Bio 431: Contemporary Topics in Biology -
Ecology and Evolution of Plant Mating Systems

(last taught: Fall 1998)

431 Contemporary Topics: Plant Mating System Ecology and Evolution
Half-unit course for one semester. We will be surveying the current theoretical and empirical literature on the ecology and evolution of flowering plant mating systems. Topics will center on issues of current controversy and active research. Meeting time will be arranged with the participants.
prerequisites: Junior or Senior class standing is recommended. Population Biology (BIO 366) and/or Vascular Plant diversity (BIO 332) will be helpful.

• Keith's Office: B104; ext. 7846
  
• Keith's Office Hours: Tu, Th 11:00 - noon (or by appointment)
  
• Send email to: kkaroly@reed.edu
  

Everyone taking part in the seminar is expected to:

• 1) read the assigned material each week. The reading will consist of several research articles or book chapters. The reading assignment for each meeting will be provided the preceding week. Photocopies of the assigned reading will be available in the seminar room (Room 200A). Usually the material will be from journals that are also available in the library. The articles or chapters will often provide opposing opinions or evidence on the subject and should therefore be read critically. Everyone should come to seminar prepared to briefly summarize the assigned reading for the group. If it is necessary, each week I will randomly choose one person to provide a brief (max of 5 minutes) description of each paper.
  
  

• 2) participate in the seminar discussion. The topics we will be addressing should lend themselves to lively discussion. The plant mating system literature is currently very active with many diverse voices. Researchers can be found with strongly contrasting views for almost all of the theoretical topics we will discuss. Empirical methods used to collect data usually involve unavoidable compromises. Interpretations of data may often be based on untested assumptions. It will be important for our discussions to have all participants contributing their views on the reading. I would also like our discussion to cover both positive and negative aspects of the papers. I expect everyone in this class to participate in all discussions.
  
  

• 3) assume the role of Discussion Leader in turn. Your primary responsibilities in this role will be to choose a topic for discussion, identify papers for the class to read, and facilitate discussion during the seminar meeting. This will require a thorough understanding of the reading you assign. You will also be expected to review additional literature on your subject so that you can place the assigned reading into a larger context. You are not expected to prepare (nor will you be allowed to present)
  
  

• 4) turn in 2 reviews of recent papers from the plant mating system literature. These will be short reviews (a maximum of 3 pages, double-spaced) of primary research on a topic (theoretical or empirical) related to plant mating systems. One of these papers should be on the topic for which you lead discussion. Appropriate journals to search include: American Journal of Botany, Ecology, Evolution, Oecologia, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal of Ecology, Canadian Journal of Botany, and American Naturalist. The articles you review should be reporting new research (i.e. do not use review articles) and should be from the current periodicals reading room. A sign-up sheet will be available outside my lab (B104) and during seminar meetings with the dates for turning in these assignments (this is for my benefit to regulate the influx of papers).
  
  

• 5) turn in a research proposal. This will be a detailed, written description of a proposed research project involving an empirical or theoretical problem related to plant mating system ecology and evolution. This proposal can be done in pairs or small groups. You will need to motivate the topic area you have chosen, present an explicit hypothesis(es) to test, and suggest a detailed methodology to address your hypothesis(es). You will need to provide references from the recent literature relevant to your proposed research. We will review these proposals as a group in our final seminar meetings.
  
  

Maintained by the Reed College Biology Department
Last Modified 11/24/98
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