Biology 326 – Experimental Biology of Invertebrates
This course is not like other courses. The class meets once a week for five hours. Students spend most of their time conducting hands-on research in the lab and in the field and learning how to analyze and present their results in scientific format. Independent projects allow students to pursue their own curiosity. There is a weekend field trip to the Bamfield Marine Science Centre.
Visit the class research blog here.
Biology 448 – Directed Studies
Many talented students from 326 and 405 have gone on to do directed studies projects in the Harley lab. Topics have ranged from physiological and evolutionary adaptations to salinity stress in sea stars to the impacts of ocean acidification on ciliate parasites. Several of these projects have resulted in publications.
This course is a broad survey of ecological topics including how individual organisms cope with their environment, how populations grow, how different species interact with one another in biodiverse communities, and how materials and energy cycle through ecosystems. Highlights include lab experiences in Pacific Spirit Park, a Halloween-themed lecture, a student choice lecture, and a non-zero chance that I will dress up as a marine invertebrate.
Biology 409 – Field Course in Ecology
Our most recent iteration of this course spanned 15º of latitude from Calvert Island, BC to Monterey, California over the course of two weeks. Along the journey, we visited marine biological field stations along the outer Pacific Coast. Students conducted independent projects on intertidal species, and learned A LOT of species identification and field survey skills. I also have taught this field course with Patrick Martone in the summer of 2010.