BIOL 505 - The Biological Legacy of Lewis and Clark

An examination of the natural history of the Lewis and Clark expedition with an emphasis on the new species of plants and animals and their communities that were first described on the expedition. The scientific discoveries will be placed into a modern context by using these species to illustrate underlying biological principles such as community structure and ecological interactions. Consideration will be given to the knowledge that the captains learned from Indigenous peoples and the ways that Native peoples enabled the success of the expedition. Coverage will be given to changes that have occurred since 1800 as well as changes that might be expected in the future. Class meetings will include both lecture and discussion.

Unit(s): 0.5
Instructional Method: Conference
Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)
Notes: Graduate course. Offered fall 2023.