Biology: Ecological Parasitology

Exploration of advanced topics in General Biology. May be repeated for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: BCOR 2100, BCOR 2300, or BCOR 2500.

Prereqs enforced by the system: BCOR 2100, BCOR 2300, or BCOR 2500; Alternate prereq: NR 2030, email instructor for override. Junior or Senior standing only PACE students by permission and override

In this course we will venture across all kingdoms of life and all continents on Earth to take a closer look at the lives of parasites. Although remarkably diverse, abundant, and widespread, parasites are vastly understudied. We will cover parasite diversity including prions, viruses, bacteria, protozoan parasites, and multicellular parasites of humans, wildlife, domestic animals, and plants. We will investigate the parasite’s way of life, host defense and parasite evasion, pathology and disease, the ecology and evolution of parasites as well as their effects on host populations, species, and communities. As parasites are a rising concern for global human public health and conservation alike, we will also focus on current parasites wreaking havoc on humans, animals, and plants, as well as the shifts in host-parasite dynamics that lead to the emergence of infectious diseases and the ongoing challenges of parasite control.

This course requires weekly readings including selected articles from the scientific literature, life cycle drawings, as well as textbook readings.

Attendance, class discussions, write-ups on readings, life cycle assignments, and an end of semester oral presentation on a parasite of your choice.