BE 101: Chemistry and Biology of Colorado Wetlands

This course will examine the ecology and chemistry of the wetland habitats along the Colorado Front Range. Through inquiry-driven research experiences students will explore the physiological and edaphic factors that determine the distribution of plants in wetland habitats. This cross-disciplinary course will have a special focus on invasive plant species in wetland habitats and involve studies of the biology of species like tamarisk as a window to the interactions between chemistry and biology in driving wetland structure. Students will conduct experiments and collect data in order to quantify these interactions; basic statistical methods will be employed in using quantitative reasoning skills to determine the degree to which tamarisk physiology depends on the biology and chemistry of wetland habitats. Students will also gain a greater familiarity with the scientific language of wetland ecology, learning both botanical and chemical terms in order to better describe wetland habitat structure and function.