EVOLUTIONIST ECOLOGY
Learning outcomes of the course unit
To complement the Ecology Course with a more extended study of evolutionary ecology topics for students of the Ecology oriented curriculum.
Prerequisites
The completion of all first year courses and of Ecology (second year).
Course contents summary
Evolutionary forces in action
- Evolution and Ecology
- Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection
- Calculation of gene frequencies
- Hardy Weinberg equilibrium, selection, drift, migration
- Population effective size
- F statistics
Population dynamics
- Continuous and discrete models
- Building a simple population dynamics model
- Parameter estimation and finding equilibria
- Managing populations as resources
- maximum sustainable yield
Recommended readings
RIDDLEY M. 2004 - EVOLUTION
McGROW-Hill
HARTL D.L. 1997 - PRINCIPLES OF POPULATION
GENETICS. SINAUER
Teaching methods
Lectures, homework assigments.
Mid course and final test (written),
Oral exam
