51 - 60 of 69 results for: BIOHOPK

Introduction to frameworks and approaches to synthesizing large data sets, including meta-analysis and permutational multivariate analysis of variance. Hands-on data analysis sessions. May be repeated for credit.

Measurement plays a fundamental role in science, but many biologists have no formal training in what it means to measure something. Errors are inevitable in any measurement. Which are inherent, and which can be controlled? How do errors propagate? How can you decide which data to reject? When are uncertainties normal? In this course we will work our way into the theory of measurement, covering some topics that overlap with inferential statistics (but from a new and perhaps more intuitive perspective), and extending beyond those basics to include spectral analysis and the dangers of measurement in the digital realm.

(Graduate students register for 277H.) Course examines the ecological factors and processes that control natural and harvested marine populations. Course emphasizes mathematical models as tools to assess the dynamics of populations and to derive projections of their demographic fate under different management scenarios. Course objectives will be met by a combination of theoretical lectures, assigned readings and class discussions, case study analysis and interactive computer sessions.

(Graduate students register for 279H.) The ocean is home to the largest animals of all-time. How, when, and why did gigantism evolve in different taxa? What are the consequences of large body size? This course will focus on how biological processes scale with body size, with an emphasis on oceanic megafauna including marine mammals, birds, fishes, and reptiles. In particular, the course will explore the functional mechanisms that generate the scaling relationships for physiological and ecological traits, such as metabolism, ecosystem function and body size evolution. Students will also be introduced to state-of-the-art technologies used to student marine megafauna in some of the most logistically challenging habitats on earth.

The course will introduce graduate students in the natural and social sciences to ocean policy and governance in the US at national, regional, state, and local levels. Together with leaders in ocean science and policy, students will examine pressing issues in ocean sustainability from natural science, social science, and legal and policy perspectives, with an emphasis on the role of science in the policy and governance processes. Students will learn and apply practical skills in communication, leadership and interdisciplinary problem-solving through participation in a group project, interactive discussions and simulations, and field trips. Prerequisite: consent of instructor and by application due in winter.

(Graduate students register for 280H.) Introduction to environmental physics. The physical properties of life's fluids compared and contrasted. How and why life has evolved differently on land than in water. Topics: density, viscosity, diffusion, thermal properties, sound, light, evaporation, and surface tension. Recommended: PHYSICS 21, 23, or 51, 53; calculus; Biology core; or consent of instructor

(Graduate students register for 281H.) Global change is leading to significant alterations in several environmental factors, including temperature, ocean acidity and oxygen availability. This course focuses on: (i) how these environmental changes lead to physiological stress and (ii) how, and to what extent, are organisms able to adapt through short-term acclimatization and evolutionary adaptation to cope with these stresses. A major focus of the class is to link changes in species' distribution patterns with underlying physiological mechanics that establish environmental optima and tolerance limits.

(Graduate students register for 284H.) For majors and non-majors. Complexity in natural systems is examined from complementary points of view, including scientific, historical, philosophical and literary. Lectures and discussions will focus on the writings of Ed Ricketts and John Steinbeck, poetry of Robinson Jeffers and on historical and contemporary works concerning marine and fresh-water systems, resource management and climate change. A group project with individual contributions will be carried out and presented at a symposium. This course will involve a significant amount of creative writing, and it satisfies the Writing in Major requirement for Biology. It is open to all majors and classes. Only 6 units may count towards the Biology major.

(Graduate students register for 285H.) Five week course. Daily lectures, labs, and scuba dives focused on kelp forest biology. Topics include identification and natural history of resident organisms, ecological processes that maintain biodiversity and community organization, field methods, data analysis, and research diving techniques. Class projects contribute to ongoing studies associated with Hopkins Marine Life Observatory. It is recommended that students complete one of Stanford's Scientific Diver Training sessions, offered during spring break and the week before the course starts, although this is not a requirement. Prerequisites: consent of instructor; advanced scuba certification and scuba equipment.