Marsico Taught Courses

"All the world is a laboratory to the inquiring mind."

-Martin H. Fischer

Currently teaching
Mechanisms of Speciation (BIO 6503)—Advanced graduate course that explores the mechanisms by which new species evolve.  This is a discussion-based course in which discussion leaders present an overview of their chosen topic and then lead discussion of relevant literature contribution (chosen by the instructor).  Additionally, each student presents an overview of current understanding on the origins of species they study or otherwise are most interested in. This class is open to graduate students only.

Plant Systematics (BIO 4704/5704)—A study of the systematics, nomenclature, morphology, and identification terminology for vascular plants with an emphasis on dichotomous key-based identification of flowering plants of Arkansas.  Lecture two in-class hours per week; laboratory four in-lab hours per week. This is a mixed upper level/graduate course for biology majors and required for all wildlife majors.

Biology of Plants Laboratory (BIO 1501)—This laboratory is intended to complement the companion lecture course BIO 1503—Biology of Plants.  The laboratory course will provide observational and hands-on experiences in plant biology to assist students in gaining a better understanding of the form, structure, function, and reproduction of plants.  Laboratory experiments and lab projects are intended to sharpen critical thinking skills and provide students greater insight into the process of scientific inquiry. 

Other courses:
Dendrology (BIO 4714/5714)—A study of the systematics, nomenclature, morphology, phenology, geographic range, and natural history of woody plants with an emphasis on field recognition throughout the year.  Lecture two in-class hours per week; laboratory four in-lab hours per week. This elective course is for mixed upper level/graduate students.

Global Change Biology (BIO 6513)—Advanced graduate course evaluating anthropogenic global changes and the ecological and evolutionary impacts they cause.  This course covers climate change, land use change, pollution, and species invasions as the largest factors involved in losses of and changes in distributions of Earth’s biodiversity.  This is a discussion-based course in which discussion leaders present an overview of their chosen topic and then lead discussion of a relevant literature contribution (chosen by the instructor).  Additionally, each student writes a review or synthesis paper on the particular topic of global change biology that is of most interest to him/her or most closely related to his/her graduate research. This class is open to graduate students only.

Biology of Plants (BIO 1503)—The goal of this course is for students to acquire a basic understanding of 1) the importance of plants to global ecology, 2) the importance of plants to human food, medicine, infrastructure, and commerce, 3) plant structure and function at cellular, tissue, organ, and whole plant levels, 4) plant reproduction, 5) plant evolution and classification, and 6) the evolutionary history of botanical life on earth. This is a required, introductory level course for all biology majors.