This is a course in population ecology and population genetics with an emphasis on their relationship to principles of evolutionary and conservation biology. A thorough understanding of basic genetics (introductory biology level) is essential as is a familiarity with another sub-discipline in biology (e.g., behavior, cell, development) or a major group of organisms (vertebrates, invertebrates, plants). The material covered in this course is very synthetic. The more knowledge about biology that you bring to it the better. There will be two lectures and one laboratory lecture each week. Group conferences and video supplments will be arranged. There are two course texts that we will be using extensively. I have asked for four copies of each to be placed on reserve in the library. The first is Ecology (4th ed., 2000) by Robert Ricklefs and Gary Miller. The second is Evolution (2nd ed., 2009) by Douglas Futuyma. Reading will also be assigned on a regular basis from the primary literature. There will be three short take home quizzes and a comprehensive final. Two oral presentations will be required on the laboratory portions of the course and homework will be assigned. A 10 page term paper on an independent research project will also be due one week after the course is completed.
The following are important dates: | |
01/28/14 | First lecture |
01/28 and 01/30 |
First laboratory |
02/18 | First quiz due Tuesday 5 PM (Lectures 1 - 6) |
03/11 | Second quiz due Tuesday 5 PM (Lectures 7 - 12) |
03/11 and 03/13 | Oral Presentation of Laboratory Work |
03/25 and 03/27 | Independent Projects Begin |
04/8 and 04/10 | Oral Presentation of Metapopulation Simulation |
04/22 | Third quiz due Tuesday 5 PM (Lectures 13 - 22) |
05/1 | Last Lecture (26) |
05/9 | Independent projects due |
TBA | Final exam |
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Last Modified 01/25/13
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