BIOLOGY 2060: INTRODUCTORY ECOLOGY

Introduction
Ecology is the study of the interrelationships of organisms and their environments. The broad subject of ecology focuses upon the interactions of plants and animals, including humans, with each other and with their non-living world. Three levels of ecology are studied: (1) Individuals, (2) Populations, (3) Communities and Ecosystems. Assignments and tutorials enlarge upon concepts presented in lectures. Students are instructed in elementary computer techniques and use the computer for most assignments. This class provides an overview of the science of ecology for the informed citizen, and also a good foundation for further work in ecology, marine biology and environmental studies.

Boris teaches the second half of this 2nd year class (Part II: Communities and Ecosystems) annually in the Winter Term

BIOLOGY 3065: CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

Introduction
This class offers an introduction to conservation biology, the science of understanding and conserving biodiversity on Earth. Scientists recognize that humans are affecting biodiversity, and that the consequences are deleterious to species, ecosystems, and ultimately our society. This class has two goals: (1) to learn how patterns and changes in biodiversity are quantified and tracked over time and space, and (2) to learn about methods and tools used to prevent the extinction of species and the disruption of habitats and ecosystems. Examples will come from terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Tutorials involve student presentations on key papers in conservation biology as well as a written essay. Both ecological principles and the management implications of conservation biology will be discussed in detail.

This is Boris' core class, it is a 3rd - 4th year course and is taught annually in the Winter Term.

STANFORD@SEA 2007 and 2009: GUEST PROFESSOR

Boris helped teach this Stanford University marine biology and oceanography class aboard the sailing research vessel SSV Robert C. Seamans in 2007 and 2009.

2005-2006 - Joshua Brading
Title: 'Behavioral and environmental conditions associated with shark attacks on humans' - Download thesis

2005-2006 - Daniel Boyce
Title: 'Effects of water temperature on the global distribution of tuna and billfish' - Download thesis

2007-2008 - Rachel Chudnow
Title: 'Are jellyfish populations increasing worldwide (and why)?' - Download thesis

2011-2012 - Lisa Kettemer
Title: 'Global Estimate of Shark Mortality Induced by Longline Fisheries' - Download thesis

2011-2012 - Sonia Jind
Title: 'A comparison of two underwater visual sampling techniques used to estimate tropical reef fish communities' - Download thesis

2003-2007 - Anneli Ehlers, (Ph.D., Kiel University)
Title: 'The role of genotype diversity within seagrass populations of the Baltic Sea'. Graduated in July 2007.

2003-2008 - Nicole Langhanki, (Ph.D., Kiel University)
Title: 'The impact of grazer diversity on recruitment processes'. To graduate in December 2008.

2004-2007 - Derek Tittensor, (Ph.D., Dalhousie University)
Title: 'Macroecology of exploited marine systems: human impacts and the effects of scale'. Graduated in November 2007. This thesis won the 2008 Dalhousie University Doctoral Thesis Award in the Natural and Medical Sciences and Engineering

2004-2009 - Coilin Minto, (Ph.D., Dalhousie University)
Title: Variance and measurement error in fisheries ecology: a meta-analytical approach.

2005-2009 - Stephanie Boudreau, (Ph.D., Dalhousie University)
Title: 'Explaining variation in American lobster (Homarus americanus) distribution and abundance'.

2007-2009 - Daniel Ricard, (Ph.D., Dalhousie University)
Title: 'Evaluation of the population consequences of large-scale fisheries closures'.

2008-2009 - Aurelie Cosandey-Godin, (Master of Marine Management, Dalhousie University)
Title: 'Keeping the lead: How to strenghthen shark conservation and management policies in Canada'.

2010-2011 - Brendal Davis, (Master of Marine Management, Dalhousie University)
Title: 'The International Plan of Action for Sharks: How does national implementation measure up?'.

2011-2012 - Hilary Goodwin, (Master of Marine Management, Dalhousie University)
Title: 'Skate and Ray Management in the Northwest Atlantic: An overview of current management and recommendations for conservation'.

2007-2013 - Daniel Boyce, (Ph.D., Dalhousie University)
Title: 'Trophic impacts of large predatory fish declines in open ocean ecosystems'.

2012-2014 - Greg Britten, (M.Sc., Dalhousie University)
Title: 'Time-varying population dynamics of marine fish stocks'.

2010-2015 - Aurelie Cosandey-Godin, (Ph.D., Dalhousie University)
Title: 'Elasmobranch bycatch in the Canadian Atlantic: Composition, biogeography, and mitigation'.

2008 - Co-supervising Rowan Trebilco, a visiting Rhodes Scholar and M.Sc. student from Oxford University, GB.

2006 - Graduate Module 'Marine Conservation', Dalhousie University

2007 - Graduate Module 'Fisheries Management', Dalhousie University

Since 2007 - Monthly graduate student discussion meetings (with H. Lotze, Biology Department, and J. Mills-Flemming, C. Field, both Department of Mathematics and Statistics)

Since 2007 - Distributed Graduated Seminar 'Finding common ground in fisheries and conservation' (with R. Hilborn, University of Washington)