BIO 340: Ecology

Discover the fascinating science behind table salt's unique characteristics that arise from the bond between sodium and chloride atoms. Explore topics like its unique taste, solubility in water, and ability to conduct electricity. Learn how the combination of sodium and chloride creates properties neither element possesses on its own.

Discover what happens in your body after a hearty meal! Learn about the concept of 'distension' and how nerve cells act as messengers to your control center, orchestrating the digestive process.

Discover the concept of negative feedback loops in biological systems, where balance is maintained by counteracting changes. Explore the four key components: Stimulus, Sensor, Control Center, and Effector, through examples like blood sugar regulation. Uncover how these loops play a crucial role in keeping our body systems in harmony.

Discover the significance of protobionts in the evolution of life, acting as a bridge from non-living to living entities. Understand their boundary formations akin to cell membranes and their rudimentary replication methods. Gain insights into the pivotal role they played in life's origin story.

Explore the foundational processes of aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Uncover the key roles of glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Differentiate between the efficiencies and electron acceptors of both respiration types.

Learn the distinctions between dispersal and vicariance in biology. Understand how organisms' movements and environmental changes play crucial roles in allopatric speciation. Grasp the differences between movement across existing barriers and the creation of new barriers.