BIO 464 - Biology of Species Invasions (3)

This course covers the biological foundations for the increasingly serious threat of invasive species to native ecosystems and to human economies and health. Invasive species are organisms introduced to new areas beyond their native ranges, with detrimental effects on native species. Students will be introduced to invasive species from a biological and historical context, with emphasis on mechanisms of dispersal and colonization, impacts of invasive species in different habitats, attempts to prevent invasions or to eradicate invasive species, economic damage caused by invasive species, and the implications of invasive species to biosafety and national security. At the end of the course, students will be better prepared to understand the consequences of biological invasions and to critically evaluate the impacts that those species have in our region and globally.

Prerequisite(s): BIO 115/115A/115L or the series of BIO 121/121L, BIO 122/122L, and BIO 123/123L. BIO 325/325L recommended but not required.
Faculty: Valdes.