Animal-Plant Interactions

3 Credits

Theoretical, conceptual and applied aspects of evolutionary and ecological interactions between plants and animals. This course gives an overview of major ideas, historical controversies, and current research on animal-plant relationships. We will explore the mechanisms and evolution of plant defenses and animal counter-adaptations, behavioral ecology and interactions across trophic levels, the role of microbial communities in mediating interactions, and how these interactions color human experience through food and medicine. The course will have a blended lecture/discussion format and will include field walks to collect herbivory data and observe animal-plant interactions.