Courses

 

 

Contact Info:

e: murenc_at_cofc.edu
ph: 843.953.8077
Office: SCIC 216C
Office Hours: by appt.

 

Other Courses Taught

General Ecology (BIO 341)
Biometry (BIO 611, cross listed as EVSS 624)
Case Studies in Environmental Studies

General Ecology (BIOL341)

Course Overview: Ecology most simply can be defined as “the study of the abundance and distribution of organisms”. In this course, we will explore the biological and physical aspects that contribute to an organism’s ecology. We will examine ecology at different scales including population, community, landscape, and ecosystem’s ecology. We will critically examine models and theory to build a framework for how ecologists ask and answer questions; build and test hypotheses. We will be exploring a range of topics, examining theoretical foundations and current controversies in ecology, and exploring examples from plants, animals, bacteria etc. In lecture, I will provide a framework of important principles and highlight both classic and current examples from the primary literature. The text is meant as an important and vital component of the course for which you are responsible. We will gain an understanding of ecological theory, and gain familiarity with experimental techniques, applied ecology, and primary literature. Each week will be a different topic, although you will notice as time passes, that many topics are inter-related.

Ecology, however, is not environmentalism. Environmental policy is grounded on sound ecological investigations. In this course, we will focus on ecology and the collection of ecological data through planned experiments, analyses and interpretation. For those of you interested in a variety of careers in biology, as the semester progresses, you will become aware of how an understanding how organisms respond to and interact with their environment is related to physiology, genetics, medicine, evolution etc.

The goals of this semester are for you to gain an understanding of the main aspects of how ecologists do their work, how different aspects of the study of ecology are inter-related, develop critical thinking and writing skills as they apply to ecology, and build a theoretical framework of general ecology.

Biometry (BIO 611, EVSS 624)

Biometry and Biometry Lab (Marine Biology Master’s core course, also EVSS 624): Biology 611, cross listed as EVSS 624

Course Overview: Biometry is the study of statistics in the framework of biology. In this course we  rigorously investigate biological statistics. We investigate descriptive statistics, parametric and non-parametric statistical hypothesis tests. We will examine common experimental designs, and you will become very familiar with data formatting and display. We will gain hands on experience with methods using the SAS system.

Case Studies in Environmental Studies

Masters of Environmental Studies required course

In Spring 2005 we explored:
Invasiveness of Beach Vitex (Vitex rotundifolia
) in South Carolina

Case Study II will examine the ecology and conservation concerns of beach vitex in South Carolina. Beach vitex was first introduced in 1991 in the nursery trade, and has rapidly expanded its range in North and South Carolina. The native range of beach vitex includes the Korean peninsula, Japan, and Hawaii. Other species in this genus are of conservation concern and considered invasive throughout the southeastern and southwestern United States. Beach vitex has been implicated in increasing beach erosion, sea turtle death, and out-competing other native taxa. The purpose of this case study is to examine the current biological knowledge of beach vitex, gather ecological data in the field that will influence the regulation of this species, and assess if further restoration and removal actions need to be instated to minimize the spread of this species. Since President Bill Clinton’s Executive Order dated February 3, 1999, headway has been made in the assessment and impact of invasive species at the federal level. However, the largest obstacle is the lack of ecological data on invasive species. Both a group report and management plan for Vitex rotundifolia was completed, as well as individual writing assignments.