Summer Courses 2009

KBS summer classes emphasize hands-on field experience. 

Appropriate clothing and footgear is highly recommended.  Classes generally meet eight hours per day (9:00 am to 5:00 pm) unless specified otherwise.

FAQs about summer classes at KBS

If you have problems registering for a class, please email KBSsummer@kbs.msu.edu.

Organisms and Populations
BS 110, Sec. 411

July 7th to August 20th
Evenings 6-9pm, MTuWTh

Biological diversity and organismal biology. Principles of evolution, population biology, and community structure. 
4 credits.

Not open to students with credit in LBS 144 or LBS 148H.

High School Students: Want to get a head start on your college education?
Contact the GATE program about dual enrollment to take this class!

Biological Modeling of Soil-Plant Processes
CSS 491, Sec. 431

May 18th to May 29th, MWTh
Dr. Bruno Basso, University of Basilicata

This course provides an overview of managed ecosystems and environmental dynamics from he perspective of both the underlying basic mechanisms and mathematical models. Students will be exposed to a program used to model continuous crop, soil, water, and nutrient conditions under different management strategies, as well as spatial applications of simulation models.

2 credits. Enrollment by permission.

Plant Systematics
PLB 418 Section 431

May 19th to June 18th, TuTh 8:30am to 5pm
Dr. Todd Barkman - Western Michigan University 

A field-oriented systematics course, emphasizing native flora identification and classification.  Each day starts with a one and one-half hour lecture on systematics and plant family characteristics.  The remainder of the day is spent in the field. Identifying habitats and the factors controlling plant distribution, understanding biodiversity and human effects and skill-building for continuing new species identification are emphasized. 
3 credits.

Prerequisite: PLB 105 or BS 110, LBS 144 or LBS 148H or approval of instructor.

Environmental Microbiology
MMG 490, section 431 (Special Topics)

May 26th -- June 13th, MWF 9am - 5pm
Dr. Terry Marsh, MSU

Microorganisms are at the heart of biological activities in the environment. Environmental microbiology addresses issues such as soil fertility, water purity and quality, and food supply safety. Many environmental problems facing society are microbiological ones, or ones for which microbiological solutions may be found.
3 Credits.

Prerequisite: MMG 301, MMG 302, or permission of instructor.

Microbial Metagenomics
MMG 490/MMG 890 Section 432 (Special Topics)
Drs. Thomas Schmidt and Jay Lennon, MSU

June 15th -- June 27th MTuWThFSat 9am - 5pm

Students in this course will use a suite of culture-independent molecular methods to explore the structure and dynamics of microbial communities. Experiments will be conducted to test hypotheses about the relationship between microbial communities in soils and the flux of greenhouse gases at the KBS LTER.
3 Credits.

Admission to this class is by application only; email summersession@kbs.msu.edu for details.

Biomonitoring of Streams and Rivers
ENT 469 Section 401

June 15th -- June 26th, MTuWThF 9am-5pm
Drs. Rich Merritt and Mike Kaufmann, MSU

This two-week intensive course will provide students with a practical knowledge of current techniques used in biomonitoring of streams and rivers. Emphasis will be placed on the assessment of taxonomic groups of benthic organisms, particularly macroinvertebrates.

Techniques in the assessment of stream physiochemical parameters, detritus processing, as well as fish, algal and microbial communities will be also presented.
3 credits.

More info

Field Aquatic Ecology
ZOL 890/PLB 802, Section 431 (Special Topics)

June 1st -- June 12th, MWF 8am-5pm
Dr. Elena Litchman, MSU

This is a new intensive course for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. The course will include general methods in aquatic ecology and limnology and will focus on the potential effects of global change on aquatic ecosystems. Students will learn both classical and novel, cutting-edge research approaches to field aquatic ecology. The class will consist of lectures, sampling trips to diverse aquatic ecosystems and lab exercises.

3 credits.

Michigan Birds
ZOL 361, Section 431

June 1st -- June 19th, MWF 8am to 5pm
Dr. Chris Rogers - Wichita State University 

This field-oriented introduction to the Class Aves takes advantage of diverse southern Michigan habitats, with field trips supported by extensive readings in the ornithological literature.

Students gain valuable experience with standard field survey procedures, including a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Breeding Bird Survey, introduction to bird banding/morphological measurement, and determination of population productivity in a near-threatened Neotropical migrant, the Cerulean Warbler. An overnight field trip to a National Forest features birds in a large, unfragmented forest ecosystem.

4 credits.

Prereq:  BS 110 or LBS 144 or LBS 148H or approval of the instructor.  Not open to students with credit for ZOL 360.

Ecology and Ecology Lab
ZOL/PLB 355 & 355L Sections 431

July 7th to August 14th, TuTh 9am-5pm
Instructor: Geoff Horst, MSU

Students learn about the relationships between plants, animals and the physical world.  The class explores population, community and ecosystem level processes in a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial habitats.  Students are introduced to basic ecological principles and how they can be used to solve environmental problems.  Students will learn a variety of sampling techniques, how to analyze data, and will present results of the field research to the class.  4 credits.

Prereq:  BS 110 or LBS 144 or LBS 148H or approval of the instructor.

Field Ecology and Evolution
ZOL/PLB 440, Section 431

July 6th - July 31st, MWF 8:30am - 5pm
Dr. Gary Mittelbach & Dr. Jen Lau– MSU / KBS 

A field-based, problem solving course designed for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students.  Students are introduced to conceptual and practical research approaches in ecology and evolution through a variety of field studies on plants and animals.  Research projects are co-designed by students and faculty.  4 credits.

Prereq: ZOL/PLB 355 or equivalent.

Students participating in the ELME program may apply for scholarships to take this course.

Current Topics in Ecology & Evolution
ZOL/PLB/CSS 891 Section 431

This class does not meet continuously over the summer; dates for 2009 are still being set.
Dr. Kay Gross – MSU

This course is also known as the "Eminent Ecologists" series.

Distinguished scientists in ecology or evolutionary biology who reside at KBS for a week over the summer will offer formal seminars, informal discussions and one-on-one dialogue with students.  To prepare for the seminars, students are expected to read selected publications by each speaker in his or her current research and participate in post-seminar discussions. 

All seminars begin at 7:30 pm in the Academic Building Auditorium.
1 to 2 credits.

ELME Courses (Enhancing Linkages between Math and Ecology)

Introduction to Theoretical Population Biology
MTH 490 Section 431

June 15th-June 19th
(1 week – MTuWThF – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm)
Dr. Robin E. Snyder, Case Western Reserve University

This first unit will focus on using differential equations to model the dynamics of populations, including logistic growth, competition, and predator-prey systems. Classic issues will be modeled such as saturating functional responses.  Ecological Dynamics by Gurney and Nisbet will be used as the text for this course. 1 credit.

Prereq: ZOL 355 (Ecology) or equivalent, and a college calculus course. 
Restrictions: Apply via application for permission to enroll.

Game Theory and Adaptive Dynamics
MTH 490 Section 432

June 22nd - June 26th
(1 week - MTuWThF; 9 am - 5 pm)

Dr. Christopher Klausmeier, Michigan State University

Covers dynamic models of ecosystem processes including primary production, decomposition, and nutrient cycling in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Links community and ecosystem ecology by combining material, energetic and Darwinian approaches. 1 credit.

Prereq: ZOL 355 (Ecology) or equivalent, and a college calculus course. 
Restrictions: Apply via application for permission to enroll.

Maximum Likelihood Analysis in Ecology
MTH 490 Section 433

June 29 - July 3rd (1 week – MTuWThF – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm)

Dr. Donald Schoolmaster - Michigan State University / KBS

This unit will introduce students to maximum likelihood analysis as a flexible technique to test theoretical models against empirical data. The course will include coverage of basic probability distributions and will demonstrate how classical statistics can be understood in a maximum likelihood framework. Ecological Detective by Hilborn and Mangel will be used as a text for course. 1 credit. 

Prereq: ZOL 355 (Ecology) or equivalent, and a college calculus course.  Restrictions: Apply via application for permission to enroll.