University of Oregon

Spring Term

April 1 – June 14, 2024

BI 211, 212, and 213 (or equivalent) are prerequisites for all courses. 

BI 457/557 Marine Biology: Seaweed Biology (5 quarter hour credits) This class is an overview of seaweed diversity, evolution, biology and ecology. Students will become familiar with the diversity of seaweeds in Oregon and learn to identify and prepare seaweed herbarium specimens. Fields trips to local intertidal and boat marine/dock sites for collection, surveys, and observation will emphasize community structure and interactions. Assignments include field studies, student projects, seaweed anatomical and taxonomic studies, individual and group research. Meets Mondays 8:30 – 5:00. Instructor: Nancy Treneman.

BI 451/551 Invertebrate Zoology (8 quarter hour credits)
Introduction to the diversity of marine invertebrates. What they look like, how they work, where they live, and their natural history and behavior. Lectures will introduce organisms, explain their form and function, and include current views of evolutionary origins and phylogenetic relationships. Field trips will explore animals in their natural habitats and laboratory sessions will allow careful study of living invertebrates, emphasizing form and function. Meets Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30-5:00. Instructors: Richard Emlet and  Maya Watts

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BI 457/557 Marine Biology: Comparative Embryology and Larval Biology (5 quarter hour credits)
A comparative survey of embryonic development and larval forms across marine invertebrate phyla, including but not limited to: Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Mollusca, Nemertea, Phoronida, Echinodermata, Bryozoa and Chordata (Tunicates). Students explore the rich and colorful diversity of marine embryos and larvae by culturing dozens of representative species in the laboratory. Field trips will be dedicated to collecting live material for use in class. This course is a great opportunity to improve microscopy, observation and scientific illustration skills. Course limited to 12 students. Meets Wednesdays days 8:30 – 5:00pm. Instructor: Svetlana Maslakova

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BI 474/574 Marine Ecology (5 quarter hour credits)
Marine Ecology is an interdisciplinary field covering the interaction of organisms with each other and their environment. In this course, we approach the discipline by focusing on the strengths of our program’s unfettered access to the flora and fauna of the local shore, emphasizing concepts and practice of rocky intertidal community ecology. Each week, we will be in the field, getting wet, making observations, and learning how to link these observations to developing and testing hypotheses that connect to fundamental ecological theory. Meets Fridays 8:30 – 5:00pm. Instructor: Aaron Galloway.

BI 390 Animal Behavior (4 quarter hour credits)  How and why animals behave, and how animal behavior is studied. Mechanisms of behavior, behavioral ecology, and sociobiology. This is an asynchronous course/WEB course. Instructor: Alan Shanks

BI 401 Undergraduate Research (2-10 quarter hour credits) Students conduct a research project under the direction of an OIMB faculty member. Email the person with whom you wish to work to arrange for registration. Limit 8 students.


All students registering for OIMB courses should fill out an application of admission (see application form link above right) and, if needed, request room and board by email at oimb@uoregon.edu.