Current Teaching at the University of Notre Dame
Gary A. Lamberti
1. Undergraduate Courses
Biostatistics (BIOS 411/411A) and Biostatistics Tutorial (BIOS 411T/41AT)
This course is designed primarily for students who plan to attend graduate or
professional school, and thus will be working with their own data or critically analyzing
existing data in the literature. Students learn about the theory and application of
commonly used statistical methods in biology, collectively known as "inferential
statistics". Emphasis is placed on practical uses of statistics in biology, but students
entering the business sector also will learn the major statistical techniques applied to all
data. A weekly computer laboratory/tutorial gives students practice in analyzing data
collected as part of the course or from other sources.
2. Graduate Courses
Stream Ecology (BIOS 527) and Stream Ecology Laboratory (BIOS 527L)
The goals of this course are (1) to provide an understanding of the physical,
chemical, and biological organization of streams, (2) to evaluate current theory in stream
and watershed ecology, (3) to provide a watershed perspective for studying flowing
waters and for interpreting the effects of man's activities on streams and rivers, and (4) to
develop state-of-the-art laboratory and field skills for conducting stream research. This
course is currently team-taught with Dr. Jennifer Tank.
Restoration Ecology (BIOS 573)
This course focuses on the ecological principles that underlie ecosystem restoration
and the evaluation of actual restoration efforts with case histories. We give balanced
attention to terrestrial (e.g., forests, prairies, arid lands) and aquatic ecosystems (e.g.,
lakes, streams, wetlands, estuaries). The format is be lecture/discussion of current
literature, and each student leads the discussion of several papers over the course of the
semester. The goals of the course are (1) to familiarize students with the theory and
practice of ecosystem restoration, (2) to understand the ecological basis of restoration,
and (3) to evaluate examples of restoration from terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
Other courses taught on rotating basis, depending on student needs:
Advanced Aquatic Ecology (BIOS 561)
Ecological Methods (BIOS 573; co-taught with Dr. David Lodge)
Practicum in Environmental Biology (BIOS 523 – summer session)
Practicum in Aquatic Biology (BIOS 569 – team-taught summer session)
3. Past Seminars Offered (BIOS 580)
Ecological Experimentation
Lentic-Lotic Linkages
Advanced Ecological Statistics
Aquatic Ecosystems & Global Change
Current Ecological Theory
Environmental Law