Biological Sciences 321PB - Conference Course: 'Plant Biogeography'

How do plant species arrive and establish on islands? What roles do ecology and evolution play in the where, how, and when of plant geographic patterns? This course establishes an appreciation for patterns of species distributions on local and global scales. Students explore how physical factors (e.g. geology, soil, and climate) interact with biological factors (e.g. physiology, evolution, and competition) to affect past, present, and potential future plant biogeography. Students will engage with primary literature on plant biomes, species ranges, the effects of climate change, and contemporary influences of humans on the movement of plants.

Prereq: BIOL-223 or BIOL-226.