Personal
Information
Featured
Publications
- Amber
Vogel and Christine C. Muth. 2005. Intellectual energy flow: An
interdisciplinary approach to teacher professional development.
The Science Teacher 72: 35-39. -- Download
PDF
- Christine
C. Muth and F.A. Bazzaz. 2003. Tree canopy asymmetry and neighborhood
interactions. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 33:1323-1330.
-- Download PDF
- Christine
C. Muth and F.A. Bazzaz. 2002. Tree seedling canopy responses
to conflicting photosensory cues. Oecologia 132: 197-204.
-- Download PDF
- Christine
C. Muth and F.A. Bazzaz. 2002. Tree canopy displacement at forest
gap edges. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 32: 247-254.
-- Download PDF
- Christine
C. Muth. 2002. Canopy displacement in forest trees. Ph.D. Dissertation.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- Christine
C. Muth. 1996. A comparison of understory tolerance measurements
for woody plants. Undergraduate Honors Thesis. University of North
Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Courses
Taught
Ecology
(BI374)
In this course students study ecology at the level of organism,
population, community, and ecosystem. The basics of population ecology
are studied. Special emphasis is given to quantifying population
growth and interspecific interactions, including predator-prey,
competitive, and mutualistic relationships. Labs are designed to
expose students to working with live organisms, seeing ecological
patterns in the field, and quantifying ecological variables.
Aquatic
Ecology (BI378)
Aquatic ecology is the study of abiotic and biotic factors that
influence the structure and dynamics of aquatic ecosystems. It includes
the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of streams,
lakes, estuaries, and intertidal zones. Special emphasis is placed
on ecosystem metabolism, energy flow in food webs, planktonic and
benthic community structure, and adaptations to aquatic environments.
The role of humans in altering these ecosystems will be discussed.
Evolution
(BI370)
In this course, students gain an appreciation for evolution as a
process that is relevant to their everyday lives. Students learn
to identify and quantify variation in populations and understand
the sources of variation, including independent assortment, crossing
over, mutation, and adaptive mutation. Basic evolutionary processes
are studied including natural selection, drift, and migration. The
course concludes with the study of speciation, phylogeny, and other
selected topics.
Classical
Genetics (BI358)
This course begins with the fundamentals of cell division. Focusing
on problem-solving skills, the course focuses on modes of inheritance
of traits, beginning with Mendel’s pea plants and stressing
extensions and exceptions to Mendel’s principles. Population
genetics is then covered. Laboratory activities and critical thinking
skills are emphasized.
Molecular
Genetics (BI360)
This course focuses on DNA. Beginning with Watson and Crick’s
double-helix model the course focuses on DNA structure, replication,
transcription and translation. Current topics in DNA technology,
gene cloning and bioinformatics are discussed. Critical thinking
skills and thoughtful data interpretation are stressed.
Envirothon
Jon
Davis and I are co-advisors for NCSSM’s Envirothon team. Envirothon
is an environmental science competition in which students work in
teams to apply their knowledge of five content areas: wildlife,
soils, forestry, aquatics, and current environmental issues.
NCSSM’s
Envirothon team is active and enthusiastic, with regular meetings,
training sessions, and field trips. see pics below!
Mini-Term
Courses Taught
Field
Ecology (2005)
Do enjoy spending
time outside? Do you like learning about natural history and environmental
issues? Do you seek outdoor adventure? Do want to try out the tools
and techniques of field ecologists? If so, then come along with
Dr. Muth and Mr. Davis for Mini-Term 2005! Traveling by canoe, short
bus and on foot, we’ll study a variety of piedmont and coastal
plain ecosystems. We’ll learn how to navigate in the wild
using maps, compasses, GPS and GIS. We’ll sample vegetation,
soils and aquatic biota using the tools of field ecology, and we’ll
learn about wildlife of this area. Please be advised that we’ll
be participating in outdoor explorations regardless of the February
weather. Participants should enjoy strenuous physical activity and
opportunities to get dirty while learning about the diverse natural
systems in our part of the world.
The
Private Life of Plants (2006)
Did
you know that plants can see, move, have sex, deceive, fight, and
communicate? Basing our course around David Attenborough’s
acclaimed book and video series, The Private Life of Plants, we’ll
examine the fascinating world of botany. We’ll explore plant
structure, function, reproduction, and ecology with a combination
of hands-on activities, experiments, field trips, and discussions.
Possible off-campus expeditions include the North Carolina Botanical
Garden, Duke Gardens, the Duke Greenhouses, Penny’s Bend Nature
Reserve, and Duke Forest. If you are a greenthumb, a plant lover,
or are just interested in learning about some of the world’s
most extraordinary organisms, then this is the Mini-Term course
for you!
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