Department of Biology & Biochemistry, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
BB10012 Ecology & evolution |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Certificate |
| Semester: 1 |
| Assessment: EX 100%, PR 0% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims & Learning Objectives: Aims: To provide a broad introduction to key concepts in ecology and evolution. To approach issues in ecology and evolution in a rigorous, cohesive way that will provide the students with a conceptual framework that will help them to examine other areas of biology in a fuller context of evolution and ecology. To provide a firm foundation for more detailed study within the specific fields of evolution and ecology later in their course. It aims to introduce students to the unique position of ecology and evolution in the biological sciences; why these disciplines pose unusual challenges such as huge time scales and an attendant paucity of experimental information; why ecology and evolution tend to be analytical rather than experimental sciences; reasons why these are theory driven sciences and the special role of mathematical models in these disciplines. After taking this course the student should be able to: *outline certain key principles in evolution and ecology *demonstrate an understanding of the unique position of evolution and ecology in the biological sciences *demonstrate an understanding of the logic of the arguments used in the construction of simple mathematical models for population growth, competition and predator prey relationships *synthesise evidence of many kinds that animal, fungal and plant communities have evolved in highly structured ways *show some appreciation of the role of ecological and evolutionary thinking in areas such as conservation and biodiversity *have some basics skill in obtaining, processing and evaluating ecological data in laboratory and field based practicals. Content: Key concepts in evolution, including the nature of evolutionary selection, including kin-selection, sexual selection and natural selection. Dynamics of ecological populations including field and laboratory examples and mathematical models. Population growth, intraspecifc and interspecific competition and predator/prey relationships. The structure and development of plant, animal and fungal communities are also examined and evidence is described from studies of the limits of similarity, island biogeography and food webs. |