	Ed Levri
Home	Research Interests	Courses

Courses Taught

I teach a variety of courses ranging from introductory courses in biology and environmental studies to advanced courses in ecology and evolution.

Biol 110 – Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity

Biol 110 is the foundational course in biology at Penn State. The coarse has two primary goals. 1. to introduce students to basic concepts in biology, including the cell, DNA function, cell division, genetics, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and evolution. and 2. to survey the diversity of living organisms from prokaryotes to animals and plants. This course is offered each semester at Penn State-Altoona. (4 credits) Prerequisites – none

Biol 220W – Biology: Populations and Communities

This required course for biology and environmental studies majors surveys the fields of ecology and evolution. The course covers basic evolutionary theory and population genetics as well as the ecology of individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems. This course is offered each spring semester at Penn State-Altoona. (4 credits) Prerequisites – Biol 110.

Biol 417 - Invertebrate Zoology

Over 98% of all animal life is invertebrate animals. This laboratory course provides a broad survey of invertebrate animals. The course focuses on the evolutionary relationships between and within the 30+ animal phyla. Invertebrate ecology, anatomy, physiology, development, and behavior as well as environmental and medical issues related to invertebrates are emphasized in lecture. The laboratory provides a survey of major animal phyla and the diversity within them. Many dissections are performed to compare form and function between groups. Field trips to collect invertebrates in various habitats and to museums are part of the course as well. Taught in the fall semester of even numbered years. (4 credits) Prerequisites: Biol 110 and 5th semester standing.

Biol 427 - Evolution

The theory of evolution by natural selection is the unifying theory of biology. In this course we study the history of evolutionary ideas, the creation-evolution controversy, the mechanisms of evolution, population genetics, the history of life including human evolution, life-history evolution, and special topics such as the evolution of sexual reproduction, altruism, molecular evolution, and coevolution. This course is usually offered each spring semester at Penn State-Altoona. (3 credits) Prerequisites – Biol 110; Biol 220W; Biol 230W and 5th semester standing.

Biol 435 – Ecology of Lakes and Streams

Over 70% of the earth is covered in water, but the amount of accessible freshwater amounts to less than one half of 1% of that. This course examines the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of freshwater systems. In the course we study rivers, streams, groundwater, wetlands, ponds, and lakes and the biological communities that inhabit them. Special emphasis is put on the relationship between humans and freshwater and how we are negatively impacting these systems. The course includes field trips to local lakes and streams to conduct field-work utilizing common limnological sampling techniques. Taught in the fall semester of odd numbered years. (3 credits) Prerequisites: Biol 110, Biol 220W, and 5th semester standing.

Envst 100 – Visions of Nature

An interdisciplinary introduction to environmental studies, including perspectives from ethics, economics, public policy, art, literature, history, geology, biology, and ecology. This course is usually taught each semester at Penn State-Altoona. (3 credits) Prerequisites – none.