Biology of Plants Plants have been on Earth for 500 million years and account for over 400,000 of described species. In this course students will explore this incredible diversity of plants from an evolutionary, physiological, and ecological perspective. We will examine unique anatomical, physiological, and developmental characteristics of plants, as well as broad phylogenetic patterns in plant evolution, and engage with primary literature that emphasizes and builds upon lecture material. In lab, we will explore local habitats, identify common local wildflowers, ferns, mosses, and trees, and learn ecophysiological techniques in the lab to measure plant stress and performance. Finally, students will design and conduct a greenhouse experiment that examines the effect of an environmental variable on plant development, performance, and/or growth.

Botanical Illustration: The Art of Science, The Science of Art The natural diversity of plants and the adaptations they possess is awe-inspiring and has been the subject of botanical illustration for thousands of years. In this course students will develop fundamental artistic techniques for capturing plant forms using a variety of artistic methods (graphite, charcoal, silver point, ink, watercolor) and a diversity of living plant specimens. Students will learn how to represent the broad scale of botanical diversity, from the shapes of trees via field-based journaling to the cells of mosses via microscopy-to-paper transcription. Students will develop a practice of close observation that challenges their assumptions of how they see the natural world, will master faithful transformation of 3D natural forms to 2D, and will be challenged to apply plant anatomical knowledge and form-function relationships to develop scientifically accurate, publication-quality illustrations in a feedback-rich studio environment.

Ecology and Evolution In this introduction to ecology and evolutionary biology we will cover the topics of interspecific interactions (competition, predation, mutualism), demography and life-history patterns, succession and disturbance in natural communities, species diversity, stability and complexity, causes of evolutionary change, speciation, phylogenetic reconstruction, and population genetics.   The laboratory component will examine lecture topics in detail (such as measuring the evolutionary response of bacteria, adaptations of stream invertebrates to life in moving water, invasive species and their patterns of spread).  We will emphasize experimental design, data collection in the field and in the laboratory, data analysis, and writing skills. This course is not open to seniors and second semester juniors.

The Living Deserts of North America What does the desert smell like after it rains, and why? How do desert organisms cope with harsh environmental conditions in diverse ways? How have socio-ecological systems shaped desert landscapes? In this course we will explore these types of questions through hands-on, experiential learning and place-based scientific observation. As a class we will gain background knowledge of desert ecology before a 10-day trip to the Mojave, Great Basin, and Colorado Plateau Deserts of Western North America. Students will gain exposure to a diversity of desert landscapes, engage in round-table discussions with local and Indigenous groups around social and environmental issues impacting deserts, and conduct an independent field research project. This course requires participation in a 10-day field trip to the Southwest during spring break. (BIOL 140 and instructor approval).

Global Change Biology We will examine the effects of global climate change on the earth system. Our emphasis will be on exploring what we know about the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them. We will examine primary literature-based case studies to reveal how biologists study processes of change on local and global scales, and we will assess how accurately we can predict future changes in species distribution and ecosystem function. In lab, we will apply simulation techniques to predict carbon dioxide and global temperatures into the next century, and couple citizen science platforms (e.g. iNaturalist) with species distribution modeling to predict ecological interactions in future climates. No prior computational modeling experience required/assumed.

Desert Ecology Drylands (deserts, semi-deserts, savannas) account for over 40 percent of Earth’s terrestrial area and are home to two billion people. They represent the most stressful of habitats, but also are home to organisms possessing the most incredible adaptations to survive. In this course we will explore the unique biology of desert ecosystems across the globe, using primary literature, review articles, and nonfiction works to answer: What selective pressures shape physiology and ecology in desert organisms? How have plants and animals evolved to survive in deserts? How are humans and climate change altering dryland ecosystems on local and global scales?

Deserts: Myths, Mystery, Magic From the Mojave to the Atacama to the Kalahari, Earth’s deserts are as fascinating as they are mysterious. In this course we will explore the unique biology of deserts, how humans interact (and have interacted in the past) with these ecosystems, and examine how deserts are portrayed in media and popular culture. Critically, we will evaluate the many myths that surround deserts (e.g. they are all lifeless, hot, best as solar farms) and dispel them with evidence from primary and secondary scientific sources.

Kirsten Coe

Reviews and ratings for Kirsten Coe at Middlebury College.Kirsten Coe teaches Biology of Plants, Botanical Illustration, Ecology and Evolution and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Kirsten Coe good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

Kirsten is an incredible teacher. Her style is very effective and uses a lot of group discussion and turn and talk in a way that isn't annoying, but actually useful and productive. Though the content can sometimes be confusing and heavy, Kirsten does a great job at explaining difficult concepts and is clearly very smart. It also seems that she really enjoys the content she is teaching so it makes it more interesting to learn. There's decent amount of work like a paper discussion, a small easy prez, an expectation to do the reading (which is helpful for lecture + disc). The lab is very fun and the exams can sometimes be hard but there are corrections which are useful! Overall really love this class!

LOVED THIS CLASS! I highly recommend. The weekly meetings were very engaging and the desert field trip was phenomenal. We met many people and learned a great deal about desert ecology and human connections to the desert. 

This is a solid bio elective! Kirsten is a great prof and labs in this class are very enjoyable. Exams are somewhat difficult but its a 3-step process so in person exam is not worth much of the final grade.