructor: Fran Moore
CRN: 44330
Course days/time: MW 11:00 AM - 12:50 PM
Location: Physics 140
ECL 216. 4 units. Ecology and Agriculture. Instructors: Amelie Gaudin and Neal Williams
CRN: 45189
Course days/time: Tuesdays 1:10 - 4:00 PM
Location: Bowley 105
ECL 231. 3 units. Community Ecology. Instructor: Sebastian Schreiber
CRN: 21017
Times: TR 10:30-11:50 AM
Location: Giedt 1006
ECL 296. 1 unit. E&E Seminar. Instructor Jennifer Funk
CRN: 21030
Time: Thursdays at 3:10-4:30 PM
Location: Art 204
Speaker schedule: TBD
Note: cross-listed with PBG 292
Check Schedule Builder for course details and updated info
ECL 290s. Participatory seminars
290s will be listed here as they are announced.
Spatial Plant Community Dynamics. 1 unit. Instructor: Susan Harrison
If you have questions, please contact: Sabine Dritz (sjdritz@ucdavis.edu)
Description: The dynamics of local plant communities are dependent on regional processes such as pollen transport and seed dispersal. As climate change is shifting species’ spatial and temporal distributions, these regional processes are expected to change with unknown consequences to plant persistence. In this course we will investigate the sensitivity or resilience of local and regional plant populations to these changes in a variety of ecological contexts. Students will take turns choosing papers based on their study systems and get experience in leading collaborative discussions.
CRN: 21021
Meeting Days/Times: Mondays from 1:00 - 2:00 PM
Location: Wickson 2120J
Phylogenetic Systematics. 2 units. Instructor: Prof. Dan Potter
If you have questions, please contact: dpotter@ucdavis.edu
Description: In this course we will explore current topics in the principles and methods of phylogenetics in a participatory seminar format. The goal is to give students a good grounding in the most current methodologies in phylogenetics as well as the core principles upon which these are based. Each week, 1-2 students
will lead a discussion of a specific topic, focusing on a particular method and/or concept. For each meeting, assigned readings will include at least one review paper or book chapter providing background and introductory
information plus at least one recent paper demonstrating empirical applications of the concept or method.
CRN: 21022
Meeting Days/Times: Tuesdays 11:00 AM - 12:50 PM
Location: Wickson 3053
Terrestrial Biogeochemical Cycling. 2 units. Instructors: Prof. Toby O'Geen, Prof. Cristina Lazcano, and Ava-Rose Beech
If you have questions, please contact: atogeen@ucdavis.edu; afbeech@ucdavis.edu
Description: Soils play a central role in regulating global biogeochemical cycles with immense implications for ecological and human health. In this course, students will examine the processes that regulate biogeochemical cycling and different factors (both natural and anthropogenic) that alter these processes. We will focus on gaining an in-depth understanding of terrestrial carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling as well as how climate change is altering these cycles.
CRN: 21023
Meeting Days/Times: TBD
Location: TBD
Genomic Structural Variation and Its Eco-Evolutionary Consequences. 1 unit. Instructor: Prof. Rachael Bay
If you have questions, please contact: rbay@ucdavis.edu
Description: Recent advances in sequencing technologies have enabled researchers to investigate how genomic structural variants (SVs) impact ecological and evolutionary processes. SVs are often defined as genomic variants thatg are greater than 1kb long, and include insertions, deletions, copy number variants, transposable elements and inversions. In this seminar, we will explore recent literature that shows how SVs impact contribute to phenotypic variation, selection, speciation and more in a variety of systems. Participants will sign up to lead one week of discussions, choose 1-2 papers for the class to read and prepare a set of questions to spark discussion. The instructors will provide an outline of weekly topics and recommended readings, but students are welcome to find papers on their own as well.
CRN: 21024
Meeting Days/Times: Wednesdays 9:00 - 9:50 AM
Location: Storer 2342
Statistical Rethinking- Bayesian Stats - Part II. 2 units. Instructor: Daniel Runcie
Contact name and email for questions: Nicole Lindenauer (nlindenauer@ucdavis.edu)
Description: We will be continuing to work through the second half the book Statistical Rethinking by Richard McElreath, along with associated YouTube lectures. There will be weekly, pre-recorded lectures, readings and homework. In class time will be spent working through the homework problems and discussing that week’s topic. Pre-requisite: Must have read the first half of Statistical Rethinking (Ch1- 10) and watched the associated youtube lectures (Lectures 1-9).
CRN: 21025
Meeting Days/Times: Wednesdays 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Location: TLC 200E
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Fall Quarter 2023
ECL 200AN. 5 units. Principles of Ecology. Instructor: Fernanda Valdovinos
Time: Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:00-4:00 PM
Section A01: Thursdays, 10:00-10:50 AM; CRN 29664
Section A02: Thursdays, 11:00-11:50 AM; CRN 29665
Section A03: Thursdays, 12:10-1:00 PM; CRN 29666
Check Schedule Builder for course details and updated info
Note: this course is restricted to graduate students only.
ECL 224. 3 units. R-Davis. Instructor Tyler Scott
CRN: contact Angie Nguyen (htgnguyen@ucdavis.edu)
Time: Thursdays 1:10-3:00 PM
Location: Shields 360
ECL 245. 4 units. Climate Change & Water. Instructors: Erwan Monier and Mark Lubell.
CRN: 29667
Time: Tuesdays/Thursdays from 10:30am-11:50 AM
Location: Wellman 212
Note: cross-listed with HYD 245 and ATM 245
Check Schedule Builder for course details and updated info
ECL 296. 1 unit. E&E Seminar Series. Instructor Jennifer Funk
CRN: 29680
Time: Thursdays at 3:10-4:30 PM
Location: TBD
Speaker schedule: TBD
Note: cross-listed with PBG 292
Check Schedule Builder for course details and updated info
ECL 298. 1 unit. NSF GRFP Grant Writing. Instructor: Steve Sadro (ssadro@UCDAVIS.EDU)
CRN: 29684
Time: See flyer for more info
Location: contact instructor
Course Info/flyer: Link
Please sign up on the google sheet if you plan take the course (you can indicate your commitment as YES or MAYBE).
ECL 290s. Participatory seminars
290s will be listed here as they are announced.
Anthropogenic Impacts on Wildlife Physiology. 1 unit. Instructor: Tom Hahn.
If you have questions, please contact: Kay Garlick-Ott (kgarlickott@ucdavis.edu), Sage Madden (saamadden@ucdavis.edu), Abigail Morris (abmorris@ucdavis.edu)
Description: A wide variety of techniques exist for quantifying human impacts on the physiology of wildlife. We will consider the benefits and drawbacks of various methods, and how they are used to explore human impacts on different physiological systems. Our goal is to think critically about how we might employ these techniques in our own research, ensuring that what we are measuring is indeed what we want to measure. We will contextualize this group study within existing frameworks for applying physiological methods to conservation. Students will take turns leading weekly seminars, in which we explore case studies using different physiological techniques, paired with background reading on theory.
CRN: 29670
Time: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00 AM
Location: Wickson 2120J
Design and Analysis of Ecological Experiments. 1 unit. Instructors: Louie Yang (lhyang@ucdavis.edu) and Neil Willits
Description: In this weekly seminar, students will present their research plans or preliminary results, followed by a friendly and constructive discussion of their statistical and scientific merits as well as alternatives that may improve them. Each student will be required to present his/her research plan during one week’s session and will attend all seminar meetings in order to participate in the weekly discussion.
CRNs: (ECL 290 = 29671; ENT 298 = 32681; PBG = 44273)
Time: Wednesday 12:10-1:30 PM
Location: Briggs 366
Novel Ecosystem Ecology. 1 unit. John Durand and Lynette Williams (lbwilliams@ucdavis.edu)
Description: Novel ecosystems typically contain a mosaic of non-native and native species within an anthropogenic landscape of infrastructure and working lands. They are a critical focus for conservation and restoration efforts. We will discuss novel ecosystems and their ecology, relevance to conservation efforts, and future implications for climate change and land use shifts in this student-led seminar. Students will choose papers based on their study systems and interests, and get experience in leading collaborative discussions and exploring innovative approaches to land management and conservation.
CRN: 29672
Time: Thursdays, 9:00 - 10:00 AM
Location: Center for Watershed Sciences Conference Room, 1105F
Insect Diapause. 1 unit. Instructors: Louie Yang (lhyang@ucdavis.edu); James Michielini (jpmichielini@ucdavis.edu); Sylvana Finn (srfinn@ucdavis.edu)
Description: In seasonal environments, organisms must withstand long periods of unfavorable conditions. Dormancy is one mechanism for persistence in such conditions and is therefore an integral part of individual and population persistence in many taxa. In the face of environmental variation, many insects undergo diapause, a unique metabolic state in which organisms delay development. In this seminar we will read the book, Insect Diapause (2022) by David Denlinger, and discuss chapters weekly. Discussions will span levels of analysis; topics include the evolution of diapause, the genetic and hormonal mechanisms underpinning diapause, and the role of seasonal cues in diapause determination, etc.
CRN: 29673
Time: Wednesday 10:00 AM- 11:00 AM
Location: Briggs 336
Course Flyer: Link
Mechanistic Basis of Phenotypic Plasticity. 1 unit. Instructors: Andrew Whitehead
Contact name and email for questions: Tatum Bernat, tsbernat@ucdavis.edu
Description: Phenotypic plasticity is important for supporting resilience in changing environments. New technologies and model systems have advanced our understanding of the physiological, behavioral, and genetic mechanisms that enable phenotypic plasticity. The goal of this seminar is to acquire a multidisciplinary and integrative understanding of these mechanisms, in various ecological model systems, that support resilience in variable and changing environments. Weekly meetings will include student-guided paper discussion, preceded by one or two introductory/overview discussions/lectures.
CRN: 29674
Days/Time: Mondays Noon-1:00 pm
Location: TBD
Data Visualization and Communication. 2 units. Instructors: Mikaela Provost
Contact name and email for questions: Megan McDaniels (mmcdaniels@ucdavis.edu) and Emily Mensch (emensch@ucdavis.edu)
Description: Communicating our research and findings is an essential yet often overlooked component of the scientific process. In this 2-credit course, students will learn how to summarize, display, and share their research through compelling visualizations including figures, infographics and graphical abstracts, posters, slideshows, mixed-media art, and more. We will also discuss ethics and best-practices surrounding science communications. This weekly seminar (1.5 hours) will comprise of guest presentations and student-led discussion. Throughout the course, students will have the opportunity to apply the skills and approaches they learn in class to their own research in order to develop unique visualization products. Students will present and receive feedback on their drafts of conference presentations or posters, figures or other forms of communication they learn in class and apply to their own datasets in order to develop unique visualization products.
CRN: 29675
Day/Time: Tuesdays, 1:10 - 2:30 PM
Location: PES 2004
Course Flyer
Marine Disease Ecology: Theory and Case Studies. 1 unit. Instructor: Anya Brown
Contact name and email for questions: Laurie Balstad, lbalstad@ucdavis.edu; Serina Moheed, smoheed@ucdavis.edu
Description: Marine diseases have ecological (e.g., loss of the keystone species Pycnopodia due to Seastar Wasting Disease) and economic (e.g., sea lice in aquaculture) consequences. As climate warms, marine disease outbreaks are becoming more frequent, changing distribution, and increasing intensity in many cases, leading to population declines, ecosystem degradation, and economic losses. This makes understanding marine disease a key management challenge. In this course, we will explore themes including marine/terrestrial disease ecology comparisons, conservation/aquaculture/fishery disease management, and eco-evolutionary disease dynamics. Students will lead weekly paper discussions of both theoretical foundations and case studies which highlight these themes.
CRN: 29676
Days/Times: Tuesday 10:00-10:50 am
Location: Storer 1347
Statistical Rethinking- Bayesian statistics. 2 units, Instructor: Daniel Runcie
Contact name and email for questions: Nicole Lindenauer (nlindenauer@ucdavis.edu)
The goal of this course is to develop a basic understanding of Bayesian statistics. We will be closely following the book Statistical Rethinking by Richard McElreath, along with associated youtube lectures. There will be weekly, pre-recorded lectures, readings and homework. In class time will be spent working through the homework problems and discussing that week’s topic.
CRN: 29677
Day/Times: Wednesdays from 2:30-4pm
Location: 3212 TLC
Spring Quarter 2023
ECL 208. 4 units. Cons Biol Research. Instructor: Marissa Baskett
CRN: 39853
Time: Mondays and Wednesday 10:00 am - 11:20 am; 11:30 am - 11:50 am
Location: Wickson 2124
ECL 212B. 4 units. Environ Policy Evaluation. Instructor: Michael Springborn
CRN: 62097
Time: Mondays an Wednesday 2:10 pm - 3:00 pm; 3:10 pm - 4:00 pm; TBA
Location: Hoagland 168
ECL 214. 3 units. Marine Ecology. Instructors: John Stachowicz and John Durand
CRN: 62967
Time: Thursdays 1:10 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: 1350 Storer
ECL 225. 4 units. Terr Field Ecology. Instructor: Richard Karban
CRN: 39856
Time: TBA
Location: Facility Assigned by Instructor
ECL 233. 3 units. Comp Methods in Pop Biol. Instructor: Marissa Baskett
CRN: 62101
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 am - 11:50 am
Location: Wickson 2124
ECL 290s. Participatory seminars
290s will be listed here as they are announced.
Analysis of Plant Function. 2 units. Instructor: Tom Buckley (tnbuckley@ucdavis.edu)
Description: The objective of this seminar is to develop familiarity with mathematical process-based models commonly used in organismal plant biology, and operational facility in using those models to understand plant functioning in a changing environment. We will derive models of various processes (e.g., photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, water relations, leaf-to-canopy scaling), and learn to interrogate and manipulate those models for general enquiry, hypothesis generation, and simulation. Most of the quarter will focus on analytical work, that is, working with equations by hand. If time permits, during the last few weeks we will learn to use numerical environments such as Excel and R as tools for exploring and simulating mathematical relationships.
Suggested topics
- Weeks 1-2. Physico-chemical processes (diffusion, advection, phase changes, thermal energy balance, chemical reaction kinetics, mechanics).
- Week 3. Transport models in plants (H2O and CO2 diffusion, water movement, heat exchange)
- Week 4. Photosynthesis (FvCB model and predecessors).
- Week 5. Coupling photosynthesis with mass and energy transport.
- Week 6. Optimization theory (leaf stomatal conductance).
- Week 7. Optimization theory (canopy nitrogen distribution; carbon partitioning).
- Weeks 8-10. Numerical explorations.
CRN: 39859
Time: Tuesday 10:00 am - Noon
Location: PES 2004
Vernal Pool Ecology. 1 unit. Instructors: Andrea Schreier (amdrauch@ucdavis.edu) and Anderson Tate (atate@ucdavis.edu) ); if you are interested in this course, please reach out to Andrea or Anderson so we can settle on a date/time by the end of winter quarter.
Description: In this course, students survey the current literature to learn about vernal pool ecology, types, functions, and current scientific techniques used to monitor and assess ephemeral pools across different landscapes. The course will be student-led and discussion-focused. Each week a student will be responsible for briefly presenting on and leading a discussion about a recent paper related to any aspect of vernal pools ecology.
CRN: 39860
Time: Wednesday 1-2pm
Location: Meyer Hall room 2219
Ecosystem Ecology, 2 credits. Instructors: Troy Magney (tmagney@ucdavis.edu) and Lily Klinek
Description: In this course, students will survey foundational and current literature in ecosystem ecology. They will develop an understanding of the physical, chemical and biological processes regulating the dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems.The course will be student-led and discussion-focused. Each week a student will be responsible for briefly presenting on and leading a discussion about a paper.
CRN: 39861
Time: Tuesday 2:10pm - 4pm
Location: Plant Reproductive Biology conference room 1111
Ecosystem services in interdisciplinary science and decision making. 1 unit. Instructors: Prof Michael Springborn (mspringborn@ucdavis.edu), Catherine Courtier (cacourtier@ucdavis.edu), and Indu Roy (inroychow@ucdavis.edu)
Description: The value of natural resources can be measured using ecosystem services, which provide a bridge between social and ecological systems, and are crucial to human well-being. Biodiversity and nature’s benefits to people underpin almost every aspect of human life whether it’s through the production of food, clean water, or regulation of climate and disease. However biodiversity is being degraded at an unprecedented rate, and as such there is a need to understand how these changes lead to changes in ecosystem services, and subsequently changes in human dimensions outcomes. This knowledge can be used to provide policy-relevant knowledge and to catalyze the implementation of knowledge-based policies at all levels in government, the private sector and society.
The goal of this seminar is to explore and exchange ideas related to current literature on ecosystem service science and practice. A second focus of this seminar is to provide a space for anyone who is interested to develop ideas for ecosystem service related projects and elaborate these into funding proposals. Potential topics of discussion include: the intersection of ecosystem services and environmental justice; quantitative and qualitative methods of evaluation; emerging topics and concepts. Each week, we will read two papers in preparation for a discussion led by seminar participants.
CRN: 39862
Time: Wednesdays 9:00-10:00 am
Location: TBA
Course Info: Doc
Aquatic-Terrestrial Interface Ecology: Managing in the Mosaic. 1 unit. Instructors: Robert Lusardi (ralusardi@ucdavis.edu), Brandi Goss (begoss@ucdavis.edu) , and Kelly Goedde-Matthews (kgoeddem@ucdavis.edu)
Description: In this course, students will consider the connectivity between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, what the implications of this connectivity are for aquatic management, and how to incorporate this connectivity into management frameworks. The course will be student-led and discussion-focused. Each week a student will be responsible for briefly presenting on and leading a discussion about a recent paper related to a progression of topics around ecosystem connectivity, land-use, and aquatic management.
CRN: 39863
Time: TBD - we will poll enrollees prior to the end of winter quarter similar to the vernal pool 290 to determine an appropriate time
Location: TBD depending on class time
Course Info: Doc
Community and Citizen Science in Conservation. 2 units. Instructors: Todd Harwell (taharwell@ucdavis.edu), Ryan Meyer (rmmeyer@ucdavis.edu), and Heidi Lyn Ballard (hballard@ucdavis.edu)
Description: This 2-unit course will involve weekly discussion and exploration of community and citizen science (CCS) approaches and applications broadly related to conservation. With an emphasis on recent academic literature, each session will focus on a different topic such as equity and justice, project design and implementation, participant and conservation benefits. Other topics will be identified and explored based on student interest, and students will also have an opportunity to develop ideas for CCS projects within their own research.
Students who complete the course will become eligible to apply for the CCS in Conservation Fellowship, offered annually by the UC Davis Center for Community and Citizen Science. Learn more.
CRN: 39864
Time: Wednesdays 1:10 to 2:40 PM
Location: Conference Room, 1460 Drew Ave, Davis, CA 95618
Using Biological Collections to Assess the Ecological Impacts of Global Change. 1 unit. Instructors: Emily Meineke (emeineke@ucdavis.edu) and Zoe Wood (zmwood@ucdavis.edu)
Description: Natural history collections and museum specimens are vast repositories of biodiversity data that encompass a considerable amount of ecological power. As a group, we will examine novel approaches and contemporary studies that incorporate the use of natural history collections, physical and/or digitized museum specimens, and biodiversity data. Topics may include but are not limited to phenology and addressing biases, functional traits, using museum specimens to estimate populations and abundance, species interactions, community science, the use of computer vision and AI, and the extended specimen. This will be primarily an in-person, paper discussion-based seminar, with a museum visit component.
CRN: 39865
Time: Tuesdays 1-3pm; this 1-unit seminar will meet for 2 hours each week for Weeks 1-5 with no meetings during Weeks 6-10.
Location: TBD; interested students please email Zoe Wood (zmwood@ucdavis.edu) so we can arrange
a course meeting time.
Course info: Doc
Recent advancements in Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management. 1 unit. Instructors: Mikaela Provost (mmprovost@ucdavis.edu); Marissa Baskett; James Sanchirico; Jack Buckner (jhbuckner@ucdavis.edu); Sophia Simon (sosimon@ucdavis.edu)
Description: Ecosystem based fisheries management (EBFM) has been increasingly implemented over the past several decades but has also faced ongoing challenges in realizing the goals of accounting for the many complexities of marine systems in fisheries decision-making. Broadly, EBFM includes four basic topics: (1) species interactions, (2) environmental variability, (3) human dimensions, and (4) uncertainty and adaptive management. In this course, students will lead discussions on recent developments in each of these topics, followed by a synthesis at the end of the course. We aim to understand how fisheries management can move from single-species to EBFM (i.e., which components are most important, and when), and ask if (or what type of) EBFM is achievable.
CRN: 63090
Time: Fridays 1:40-3:00pm
Location: Wickson 2120B
Course info: Doc
Winter Quarter 2023
ECL 200BN. 5 units. Principles of Ecology. Instructor: Marcel Holyoak
Time: Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00-11:50am
Section A01: Wednesdays, 12:10-1pm; CRN 20984
Section A02: Wednesdays, 1:10-2pm; CRN 20985
Section A03: Wednesdays, 3:10-4pm; CRN 20986
Location: Olson 105 (MW lecture); Wickson 2120B (Wednesday discussions)
Note: this course is restricted to graduate students only.
ECL 231. 3 units. Math Method Pop Bio. Instructor: Sebastian Schreiber.
CRN: 20990
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30-11:50am
Location: Giedt 1006
Note: cross-listed with PBG 231
ECL 243. 4 units. Ecological Genomics. Instructors: Andrew Whitehead and Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra.
CRN: 20991
Time: Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:40-5pm
Location: Storer 1344
ECL 271. 1 unit. Ecology Research. Instructor: Jennifer Funk.
CRN: 45377
Time: Thursdays from 3:10-4pm
Location: PES 2005
Note: cross-listed with PBG 271
ECL 296. 1 unit. E&E Seminar Series. Instructor: Jennifer Funk.
CRN: 21004
Time: Thursdays from 4:10-5:30pm
Location: Wellman 126
Note: cross-listed with PBG 292
ECL 290s. Participatory seminars
290s will be listed here as they are announced.
Topics in Host-Microbial Ecology. 1 unit. Instructors: Prof. Anya Brown (anybrown@ucdavis.edu), Shelby Penn (spenn@ucdavis.edu), and Karolina Zabinksi (clzabinski@ucdavis.edu)
Description: a seminar on microbial ecology, focused on host-microbial systems. The seminar will be discussion focused, and we will discuss papers surrounding hosts and their microbiome. The goals of the course will be to gain an appreciation for methods, ideas, and concepts in host-microbial systems. Discussion leaders will choose one (or more) papers and lead discussions on the topic.
CRN: 20995
Time: Thursdays 1:40 pm - 3:00 pm
Location: 1347 Storer Hall / Zoom; please contact the instructors if you have any questions
Principles and Methods of Phylogenetic Systematics. 2 units. Instructors: Prof. Daniel Potter (dpotter@ucdavis.edu), Reed Kenny (rjkenny@ucdavis.edu), Will McMahan (wtmcmahan@ucdavis.edu)
Description: In this course we will explore current topics in the principles and methods of phylogenetics in a participatory seminar format. The goal is to give students a good grounding in the most current methodologies in phylogenetics as well as the core principles upon which these are based. Each week, 1-2 students will lead a discussion of a specific topic, focusing on a particular method and/or concept. For each meeting, assigned readings will include at least one review paper or book chapter providing background and introductory information plus at least one recent paper demonstrating empirical applications of the concept or method.
CRN: 20996
Time: Mondays 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Location: 3053 Wickson
Course info: Doc
Science Translation and Boundary Spanning in Ecology. 1 unit. Instructors: Prof. Hugh Safford (hdsafford@ucdavis.edu) and Saba Saberi (sjsaberi@ucdavis.edu)
This seminar will explore the role of boundary spanners in developing and delivering translational ecology. The 10 seminar meetings will be evenly split between guest speakers from important boundary-spanning organizations located in central California (e.g., Point Blue Conservation Science, USDA Climate Hub, UC Cooperative Extension, California Fire Science Consortium, US Forest Service Region 5 Ecology Program) and presentations by seminar participants.
CRN: 20997
Time: Thursdays 2:10 - 3:00 pm
Location: Wickson 2120B
Wetland Ecology and Management. 1 unit. Instructors: Dr. John Durand (jrdurand@ucdavis.edu) and John Veon (jtveon@ucdavis.edu)
This course will cover longstanding ecological theory in wetlands and how those theories play an important role in current wetland management techniques. The goal of this course is for students to gain a better understanding of wetland systems, how they function, and how function can be/is manipulated by agencies to better conserve wetlands. This course will be discussion focused. Each week, a student(s) will choose one or more papers that tie ecological theory to applied management practices within wetlands and lead a discussion on that topic.
CRN: 20998
Time: Tuesday, 3:10 - 4:00 pm
Location: Center for Watershed Sciences 1105F
Fall Quarter 2022
ECL 200AN. 5 units. Principles of Ecology. Instructor: Fernanda Valdovinos
Time: Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00-11:50am
Section A01: Thursdays, 10:00-10:50am; CRN 29634
Section A02: Thursdays, 11:00-11:50am; CRN 29635
Section A03: Thursdays, 12:10-1:00pm; CRN 29636
Location: Wellman 115 (MW lecture); Wickson 2120B (Thursday discussions)
Note: this course is restricted to graduate students only.
ECL 245. Climate Change & Water. Instructors: Erwan Monier and Mark Lubell.
CRN: 29639
Time: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30am-1:00pm
Location: Hoagland 124
Note: cross-listed with HYD 245 and ATM 245
ECL 296. 1 unit. E&E Seminar Series. Instructor Jennifer Funk
CRN: 29714
Time: Thursdays at 4:10-5:30pm.
Location: Hunt 100
Speaker schedule: TBD
Note: cross-listed with PBG 292
ECL 298. 2 units. R Davis. Instructor: Tyler Scott
CRN: contact instructor for permission to add
Time: Thursdays, 1:10-3:00pm
Location: Shields 360
Note: this course is restricted to GGE and EPM graduate students only. Others may add with instructor permission.
ECL 298. 2 units. Casual Chain. Instructor: James Sanchirico
CRN: 29724
Time: Thursdays, 1:10-3:00pm
Location: Wickson 2120B
ECL 298. 3 units. Bayesian Models: A Statistical Primer. Instructor: Xiaoli Dong
CRN: 29725
Time: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:30-11:50am
Location: Wickson 2120J
ECL 298. 1 unit. NSF GRFP Grant Writing. Instructor: Steve Sadro
CRN: contact instructor
Time: meet once a week for two hours over five weeks, starting Sept. 12
Location: contact instructor
Note: Interested students must sign up on the google sheet if you plan to take the course.
ECL 298. 3 units. Environmental Data Science. Instructor: Troy Magney
CRN: 29727
Time: Mondays & Wednesdays, 2:10-4pm
Location: Hoagland 108
ECL 290s. Participatory seminars
290s will be listed here as they are announced.
Biology and Ecology of Plant Reproduction. 1 unit. Instructors: Susan Harrison and Rachel Vannette, with Gillian Bergmann.
Description: The ability to reproduce is an ultimate fitness measure of all organisms, and reproductive strategies are a product of sexual selection, the abiotic environment, energetic tradeoffs and species interactions. Plants have evolved an array of said strategies, both sexual and asexual, that have impacted plant dispersal mechanisms, disturbance responses, and co-evolution with symbiotic animals and microbes. This course will examine the different strategies plants use to reproduce, their evolution, how they interact with other organisms and their ultimate consequences for ecological communities. Emphasis will be placed on seed plants, particularly angiosperms, and discussions will be framed within the contexts of symbioses and global change.
CRN: 29642
Time: Mondays, 2:10-3pm
Location: Wickson 2120B
Revolutionary Organizing for Climate Solution Implementation. 2 units. Instructor: Anthony Wexler.
Description: Due to the California drought, 500,000 acres of land to the west of Fresno are likely to lose their water rights and be fallowed. Placing 200,000 acres of solar farm on this land would reduce dust emissions and generate enough power to eliminate all fossil fuel combustion used for making electricity in the state. In this ECL 290 class, students will learn to advocate from the position that climate science is real, that the unprecedented disasters taking place around us cannot be allowed to worsen, and that those who choose to can personally step up to implement transformative new solutions in response. Students will research and conduct direct outreach to build support in targeted legislative districts for the historic California Solar Farm Green Bond bill. Students will learn how to carry out direct outreach to focus on (a) the Senate and Assembly districts of the chairs and leaders of the leading environmental committees in the state legislature, (b) key local constituent groups in these districts to solicit comments and enlist their support, and (c) state wide organizations and industry groups such as the solar industry and agriculture trade groups.
CRN: 29643
Time: Wednesdays, 2:10-4pm
Location: Wellman 205
Animal Space Use and Movement Ecology. 1 unit. Instructors: Danny Karp and Justine Smith, with Cody Pham and Gabe Reyes.
Description: Analyses of animal space use and movement focus on elucidating how organisms move in response to environmental conditions. The goals of this graduate seminar are to 1) familiarize participants with many of the tools necessary to conduct movement analyses in R and 2) help participants develop a sense of the diverse applications of movement analyses. The course will follow a flipped-classroom structure. Before each meeting, participants will complete R tutorials (either in groups or alone) that include theoretical background on the analysis, worked examples, and some independent analyses. Class meetings will focus both on troubleshooting problems encountered whilst executing tutorial and on discussing potential applications each type of analysis. To facilitate discussion, 1-2 participant(s) will present and lead a discussion on an application of the analyses highlighted in the corresponding tutorial for the week.
CRN: 29644
Time: Wednesdays, 2:10-3pm
Location: Academic Surge 1064
Urban Ecology: Plants and Animals. 1 unit. Instructor: Matthew Gilbert, with Sage Madden and Mickie Tang.
Description: Urbanization is a critical and growing source of environmental change. This seminar will review current literature related to the ecology of urban plants and animals, including cities as social-ecological systems, responses of plants and animals to the built environment, and species interactions in cities. Each week, we will read two papers in preparation for a discussion led by seminar participants.
CRN: 29645
Time: Tuesdays, 2:10-3pm
Location: PES 2004
Scientific Filmmaking Through Short Films. 1 unit. Instructor: Eric Sanford.
Description: This graduate seminar will address how to communicate research to a general audience through the production of accessible and engaging short films. We will meet once per week during Fall Quarter. Our discussions will focus on (1) science communication and storytelling, (2) the elements of an interesting and accessible scientific film, (3) basic filmmaking techniques, (4) how to conduct interviews, and (5) and film editing using iMovie. Each participant will produce a short film (~3 minutes), incorporating feedback and critiques from the group. Filmmaker Grant Thompson will be collaborating on course instruction and will provide his professional perspective and insights. We will premiere our final films at two public film festivals, one in Bodega Bay and one in Davis, at the end of the quarter, and these videos will subsequently be shared with the general public via UC Davis websites.
CRN: 29646
Time: TBD - see instructor
Location: TBD - see instructor
Other fall offerings:
WFC 298, Marine Science and Policy, Instructor: Nann Fangue (Sustainable Oceans course offering)
ECL 298. 2 units. R Davis. Instructor: Tyler Scott
CRN: contact instructor for permission to add
Time: Thursdays, 1:10-3:00pm
Location: Shields 360
Note: this course is restricted to GGE and EPM graduate students only. Others may add with instructor permission.
ECL 290s. Participatory seminars
290s will be listed here as they are announced.
Spring Quarter 2023
ECL 208. 4 units. Cons Biol Research. Instructor: Marissa Baskett
CRN: 39853
Time: Mondays and Wednesday 10:00 am - 11:20 am; 11:30 am - 11:50 am
Location: Wickson 2124
ECL 212B. 4 units. Environ Policy Evaluatn. Instructor: Michael Springborn
CRN: 62097
Time: Mondays an Wednesday 2:10 pm - 3:00 pm; 3:10 pm - 4:00 pm; TBA
Location: Hoagland 168
ECL 214. 3 units. Marine Ecology. Instructors: John Stachowicz and John Durand
CRN: 62967
Time: Thursdays 1:10 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: 1350 Storer
ECL 225. 4 units. Terr Field Ecology. Instructor: Richard Karban
CRN: 39856
Time: TBA
Location: Facility Assigned by Instructor
ECL 233. 3 units. Comp Methods in Pop Biol. Instructor: Marissa Baskett
CRN: 62101
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 am - 11:50 am
Location: Wickson 2124
ECL 290s. Participatory seminars
290s will be listed here as they are announced.
Analysis of Plant Function. 2 units. Instructor: Tom Buckley (tnbuckley@ucdavis.edu)
Description: The objective of this seminar is to develop familiarity with mathematical process-based models commonly used in organismal plant biology, and operational facility in using those models to understand plant functioning in a changing environment. We will derive models of various processes (e.g., photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, water relations, leaf-to-canopy scaling), and learn to interrogate and manipulate those models for general enquiry, hypothesis generation, and simulation. Most of the quarter will focus on analytical work, that is, working with equations by hand. If time permits, during the last few weeks we will learn to use numerical environments such as Excel and R as tools for exploring and simulating mathematical relationships.
Suggested topics
- Weeks 1-2. Physico-chemical processes (diffusion, advection, phase changes, thermal energy balance, chemical reaction kinetics, mechanics).
- Week 3. Transport models in plants (H2O and CO2 diffusion, water movement, heat exchange)
- Week 4. Photosynthesis (FvCB model and predecessors).
- Week 5. Coupling photosynthesis with mass and energy transport.
- Week 6. Optimization theory (leaf stomatal conductance).
- Week 7. Optimization theory (canopy nitrogen distribution; carbon partitioning).
- Weeks 8-10. Numerical explorations.
CRN: 39859
Time: Tuesday 10:00 am - Noon
Location: PES 2004
Vernal Pool Ecology. 1 unit. Instructors: Andrea Schreier (amdrauch@ucdavis.edu) and Anderson Tate (atate@ucdavis.edu) ); if you are interested in this course, please reach out to Andrea or Anderson so we can settle on a date/time by the end of winter quarter.
Description: In this course, students survey the current literature to learn about vernal pool ecology, types, functions, and current scientific techniques used to monitor and assess ephemeral pools across different landscapes. The course will be student-led and discussion-focused. Each week a student will be responsible for briefly presenting on and leading a discussion about a recent paper related to any aspect of vernal pools ecology.
CRN: 39860
Time: Wednesday 1-2pm
Location: Meyer Hall room 2219
Ecosystem Ecology, 2 credits. Instructors: Troy Magney (tmagney@ucdavis.edu) and Lily Klinek
Description: In this course, students will survey foundational and current literature in ecosystem ecology. They will develop an understanding of the physical, chemical and biological processes regulating the dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems.The course will be student-led and discussion-focused. Each week a student will be responsible for briefly presenting on and leading a discussion about a paper.
CRN: 39861
Time: Tuesday 2:10pm - 4pm
Location: Plant Reproductive Biology conference room 1111
Ecosystem services in interdisciplinary science and decision making. 1 unit. Instructors: Prof Michael Springborn (mspringborn@ucdavis.edu), Catherine Courtier (cacourtier@ucdavis.edu), and Indu Roy (inroychow@ucdavis.edu)
Description: The value of natural resources can be measured using ecosystem services, which provide a bridge between social and ecological systems, and are crucial to human well-being. Biodiversity and nature’s benefits to people underpin almost every aspect of human life whether it’s through the production of food, clean water, or regulation of climate and disease. However biodiversity is being degraded at an unprecedented rate, and as such there is a need to understand how these changes lead to changes in ecosystem services, and subsequently changes in human dimensions outcomes. This knowledge can be used to provide policy-relevant knowledge and to catalyze the implementation of knowledge-based policies at all levels in government, the private sector and society.
The goal of this seminar is to explore and exchange ideas related to current literature on ecosystem service science and practice. A second focus of this seminar is to provide a space for anyone who is interested to develop ideas for ecosystem service related projects and elaborate these into funding proposals. Potential topics of discussion include: the intersection of ecosystem services and environmental justice; quantitative and qualitative methods of evaluation; emerging topics and concepts. Each week, we will read two papers in preparation for a discussion led by seminar participants.
CRN: 39862
Time: Wednesdays 9:00-10:00 am
Location: TBA
Course Info: Doc
Aquatic-Terrestrial Interface Ecology: Managing in the Mosaic. 1 unit. Instructors: Robert Lusardi (ralusardi@ucdavis.edu), Brandi Goss (begoss@ucdavis.edu) , and Kelly Goedde-Matthews (kgoeddem@ucdavis.edu)
Description: In this course, students will consider the connectivity between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, what the implications of this connectivity are for aquatic management, and how to incorporate this connectivity into management frameworks. The course will be student-led and discussion-focused. Each week a student will be responsible for briefly presenting on and leading a discussion about a recent paper related to a progression of topics around ecosystem connectivity, land-use, and aquatic management.
CRN: 39863
Time: TBD - we will poll enrollees prior to the end of winter quarter similar to the vernal pool 290 to determine an appropriate time
Location: TBD depending on class time
Course Info: Doc
Community and Citizen Science in Conservation. 2 units. Instructors: Todd Harwell (taharwell@ucdavis.edu), Ryan Meyer (rmmeyer@ucdavis.edu), and Heidi Lyn Ballard (hballard@ucdavis.edu)
Description: This 2-unit course will involve weekly discussion and exploration of community and citizen science (CCS) approaches and applications broadly related to conservation. With an emphasis on recent academic literature, each session will focus on a different topic such as equity and justice, project design and implementation, participant and conservation benefits. Other topics will be identified and explored based on student interest, and students will also have an opportunity to develop ideas for CCS projects within their own research.
Students who complete the course will become eligible to apply for the CCS in Conservation Fellowship, offered annually by the UC Davis Center for Community and Citizen Science. Learn more.
CRN: 39864
Time: Wednesdays 1:10 to 2:40pm
Location – Conference Room, 1460 Drew Ave, Davis, CA 95618
Using Biological Collections to Assess the Ecological Impacts of Global Change. 1 unit. Instructors: Emily Meineke (emeineke@ucdavis.edu) and Zoe Wood (zmwood@ucdavis.edu)
Description: Natural history collections and museum specimens are vast repositories of biodiversity data that encompass a considerable amount of ecological power. As a group, we will examine novel approaches and contemporary studies that incorporate the use of natural history collections, physical and/or digitized museum specimens, and biodiversity data. Topics may include but are not limited to phenology and addressing biases, functional traits, using museum specimens to estimate populations and abundance, species interactions, community science, the use of computer vision and AI, and the extended specimen. This will be primarily an in-person, paper discussion-based seminar, with a museum visit component.
CRN: 39865
Time: Tuesdays 1-3pm; this 1-unit seminar will meet for 2 hours each week for Weeks 1-5 with no meetings during Weeks 6-10.
Location: TBD; interested students please email Zoe Wood (zmwood@ucdavis.edu) so we can arrange
a course meeting time.
Course info: Doc
Recent advancements in Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management. 1 unit. Instructors: Mikaela Provost (mmprovost@ucdavis.edu); Marissa Baskett; James Sanchirico; Jack Buckner (jhbuckner@ucdavis.edu); Sophia Simon (sosimon@ucdavis.edu)
Description: Ecosystem based fisheries management (EBFM) has been increasingly implemented over the past several decades but has also faced ongoing challenges in realizing the goals of accounting for the many complexities of marine systems in fisheries decision-making. Broadly, EBFM includes four basic topics: (1) species interactions, (2) environmental variability, (3) human dimensions, and (4) uncertainty and adaptive management. In this course, students will lead discussions on recent developments in each of these topics, followed by a synthesis at the end of the course. We aim to understand how fisheries management can move from single-species to EBFM (i.e., which components are most important, and when), and ask if (or what type of) EBFM is achievable.
CRN: 63090
Time: Fridays 1:40-3:00pm
Location: Wickson 2120B
Course info: Doc
Winter Quarter 2023
ECL 200BN. 5 units. Principles of Ecology. Instructor: Marcel Holyoak
Time: Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00-11:50am
Section A01: Wednesdays, 12:10-1pm; CRN 20984
Section A02: Wednesdays, 1:10-2pm; CRN 20985
Section A03: Wednesdays, 3:10-4pm; CRN 20986
Location: Olson 105 (MW lecture); Wickson 2120B (Wednesday discussions)
Note: this course is restricted to graduate students only.
ECL 231. 3 units. Math Method Pop Bio. Instructor: Sebastian Schreiber.
CRN: 20990
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30-11:50am
Location: Giedt 1006
Note: cross-listed with PBG 231
ECL 243. 4 units. Ecological Genomics. Instructors: Andrew Whitehead and Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra.
CRN: 20991
Time: Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:40-5pm
Location: Storer 1344
ECL 271. 1 unit. Ecology Research. Instructor: Jennifer Funk.
CRN: 45377
Time: Thursdays from 3:10-4pm
Location: PES 2005
Note: cross-listed with PBG 271
ECL 296. 1 unit. E&E Seminar Series. Instructor: Jennifer Funk.
CRN: 21004
Time: Thursdays from 4:10-5:30pm
Location: Wellman 126
Note: cross-listed with PBG 292
ECL 290s. Participatory seminars
290s will be listed here as they are announced.
Topics in Host-Microbial Ecology. 1 unit. Instructors: Prof. Anya Brown (anybrown@ucdavis.edu), Shelby Penn (spenn@ucdavis.edu), and Karolina Zabinksi (clzabinski@ucdavis.edu)
Description: a seminar on microbial ecology, focused on host-microbial systems. The seminar will be discussion focused, and we will discuss papers surrounding hosts and their microbiome. The goals of the course will be to gain an appreciation for methods, ideas, and concepts in host-microbial systems. Discussion leaders will choose one (or more) papers and lead discussions on the topic.
CRN: 20995
Time: Thursdays 1:40 pm - 3:00 pm
Location: 1347 Storer Hall / Zoom; please contact the instructors if you have any questions
Principles and Methods of Phylogenetic Systematics. 2 units. Instructors: Prof. Daniel Potter (dpotter@ucdavis.edu), Reed Kenny (rjkenny@ucdavis.edu), Will McMahan (wtmcmahan@ucdavis.edu)
Description: In this course we will explore current topics in the principles and methods of phylogenetics in a participatory seminar format. The goal is to give students a good grounding in the most current methodologies in phylogenetics as well as the core principles upon which these are based. Each week, 1-2 students will lead a discussion of a specific topic, focusing on a particular method and/or concept. For each meeting, assigned readings will include at least one review paper or book chapter providing background and introductory information plus at least one recent paper demonstrating empirical applications of the concept or method.
CRN: 20996
Time: Mondays 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Location: 3053 Wickson
Course info: Doc
Science Translation and Boundary Spanning in Ecology. 1 unit. Instructors: Prof. Hugh Safford (hdsafford@ucdavis.edu) and Saba Saberi (sjsaberi@ucdavis.edu)
This seminar will explore the role of boundary spanners in developing and delivering translational ecology. The 10 seminar meetings will be evenly split between guest speakers from important boundary-spanning organizations located in central California (e.g., Point Blue Conservation Science, USDA Climate Hub, UC Cooperative Extension, California Fire Science Consortium, US Forest Service Region 5 Ecology Program) and presentations by seminar participants.
CRN: 20997
Time: Thursdays 2:10 - 3:00 pm
Location: Wickson 2120B
Wetland Ecology and Management. 1 unit. Instructors: Dr. John Durand (jrdurand@ucdavis.edu) and John Veon (jtveon@ucdavis.edu)
This course will cover longstanding ecological theory in wetlands and how those theories play an important role in current wetland management techniques. The goal of this course is for students to gain a better understanding of wetland systems, how they function, and how function can be/is manipulated by agencies to better conserve wetlands. This course will be discussion focused. Each week, a student(s) will choose one or more papers that tie ecological theory to applied management practices within wetlands and lead a discussion on that topic.
CRN: 20998
Time: Tuesday, 3:10 - 4:00 pm
Location: Center for Watershed Sciences 1105F
Fall Quarter 2022
ECL 200AN. 5 units. Principles of Ecology. Instructor: Fernanda Valdovinos
Time: Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00-11:50am
Section A01: Thursdays, 10:00-10:50am; CRN 29634
Section A02: Thursdays, 11:00-11:50am; CRN 29635
Section A03: Thursdays, 12:10-1:00pm; CRN 29636
Location: Wellman 115 (MW lecture); Wickson 2120B (Thursday discussions)
Note: this course is restricted to graduate students only.
ECL 245. Climate Change & Water. Instructors: Erwan Monier and Mark Lubell.
CRN: 29639
Time: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30am-1:00pm
Location: Hoagland 124
Note: cross-listed with HYD 245 and ATM 245
ECL 296. 1 unit. E&E Seminar Series. Instructor Jennifer Funk
CRN: 29714
Time: Thursdays at 4:10-5:30pm.
Location: Hunt 100
Speaker schedule: TBD
Note: cross-listed with PBG 292
ECL 298. 2 units. R Davis. Instructor: Tyler Scott
CRN: contact instructor for permission to add
Time: Thursdays, 1:10-3:00pm
Location: Shields 360
Note: this course is restricted to GGE and EPM graduate students only. Others may add with instructor permission.
ECL 298. 2 units. Casual Chain. Instructor: James Sanchirico
CRN: 29724
Time: Thursdays, 1:10-3:00pm
Location: Wickson 2120B
ECL 298. 3 units. Bayesian Models: A Statistical Primer. Instructor: Xiaoli Dong
CRN: 29725
Time: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:30-11:50am
Location: Wickson 2120J
ECL 298. 1 unit. NSF GRFP Grant Writing. Instructor: Steve Sadro
CRN: contact instructor
Time: meet once a week for two hours over five weeks, starting Sept. 12
Location: contact instructor
Note: Interested students must sign up on the google sheet if you plan to take the course.
ECL 298. 3 units. Environmental Data Science. Instructor: Troy Magney
CRN: 29727
Time: Mondays & Wednesdays, 2:10-4pm
Location: Hoagland 108
ECL 290s. Participatory seminars
290s will be listed here as they are announced.
Biology and Ecology of Plant Reproduction. 1 unit. Instructors: Susan Harrison and Rachel Vannette, with Gillian Bergmann.
Description: The ability to reproduce is an ultimate fitness measure of all organisms, and reproductive strategies are a product of sexual selection, the abiotic environment, energetic tradeoffs and species interactions. Plants have evolved an array of said strategies, both sexual and asexual, that have impacted plant dispersal mechanisms, disturbance responses, and co-evolution with symbiotic animals and microbes. This course will examine the different strategies plants use to reproduce, their evolution, how they interact with other organisms and their ultimate consequences for ecological communities. Emphasis will be placed on seed plants, particularly angiosperms, and discussions will be framed within the contexts of symbioses and global change.
CRN: 29642
Time: Mondays, 2:10-3pm
Location: Wickson 2120B
Revolutionary Organizing for Climate Solution Implementation. 2 units. Instructor: Anthony Wexler.
Description: Due to the California drought, 500,000 acres of land to the west of Fresno are likely to lose their water rights and be fallowed. Placing 200,000 acres of solar farm on this land would reduce dust emissions and generate enough power to eliminate all fossil fuel combustion used for making electricity in the state. In this ECL 290 class, students will learn to advocate from the position that climate science is real, that the unprecedented disasters taking place around us cannot be allowed to worsen, and that those who choose to can personally step up to implement transformative new solutions in response. Students will research and conduct direct outreach to build support in targeted legislative districts for the historic California Solar Farm Green Bond bill. Students will learn how to carry out direct outreach to focus on (a) the Senate and Assembly districts of the chairs and leaders of the leading environmental committees in the state legislature, (b) key local constituent groups in these districts to solicit comments and enlist their support, and (c) state wide organizations and industry groups such as the solar industry and agriculture trade groups.
CRN: 29643
Time: Wednesdays, 2:10-4pm
Location: Wellman 205
Animal Space Use and Movement Ecology. 1 unit. Instructors: Danny Karp and Justine Smith, with Cody Pham and Gabe Reyes.
Description: Analyses of animal space use and movement focus on elucidating how organisms move in response to environmental conditions. The goals of this graduate seminar are to 1) familiarize participants with many of the tools necessary to conduct movement analyses in R and 2) help participants develop a sense of the diverse applications of movement analyses. The course will follow a flipped-classroom structure. Before each meeting, participants will complete R tutorials (either in groups or alone) that include theoretical background on the analysis, worked examples, and some independent analyses. Class meetings will focus both on troubleshooting problems encountered whilst executing tutorial and on discussing potential applications each type of analysis. To facilitate discussion, 1-2 participant(s) will present and lead a discussion on an application of the analyses highlighted in the corresponding tutorial for the week.
CRN: 29644
Time: Wednesdays, 2:10-3pm
Location: Academic Surge 1064
Urban Ecology: Plants and Animals. 1 unit. Instructor: Matthew Gilbert, with Sage Madden and Mickie Tang.
Description: Urbanization is a critical and growing source of environmental change. This seminar will review current literature related to the ecology of urban plants and animals, including cities as social-ecological systems, responses of plants and animals to the built environment, and species interactions in cities. Each week, we will read two papers in preparation for a discussion led by seminar participants.
CRN: 29645
Time: Tuesdays, 2:10-3pm
Location: PES 2004
Scientific Filmmaking Through Short Films. 1 unit. Instructor: Eric Sanford.
Description: This graduate seminar will address how to communicate research to a general audience through the production of accessible and engaging short films. We will meet once per week during Fall Quarter. Our discussions will focus on (1) science communication and storytelling, (2) the elements of an interesting and accessible scientific film, (3) basic filmmaking techniques, (4) how to conduct interviews, and (5) and film editing using iMovie. Each participant will produce a short film (~3 minutes), incorporating feedback and critiques from the group. Filmmaker Grant Thompson will be collaborating on course instruction and will provide his professional perspective and insights. We will premiere our final films at two public film festivals, one in Bodega Bay and one in Davis, at the end of the quarter, and these videos will subsequently be shared with the general public via UC Davis websites.
CRN: 29646
Time: TBD - see instructor
Location: TBD - see instructor
Other fall offerings:
WFC 298, Marine Science and Policy, Instructor: Nann Fangue (Sustainable Oceans course offering)