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BIOL 383Tropical Ecosystems

Units
0.50
Faculty
Science
Subject
Biology
Cross-listed
ERS 383

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

This course examines the fundamental concepts of terrestrial ecosystems in tropical climates. The course has three sections: (1) biophysical aspects (climate, location, landforms, soil, vegetation), (2) tropical resource systems (forest- and agroecosystems) within the framework of conventional and sustainable resource extraction, and (3) current conservation issues. Case studies are presented.

Prerequisites

  • Complete 1 of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • BIOL150 - Organismal and Evolutionary Ecology (0.50)
      • BIOL251 - Fundamentals of Ecology (0.50)
      • ENVS200 - Field Ecology (0.50)
    • Must have completed the following:

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00167670 / 40W 08:30–11:20
LEC 701253828 / 9999Online or by arrangement

Reviewed on UW Flow

75% liked it63% easy75% useful

From 4 ratings and 1 comment on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • THIS IS COURSE HAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL BUT A TERRIBLE AND UNFAIR MARKING SCHEME. I am traumatized by this course. The professors seem to not want to do their jobs and hire the worst TA two years in a row to unfairly mark all the course work. Attendance is mandatory. The midterm, assignment and final were all easy but the TA does not know how to mark and almost every student in the class had to fight for their work to be properly graded. I really hope the professors learn not to hire TA's like this anymore because it ruined my enjoyment of what was being taught since I had constant anxiety that I was being robbed of grades that I rightfully earned

    Mar 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

9 posts and comments in 7 threads mention BIOL 383, January 2017 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2024

Fall 2022

Fall 2020

Anyone here take Biol 355 (Biology of human aging), Biol 383 (Tropical ecosystems), or Biol 457 (Analysis of communities) 6 points, 3 comments

u/LooWillRueThisDay: “Just need one more 300+ level Biol course and not sure which one to pick, which one out of these would you guys say is the easiest?”

u/narutoismygod: “biol 383 is very interesting if you like ecology based courses. …”

u/curryfishballz: “I will be taking biol355 and 383 next term! Add me”

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Fall 2019

What introductory BIOL courses are typically offered during spring term? 3 points, 6 comments

“I want to minor in Biology but I missed my opportunity to take a BIOL course this fall term, and there are virtually no BIOL courses that fit my schedule for winter term (besides one, but there’s …”

u/spicysalmontunaroll: “… You could also take ENVS 200 (which would allow you to take BIOL 350/383 without having BIOL 150. If you'd be interested in the microbiology aspect of ecosystems I'd recommend BIOL 240 (online)/240L since it sets you up for the upper year courses in micro. …”

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Winter 2019

Winter 2017

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar