BIOL 342 - Chemical Ecology

FC NSMA

4 credits
Why do some flowers smell sweet, and others stink? All organisms dispense and receive molecules resulting in a complex web of cryptic communication. Communications can be as simple as marking territorial boundaries, or as complex as negotiating resource exchanges between species. From mutualism to antagonism, this course will utilize primary literature, laboratory, and field experiences to examine the chemical basis of interactions among organisms within an evolutionary framework. An affinity for chemistry is not required; rather an appreciation for the chemistry that mediates ecological interactions is something we will work toward as a class. Field trip(s) required.

Prerequisites: BIOL 200.