Teaching
Marine Biology (FISH/OCEAN 250, Autumn)
http://fish.washington.edu/classes/fish250/
Lecture-laboratory course in marine biology focusing on physical, biological, and social aspects of the marine environment. Topics include oceanography, ecology, physiology, behavior, conservation, fisheries, exploration, and activism. Evening marine biology movies and weekend field trip. Honors section research project.
The Big Deal about Little Things: Ecology and Evolution of Microbes (HAS 221, Winter)
http://faculty.washington.edu/mchd/HAS221/HAS221.shtml
Microbes are the oldest, most abundant and diverse group of organisms on Earth. In this course students will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of ecology and evolution by exploring the role of microbes in disease, ecosystem functioning and extreme environments.
We will begin with an introduction to the incredible diversity of microbes and methods used to study these communities of tiny organisms. The rest of the quarter will be comprised of three units: 1) Microbes and disease: We will explore the current understanding of the role that microbial species and communities play in diseases of humans, plants and animals. 2) Microbes and ecosystems: Next, we will explore the role that microbes play in the functioning of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. We will then examine the impact that anthropogenic changes, such as invasive species and climate change, have on microbial community structure and function. 3) Early evolution and microbes at the extremes: We will investigate the ability of microorganisms to live in extreme environments such as deep sea vents, geothermal hotsprings, Antarctic ice and possibly on other planets as well as what insights we can gain about early evolution.
Diversity, Ecosystem Services and the Millennium Assessment (FISH 513)
http://faculty.washington.edu/mchd/FISH513/index.shtml
The purpose of this course is to examine the relationships among diversity, community composition and ecosystem function and how changes in ecosystem services can affect human well-being. Using the primary literature, this course will examine the different approaches used to untangle these relationships and the implications for managing ecosystem services. We will focus on (1) definitions of diversity (genetic, species, functional groups), (2) various functional aspects of ecological systems (e.g., variability, stability, productivity, invasibility, and biogeochemical processes), and (3) the provision and valuation of ecosystem services. We will tie these ideas together by examining the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and its potential to guide management and future research in the context of human development and sustainability goals.