BIO 342N - Biology of Whales

3 Credit(s)

This upper level course examines the biology of whales, dolphins and porpoises. Topics include physiology, population biology and life history analysis, molecular genetics, morphology, distributional ecology and social behavior. Early lectures focus on the biology of whales and how they are adapted to the marine environment. Later lectures examine how biological principles can be applied to the conservation of a wide range of cetacean species. One three-hour lecture per week. Not open to students who have received credit for BIO342. Offered by the Marine Studies Consortium. Additional tuition fee required by Marine Studies Consortium. Prerequisites: Two upper level biology courses or permission of the Department Chairperson.