David G. Haskell, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair of Biology

Teaching:

• Biodiversity's origins, current form and future (Biology 131. Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity. Bio 211. Biodiversity: pattern and process)
• The diversity of form and function within birds (Biology 201. Ornithology)
• The pattern and process of evolution (Biology 213. Evolution)
• The ecology of food and hunger (Biology 109. Food and Hunger: Contemplation and Action)

Research and scholarship:

• My students and I are currently working on the following projects:
  • Studies of bird communities in exurban areas, native forests and pine plantations. In particular, we are examining mechanisms underlying bird responses to land-use change.
  • Darwin's "manufactory hypothesis". We analyzing a database of all avian sub-species, species and genera to ask how taxonomic patterns relate to past and future evolutionary processes.
  • The ecology of eastern forests: I am completing a book about the ecology of one square meter of old growth forest. The book is a series of essays written to communicate scientific findings to interested non-scientists.
  • Ecology and conservation of snails and salamanders: student-led projects investigating topics such as ephemeral pond biology, endangered snail monitoring, and salamander responses to the damming of streams.

Other projects:

• Darwin's Garden: As part of the new Spencer Hall project I am working with Physical Plant Services and other biology faculty to build a garden celebrating Darwin and evolution. The garden will feature a sculpture of Darwin, a walkway divided into geological periods with fossil stamps, and evolutionarily significant plants. The garden will open in fall 2008.
• Bio-Bikes: We now have a fleet of bikes for students in field labs to use for transportation. This is more fun and less damaging than the monster vans we used to use.
• Revision of Biology curriculum. We've recently revamped our introductory ecology-evoltuion-biodiversity class to make the class 100% active learning. No more powerpoint orations...

List of publications

Contact information: Campus office: Woods Lab 127; Telephone: (931) 598-1918; email: dhaskell at sewanee dot edu; Mailing Address: 735 University Ave, University of the South, Sewanee, TN 37383-1000

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