BIOL 240. Monteregian Flora.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Summer 2025
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Description
Field studies of ferns, fern allies, conifers and flowering plants; the use of keys for plant identification.
- Prerequisite: BIOL 111 or permission
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken PLNT 358
- Note: Taught at the Gault Nature Reserve. Contact instructor for specific dates, logistics: (virginie.millien@mcgill.ca).
- This course is offered in the summer.
- This course, given at the University’s Gault Nature Reserve in Mont St. Hilaire, has an additional fee of $485.56 which includes a hand lens, a textbook, handouts, lodging and supper each day.
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Launch Visual Schedule BuilderBIOL 331. Ecology/Behaviour Field Course.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Summer 2025
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Description
Methods of sampling natural populations. Testing hypotheses in nature.
- Prerequisites: BIOL 206 and BIOL 215, or equivalents, or permission of the instructor.
- Note: This course has an additional fee. The Department of Biology subsidizes a portion of the cost for this activity.
- The field portion of this course is given at the University’s Gault Nature Reserve in Mont St. Hilare over a two-week period in the summer term. In the summer, students prepare a report based on projects carried out during this field portion. There is an additional fee of $885.00 that covers room and board and handouts. This fee could be refundable if the department approves it.
- **Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the third lecture day and withdrawal is the sixth lecture day.
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Launch Visual Schedule BuilderBIOL 334D1. Applied Tropical Ecology.
Credits: 1.5
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
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Description
Relevant to agriculture, forestry, fisheries and conservation of natural resources. Field component taught at the University's Bellairs Research Institute in Barbados, for two weeks in early May. The course is organized in a series of small-group field projects of 2-3 days each. Interested students should check the course website, attend the full information session and fill out an application form.
- Winter, Summer
- Prerequisites: BIOL 206; and BIOL 215 or both ENVR 200 and ENVR 202; and permission of the instructor.
- Students must register for both BIOL 334D1 and BIOL 334D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both BIOL 334D1 and BIOL 334D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- BIOL 334D1 and BIOL 334D2 together are equivalent to BIOL 334
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Launch Visual Schedule BuilderBIOL 334D2. Applied Tropical Ecology.
Credits: 1.5
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Summer 2025
View offerings for Summer 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
See BIOL 334D1 for course description.
- Winter, Summer
- Prerequisites: BIOL 206; and BIOL 215 or both ENVR 200 and ENVR 202; and permission of the instructor.
- Students must register for both BIOL 334D1 and BIOL 334D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both BIOL 334D1 and BIOL 334D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- This course, given in Barbados, has an additional fee of $1913.86 to cover the costs of room and board at Bellairs Research Institute, the course pack and all other expenses during the course. It does not cover tuition, airfare, flight insurance, airport taxes, meals in transit, or the cost of supplementary health insurance. The fee is only refundable prior to the deadline to withdraw with full refund
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Launch Visual Schedule BuilderBIOL 335. Marine Mammals.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Summer 2025
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Description
Biology of marine mammals with special emphasis on seals and whales of the Bay of Fundy. Taught at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrews, N.B., for two weeks in August. The course combines lectures, laboratory exercises, field trips, and individual projects.
- Prerequisite: BIOL 205
- This course is offered in the summer.
- Apply first to Huntsman, then contact susan.gabe@mcgill.ca.
- The fee for this field course is $1913.86 to cover fees related to the use of facilities for teaching and lab spaces in the Huntsman Marine Center (lodging, meals, facility rental spaces, transportation and tour fees).
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Launch Visual Schedule BuilderBIOL 343. Biodiversity in the Caribean.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
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Description
Biodiversity loss and the measure of ecological integrity of ecosystems, patterns of diversification and evolution of terrestrial and oceanic biotas in the Caribbean.
- Corequisites: GEOG 340, ATOC 341, FSCI 444 or permission of the Program Director.
- Restrictions: Open to U2 and U3 students from all faculties who are registered in the Barbados Field Study Semester, with minimum CGPA of 3.0.
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Launch Visual Schedule BuilderBIOL 428. Biological Diversity in Africa.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
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Description
Biological diversity as exemplified by a particular taxonomic group chosen by the instructor, using field setting in East Africa to impart training in species identification, field research, and principles embodied in the phylogeny, systematics, biogeography, ecology, physiology and/or behaviour of the organisms concerned.
- Winter
- Student must be enrolled in the Africa Field Study Seminar
- Prerequisite: BIOL 305 or equivalent or permission of instructor.
- Corequisite(s): NRSC/BIOL 451 and ANTH/GEOG 451
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Launch Visual Schedule BuilderBIOL 429. East African Ecology.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
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Description
Field settings (Uganda, Kenya, and/or Tanzania) are used to impart training in ecological principles critical to tropical conservation with an emphasis on research design and field research exercises.
- Winter
- The course is to be taught in Africa as a component of the Africa Field Study Semester. Students must register for the Africa Field Study Semester.
- Prerequisite: BIOL 215 or equivalent.
- Corequisite: NRSC/BIOL 451 and ANTH/GEOG 451
- Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken BIOL 329.
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Launch Visual Schedule BuilderBIOL 432. Limnology.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
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Description
A study of the physical, chemical and biological properties of lakes and other inland waters, with emphasis on their functioning as systems.
- Fall
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisites: BIOL 206 and BIOL 215 or permission of instructor.
- Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking ENVB 315.
- This course, involving two field weekends, has an additional fee of $360.39, which includes room and board and transportation. The fee is refundable during the period where a student can drop the course with full refund. The Department of Biology subsidizes a portion of the cost for this activity.
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Launch Visual Schedule BuilderBIOL 451. Research in Ecology and Development in Africa.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Development of observation and independent inquiry skills through: 1) participation in short-term project modules in collaboration with existing researchers; 2) participation in interdisciplinary team research on topics selected to allow comparative analysis of field sites; 3) active and systematic observation, documentation, and integration of field experience in ecology and development issues.
- Winter
- Open only to U2 or later students in the AFSS.
- Corequisite(s): ANTH 451 or GEOG 451
- Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken or are taking NRSC 451.
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Launch Visual Schedule BuilderBIOL 553. Neotropical Environments.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
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Description
Ecology revisited in view of tropical conditions. Exploring species richness. Sampling and measuring biodiversity. Conservation status of ecosystems, communities and species. Indigenous knowledge.
- Winter
- 24 hours lecture and 36 hours field work over a 4-week period
- Prerequisites: HISP 218, MATH 203, and BIOL 215
- Corequisites: ENVR 451; GEOG 404 and HIST 510 alternating with GEOG 498 and AGRI 550
- Restriction: location in Panama. Students must register for a full semester of studies in Panama
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Launch Visual Schedule BuilderBIOL 573. Vertebrate Palaeontology Field Course.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Summer 2025
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Description
Terrestrial vertebrate fossils (i.e. dinosaurs, crocodiles and other reptiles) and palaeocommunity analysis, including practical training with fossil identification, mapping, collecting, and stratigraphic interpretation.
- Summer
- Prerequisites: BIOL 304 and BIOL 352 or permission of instructor.
- Notes: Spring field course with completed project and presentation by the end of the Summer. Given in a selected Late Cretaceous Alberta and/or Saskatchewan site. Enrolment limited to 15 students.
- This course, given at selected localities in Alberta and/or Saskatchewan in May, has an additional fee of $1,500.00 which includes room and board, museum entrance fees, and transportation during the course, but not tuition or transportation to western Canada.
- This course is offered in the summer.
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Launch Visual Schedule BuilderBarbados Interdisciplinary Tropical Studies (BITS)
The Barbados Interdisciplinary Tropical Studies (BITS) program is located at McGill's Caribbean campus, the Bellairs Research Institute. This is Canada's only teaching and research facility in the tropics. It is located in Holetown, Barbados, and plays host to students and scientists from around the world for field courses. See BITS Program Required Courses.