BIOLOGY:  ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION – SPRING 2013

Lectures: 11:00 – 11:50 MWF Chem 402

Tests and Discussion Session: 5:00 - 7:00 PM Wednesdays Chem 402

                                     

This course will examine the mechanisms of evolutionary change, with an emphasis on the ecological, genetic, and evolutionary principles needed to understand the diversification of life on earth.  Major topics will include adaptation, molecular evolution and macroevolution, and the ecology of natural populations.

 Required texts: Parts I and II Evolutionary Analysis, Freeman & Herron (Prentice Hall) 4^th, Purchase UVA Bookstore 

                             Part III  Ecology, Cain, Bowman & Hacker (Sinauer), e-book, Purchase online http://www.coursesmart.com/9780878934454 

 

Instructors:    Dr. Deborah Roach*           Dr. Laura Galloway           Dr. Janis Antonovics    

Office:             266 Gilmer                           255 Gilmer                         051 Gilmer                    

email:               droach@virginia.edu           lg8b@virginia.edu               ja8n@virginia.edu

Office Hours:   Monday 2-3                         Monday 2-3                      Monday 2-3                 

                         227 Gilmer                            227 Gilmer                       056 Gilmer                    

                      *Course administrator

 

Graduate Assistants: Melissa Aikens             Hilary Edgington                               

Office:                                      266 Gilmer                                            059 Gilmer

email:                                       mla2j@virginia.edu                                he2kk@virginia.edu

Office Hours:                         Wednesday 9:30-11:00                           Tuesday 2:00-3:00

               Friday 2:30-4:00                                     Thursday 9:00-10:00

               227 Gilmer                                              056 Gilmer                              

 

Exams:           Wednesday February 13   5-7 PM,          Chem 402

                        Wednesday March 27       5-7 PM,          Chem 402

                        Monday May 6      9-11AM,        Chem 402

Any special requests must be arranged with the faculty giving the exam at least 1 week before exam.

 

Optional Discussion Session:  With TA on Wednesdays 5-7 PM Chem 402

Prerequisites:  BIOL 2010/2020 or equivalent AP credit.

Class Attendance:  Regular attendance at lectures is expected (and advised!); material will be presented in class that is not included in the textbooks or Collab.

Grading:  Each of the three sections of this course will contribute equally toward the final course grade.  There will be three exams and there will not be a comprehensive final.

Last Day to Add: January 28, 2013; Drop: January 29, 2013; Withdraw: March 18, 2013

Honor Statement:  We trust that every student will comply fully with all provisions of the UVA honor system.  All alleged honor violations brought to our attention will be forwarded to the Honor Committee.  Any student who is caught cheating or committing academic fraud will receive an "F" on the assignment/exam, irrespective of any subsequent action taken by the Honor Committee.

Lecture Recording: The University of Virginia prohibits recording and transmission of classroom lectures by students unless written permission from the class instructor has been obtained.

 

Biol 3020 – Spring 2013 – Class Schedule

Class #             Date      Day       Text                           Subject

Part I:  Population & Quantitative Genetics, Molecular Evolution (Laura Galloway)

1                1/14        M         F&H 6.1               Population genetics: Natural selection, Hardy-Weinberg

2                1/16        W         F&H 6.2,6.3         Population genetics: Selection     

3                1/18        F          F&H 7.2               Population genetics: Genetic drift

              1/21        M         University Holiday

4                1/23        W         F&H 7.4,7.5         Population genetics: Inbreeding

5                1/25        F          F&H 6.3,6.4,7.1   Population genetics: Maintenance of genetic variation

6                1/28        M         F&H 9.1, 9.2        Quantitative traits: Genetic basis

7                1/30        W         F&H 9.3-9.5, 9.7  Quantitative traits: Heritability

8                2/1          F          F&H 9.6               Quantitative traits: Selection

9                2/4          M         F&H 9.7, 10.5      Quantitative traits: Plasticity                                

10              2/6          W         F&H 11                Sexual selection

11              2/8          F          F&H 10.7, 12       Levels of selection: Genes to groups

12              2/11        M         F&H 7.3               Molecular evolution: neutral theory

                  2/13        W         Part I Review: EXAM IN EVENING (Chem 402)

 

Part II: Adaptive Evolution and Biodiversity (Janis Antonovics)

13              2/15        F          F&H 8.3               Molecular evolution: Evolution of the genome (Galloway)

14              2/18        M                                      Evolution of  genetic systems

15              2/20        W                                     Adaptive evolution

16              2/22        F          F&H 16                Speciation I

17              2/25        M                                      Speciation II

18              2/27        W         F&H 4                  Macroevolution: Phylogenetic methods

19              3/1          F                                      Macroevolution: Uses of phylogenies

20              3/4          M         F&H 18.3            Biological diversity: Adaptive radiation

21              3/6          W         F&H 18.4            Biological diversity: Extinction

22              3/8          F          F&H 19               Development and evolution

                                             Spring Break

23              3/18        M                                      Applied Evolution

24              3/20        W                                      Evolution of HIV

25              3/22        F          F&H 20.1-20.2     Human evolution I (Roach)

26              3/25        M         F&H 20.3             Human evolution II (Roach)

                 3/27        W         Part II Review:  EXAM II IN EVENING (Chem 402)

 

Part III: Ecology (Deborah Roach)

27              3/29        F          CBH 9.3                Population: Population regulation (Wilbur)

28              4/1          M         CBH 9.4               Population: Density dependence (Wilbur)

29              4/3          W         CBH 12                Community Ecology: Predation and Herbivory (Antonovics)

30              4/5          F          CBH 13                Community Ecology: Parasites (Antonovics)

31              4/8          M         CBH 11.3,11.4   Competition in animals (Wilbur)          

32              4/10        W         CBH 7                 Tradeoffs in Life History traits                                           

33              4/12        F         F&H (p.483-7; 492-514)  Evolution of Life History traits

34              4/15        M         CBH 9.1, 9.2        Life Tables

35              4/17        W         CBH 11.1, 11.2    Competition for resources

36              4/19        F          CBH 15                Community Ecology: Food webs 

37              4/22        M         CBH 16                Community Change

38               4/24       W          CBH 22               Applied Ecology: Conservation

39              4/26        F          CBH 24                Applied Ecology: Humans          

40              4/29        M         Review of Part III

EXAM III:  Monday May 6, 9-11 am (Chem 402).  Note this will ONLY cover material in Part III.