University of British Columbia
Zoology 502
Fundamental concepts and hot topics
in ecology and evolution
Up next -- Fri. April 4: Ackerman visits class and discuss this paper by Coyne
Mon. April 7: workshops continue; LAST DAY OF CLASS
REMEMBER! Final drafts of your paper are due TWO WEEKS after your work is discussed in class
2002-2003
Course Description:
*Students are expected to enroll in Terms I and II.*
This course is intended for beginning graduate students in any subfield of ecology and/or evolution. The course will focus on reading, discussing, and writing about the primary literature, from classic papers to cutting-edge research. In the firs
t term, we focus on foundational papers in ecophysiology, population dynamics, niche theory, evolutionary genetics, conservation biology, and more. Students will help determine the focus of the second term, in which we will explore modern developments fr
om these fundamental concepts; possible topics include phenotypic plasticity, microbial ecology, metapopulations, speciation, and global change.
A second component of the course is the weekly Ecology and Evolution Seminar in the Department of Zoology. We will discuss the work presented in the seminar and will often talk directly with the seminar speaker. In total, the course will emphasi
ze the historical roots and pathways of discovery that define this discipline.
Instructors:
Andy Peters (web site | email)
Jessica Hellmann (web site | email)
Textbook:
Real, L.A., and J. H. Brown, eds. 1991. Foundations of Ecology: Classic Papers with Commentaries. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL.
Available at UBC bookstore and Amazon.ca
Interesting tid-bits and papers (Optional)