Courses

The general courses offered by the department are listed below.  For classes available during a given semester, see the University timetable.

IB 105. Environmental Biology. Introduction to ecological principles in relation to understanding environmental problems; emphasizes impacts upon ecosystems by human activities such as air and water pollution, usage of pesticides and pest control measures, expansion of agriculture in tropics and arid regions, harvesting the oceans, and development of energy sources. 3 hours. 

IB 199. Undergraduate Open Seminar. 0 to 5 hours. May be repeated. 

IB 203. Ecology. The links between evolution and ecology, population dynamics, community structure and function, and ecosystem function on local and global scales. Basic ecology needed to understand environmental problems and to conserve biodiversity. Investigations in both field and laboratory included.  4 hours. 

IB 243. Sociality of the Great Apes. Same as Anthropology 243. Examines the social organization, mating patterns, and group structure of free-ranging chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. Presents historical perspective focusing on misconceptions which have colored our understanding of ape social behavior; addresses questions concerned with learning potential, food sharing, social cooperation, aggressive behavior, self-awareness, and the appropriateness of the apes as models for understanding human behavior. 3 hours.

IB 290. Special Problems. Laboratory and/or field research and/or reading supervised by faculty members in the School of Integrative Biology. Offered for S/U grading only. 1-5 hours. No more than a total of 10 hours of IB 290 or IB 292 may count toward graduation for IB and MCB majors. These hours will not be counted as advanced hours in the major.

IB 292. Individual Topics. Laboratory and/or field research supervised by faculty members in the School of Integrative Biology. A written report is required. 1-5 hours. No more than a total of 10 hours of IB 290 or IB 292 may count toward graduation for IB and MCB majors. These hours will not be counted as advanced hours in the major. 

IB 301. Evolutionary Biology.  Introduction to the evidence for evolution and the origin and types of genetic variation, stressing various modes of selection and modern observations and experiments illustrating the evolutionary process. 3 hours. 

IB 311. Behavior of Domestic Animals. Same as Animal Sciences 363. Introduction to concepts of animal behavior with emphasis on domestic animals; lecture and lab. 3 hours.

IB 330. Hormones and Behavior. Same as Neuroscience 343 and Psychology 343. Survey of the behavioral effects of hormones in vertebrates and invertebrates; emphasizes the extensive literature on hormonal effects on reproductive and social behavior. 3 hours. Students enrolled for graduate credit may write a term paper for an extra 1 hour credit.

IB 348. Fish and Wildlife Ecology. Same as Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences 348. Application of ecological principles and modeling to management of fish and wildlife populations; significance of abiotic and biotic factors, including life-history parameters in population growth and management; and techniques and procedures for the development of management strategies for animal populations, emphasizing vertebrates. 3 hours. 

IB 402. Molecular Evolution.  Introduction to evidence for evolutionary change at the molecular and cellular levels of organization; origin and changes in macromolecules, genes, cells, and their organelles emphasized. 3 hours. 

IB 406. The Evolution of Adaptive Systems. Evolutionary mechanisms underlying adaptations; emphasizes origin and subsequent modification of major complex systems; pertinent evidence considered from several disciplines, including population biology, developmental biology, structural analysis and paleobiology. 3 hours.

IB 428. Primate Form and Behavior. Same as Anthropology 443. Survey of primate social behavior and the classification, morphology, and distribution of living and extinct species; emphasis on interrelationships among behavior, biology, and ecology. 3 hours.

IB 429. Animal Behavior. Same as Animal Sciences 446 and Anthropology 446. An introductory course emphasizing how patterns of behavior promote survival, change through evolution, and are modified by the environment. 3 hours.

IB 431. Behavioral Ecology. In­depth examination of areas of current interest at the interface of behavior, ecology, and evolution; focuses on communication, foraging, and social behavior. 3 hours. Offered in alternate years. 

IB 432. Genes and Behavior. Same as Psychology 432, Anthropology 432, and Neuroscience 432. Concepts, methods, and problems in the analysis of relations between genetic systems and behavior, including a historical and analytical examination of the scientific foundations of racism. 3 hours.

IB 433. Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy. Classification and comparative anatomy of vertebrates including functions and evolution of their organs and organ systems.  Involves vertebrate dissection in some labs.  Lecture and laboratory. 5 hours. (Counts for advanced hours in LAS.) 

IB 443. Evolutionary Ecology.  Emphasizes the evolution of life­history strategies in plants and animals (reproductive rates, life cycles, sex ratios, breeding and mating systems) and the coevolution of animals and plants (pollination, dispersal, and herbivory). 3 hours. Offered in alternate years. 

IB 449. Limnology. Freshwater biology; study of the lake, pond, and river with emphasis on the physical environment as well as on the plants and animals which live in fresh water. Lectures, discussions, laboratory, and field work. 5 hours.

IB 450. Stream Ecology. Same as Civil Engineering 432. Description of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics in streams and rivers, including an integrated study of environmental factors affecting the composition and distribution of biota; emphasizes the application of ecological principles in aquatic ecosystem protection and management. 3 hours. 

IB 451. Conservation Biology. Same as Crop Sciences 436 and Environmental Studies 420. Synthesis of conservation biology with an emphasis on the preservation of biological diversity and its evolutionary potential. Laboratory includes an introduction to the use of modern molecular techniques in conversation biology, computer simulation modeling, and field conservation problem solving. 4 hours. 

IB 461. Ornithology. Structure, function, ecology, behavior, and evolution of the birds of the world; laboratory devoted to anatomy and identification; and field studies devoted to identification and behavior of birds. Independent research project and two optional weekend field trips. 5 hours. Offered in alternate years. 

IB 462. Mammalogy. Classification, distribution, structure, function, life history, evolution, and identification of mammals. Lecture/discussions, laboratory, and field work. 5 hours. Offered in alternate years. 

IB 463. Ichthyology. Classification, anatomy, ecology, behavior, distribution, and evolution of fishes of the world. Emphasis is on morphological, ecological, and behavioral diversification of fishes in a phylogenetic context. Laboratory devoted to anatomy and identification. Three scheduled field trips (1-3 days each). 4 hours. 

IB 464. Herpetology. Classification, diversity, structure, function, ecology, behavior and evolution of amphibians and reptiles. Laboratory devoted to anatomy and identification. One week-end field trip. 4 hours. 

IB 465. Field Vertebrate Natural History. Laboratory and field course. Intensive study of North American vertebrates with emphasis on vertebrates of Illinois; taxonomy, life histories, habitats, and feeding habits of all the common resident species. 4 hours. 

IB 466. Invertebrate Zoology. Invertebrates; structure and development; application of biological principles; specific and comparative morphology of the invertebrates; and coordination of structure and function, origin, development, and life histories. Lecture and laboratory. 5 hours. Offered in alternate years. 

IB 480. Ecological Parasitology.  Same as Veterinary Pathobiology 523. Ecological perspective on parasite-host associations and parasitic diseases of vertebrates. Parasite life cycles, and the major parasitic groups; protozoa, platyhelminthes, nematodes and arthropods will be covered. The relation of parasitism to other ecological associations such as predation and competition will be emphasized. 3 hours. 

IB 493. Statistical Ecology. Same as Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences 493. Study of methods used in the collection and analyses of ecological data. Emphasis on sampling, experimental design, multivariate techniques, exploratory analyses, and computer intensive applications such as exact tests and permutation procedures. Laboratory emphasis on analyses and interpretation of ecological data with statistical software. 4 hours. 

IB 543. Seminar in Primate Ecology. Same as Anthropology 543. Group discussions and individual presentations of research reports and problems in fields of primate ethology, ecology, evolution, and related subjects; topics vary each semester. 2 to 4 hours. May be repeated. 

IB 544. Concepts in Ethology. Discussion, review, and critical analysis of general concepts and specific problems in behavior with new topics each semester. 2 hours. May be repeated. 

IB 545. Fish and Wildlife Ecology Seminar. Modern ecological principles and concepts to specific problems in fisheries and wildlife. 2 hours. Offered in alternate years. 

IB 552. Concepts in Ecology. Discussion, review, and critical analysis of general concepts and specific problems in ecology with new topics each semester. 2 hours. May be repeated. 

IB 590. Individual Topics. Individual topics in research conducted under the supervision of faculty members in the School of Integrative Biology. Designed for graduate students who would like to become familiar with specialized fields of study prior to committing themselves to a specific area for their doctorate degree. 2 to 12 hours. 

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School of Integrative Biology

University of Illinois

Updated 09/26/05