Current Teaching (2020/2021)

Animal Behaviour (BIOL 3802):

Advanced study of animal behaviour including the environmental, genetic, and neural influences on behaviour. Topics such as predator-prey interactions, mating behaviour, migration, parental care and social interactions are interpreted in an evolutionary context.

Research Proposal (BIOL 3901):

Contact me if you are interested in joining my lab for an honours thesis. You may want to write a research proposal (for credit) in your third year. When contacting me, please include a description of the topic you would like to research along with a copy of your Audit.

Advanced Animal Behaviour (BIOL 4802):

Contemporary issues in behavioural ecology. Issues could include the relevance of behavioural ecology to conservation biology, to new insights into human social behaviour, and will be selected through consultation between professor and students.

Directed Special Studies (BIOL 4901):

Contact me if you wish to conduct a BIOL 4901 in animal behaviour, behavioral ecology nutritional ecology, behavioural physiology, or evolution. Previous students have written a review paper, conducted a meta-analysis, or completed a research project. When contacting me, please include a description of the topic you would like to research along with a copy of your Audit.

Honours Research Thesis (BIOL 4908):

I accept several honours students each year. Honours students conduct independent research, write a thesis, and present a poster. Some also re-work their thesis for publication. Contact me if your research interests lie in behaviour, nutritional ecology, or evolutionary biology and you want to work hard for an intense research experience. Please include a description of what you want to research, a copy of your Audit, and why you would be a good fit for my lab. Positions fill up very fast. Therefore, contact me early (June – December) if you are interested in conducting a 4908 starting in September the following year.

Advanced Behavioural Ecology (BIOL 5802):

Recent ideas and research on advanced topics dealing with the evolution of foraging, temporal, spatial, and reproductive strategies are discussed and critically examined.

Past Courses Taught

Introductory Biology II (BIOL 1004):

A lecture and laboratory course focusing on organisms and populations. The course emphasizes diversity of life forms, evolution and ecology. This course is for students who are not enrolled in B.Sc Honours programs in Biological Sciences.

Foundations of Biology II (BIOL 1104):

A lecture and laboratory course focusing on organisms and populations. A specialist course emphasizing diversity of life forms, evolution and ecology. This course is for students who are enrolled in B.Sc Honours programs in Biological Sciences.

Evolutionary Concepts (BIOL 3609):

Evolution is the change in population properties across generations. Concepts such as the origins of genetic variation, mutation, selection, drift, gene flow, evolution of genes and genomes, speciation, biodiversity, the fossil record, phylogeny, macroevolution, and human evolution will be covered. This course is appropriate for all biology students, whether they have a molecular/cellular or an ecological/evolutionary focus.