Download Biodiversity and Ecology (BDE) 244: Principles of Evolution

Biodiversity and Ecology (BDE) 244: Principles of Evolution
16 credits, second semester
Lecturers: Prof Anton Pauw (Course co-ordinator, Room 2009; [email protected] )
Dr. Marinus De Jager (Room 1019; [email protected])
Mr Ethan Newman (room 1019; [email protected])
Prof Conrad Matthee (Room 2031; [email protected])
Dr. Victor Rambau (Room 4005; [email protected] )
Course assistant: Janette Law-Brown ([email protected], Room 1006; [email protected])
Aims: “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.” These were the famous words of
Theodosius Dobzhansky who succinctly verbalized the ramifications of Darwin’s most ground-breaking idea.
Evolution is the only theory that can claim to unite all biological disciplines and in this course we aim to make
sure that you understand how evolution works, so that you can claim to be a biologist. In particular, we
demonstrate how the study of evolution itself has evolved with the discovery of Mendelian genetics and
inheritance. Armed with the mechanisms of inheritance we journey through some of the most influential
evolutionary theory on adaptive landscapes and shifting balance and how this influences the way in which the
traits of organisms are able to evolve. We explore how relentless discrimination against individuals with slightly
less “perfect” traits (natural selection) has through time sculpted our bodies in tiny steps. Natural selection has led
to adaptation where the morphology of organisms is apparently matched to the environment in seemingly
impossible “perfection.” But because environments change in space and time, the organisms within those
environments change and diverge in response. We explore the processes leading to speciation and try to navigate
the quagmire of literature that attempts to explain the deceptively simple question of “what is a species?” From
simple beginnings, we help you to understand how you came to exist.
Recommended text book:
Ridley M 2005. Evolution. 3rd ed. Blackwell publishing
Recommended additional reading:
Coyne JA and Orr HA 2004. Speciation. Sinauer
Dawkins R. 2009. The Greatest show on earth. Bantam Press
Dawkins R. 1996. Climbing Mount Improbable. Penguin
Schluter D. 2000. The Ecology of Adaptive radiation. Oxford University Press.
Lecture programme: This course consists of 38 lectures that are held on Mondays (08h00-08h50), Wednesdays
(09h00-09h50) and Fridays (10h00-10h50) in room 1025 of the Natural science Building. The schedule is below.
Lecture
Date
Day
Subject
Lecturer
Chapters
1
18-Jul
Mon
pre-Darwin, Darwin
VR
1, 3
2
3
4
5
6
7
20-Jul
22-Jul
25-Jul
27-Jul
29-Jul
01-Aug
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Darwin, Wallis & the Modern synthesis
Supporting evidence
Mendelian genetics and inheritance
The theory of natural selection
The theory of natural selection
Random events
VR
VR
CAM
CAM
CAM
CAM
1, 3
1, 3
2, 5-7
2, 5-7
2, 5-7
2, 5-7
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
03-Aug
05-Aug
08-Aug
10-Aug
12-Aug
15-Aug
17-Aug
19-Aug
22-Aug
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Public Holiday – Local Elections
Population genetic models
Population genetic models
Selection vs drift
Selection vs drift
Selection vs Drift
Case Studies
Continuous traits & quantitative genetics
Continuous traits & quantitative genetics
CAM
CAM
CAM
CAM
CAM
CAM
EN
EN
2, 5-7
2, 5-7
2, 5-7
2, 5-7
2, 5-7
2, 5-7
2, 5-7
2, 5-7
17
18
19
24-Aug
26-Aug
29-Aug
Wed
Fri
Mon
Adaptive landscapes & shifting balance
Adaptive landscapes & shifting balance
Natural selection & adaptation
EN
EN
EN
8, 10, 11
8, 10, 11
8, 10, 11
20
21
Wed
Fri
8, 10, 11
8, 10, 11
Mon
Wed
Fri
Natural selection & adaptation
The adaptionist paradigm
HOLIDAYS
Constraints on adaptation
Genetics of adaptation
Units of selsction
EN
EN
22
23
24
31-Aug
02-Sep
03-11 SEP
12-Sep
14-Sep
16-Sep
EN
MDJ
MDJ
8, 10, 11
8, 10, 11
8, 10, 11
25
26
27
28
29
30
19-Sep
21-Sep
23-Sep
26-Sep
28-Sep
30-Sep
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Identifying adaptation
Identifying adaptation
Measuring selection
Directionality & continuity of adaptation
Species concepts
Isolating barriers
MDJ
MDJ
MDJ
MDJ
AP
AP
8, 10, 11
8, 10, 11
8, 10, 11
8, 10, 11
13, 14, 18, 23
13, 14, 18, 23
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
03-Oct
05-Oct
07-Oct
10-Oct
12-Oct
14-Oct
17-Oct
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Allopatric speciation
Sympatric speciation
Pollinator-mediated speciation
Speciation by sensory drive
Coevolution
Reinforcement
Diversification
AP
AP
AP
AP
AP
AP
AP
13, 14, 18, 23
13, 14, 18, 23
13, 14, 18, 23
13, 14, 18, 23
13, 14, 18, 23
13, 14, 18, 23
13, 14, 18, 23
38
19-Oct
Wed
Speciation & Coexistence
AP
13, 14, 18, 23
39
21-Oct
Fri
Communities
AP
13, 14, 18, 23
Practical programme: There are 12 practical sessions, which will be held on Tuesdays (14h00-16h50) either in
the field or in the undergraduate laboratory (room 2025) in the Natural Sciences Building. Meet in 2025 for all
practicals.
Prac
Subject
lecturer
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Date
19-Jul
26-Jul
02-Aug
16-Aug
23-Aug
30-Aug
13-Sep
History & evidence
Natural selection
Natural selection
Selection vs drift
Climbing Mt Improbable with dice
The adaptationist paradigm
Measuring natural selection
VR
CAM
CAM
CAM
EN
EN
MDJ
8
9
10
11
12
20-Sep
27-Sep
04-Oct
11-Oct
18-Oct
Measuring natural selection
Natural Selection
Speciation
Speciation field trip
Speciation
MDJ
MDJ
AP
AP
AP
Assessment: There will be a class test on 29 Sep (venue to be announced). The examination covers topics which
are discussed in class and during practicals. The first examination will be on 08 Nov, 09:00, and the second
examination will be on 01 Dec, 09:00 (venues to be announced). You will complete several practical write-ups
during the year and we will use 3 of these in order to arrive at your practical mark (50%).
Class mark: ...........................................50%
Practical write-ups (50%)
Test (50%)
Exam mark: ...........................................50%
= Final mark ........................................100%
Deadlines: Reports must be handed in to Janette Law-Brown by 12h00 on the day of the deadline. Reports
handed in late will have marks deducted at a rate of 5% per day. Practicals handed in later than a week or more
will not be marked. In instances where a deadline or practical is missed, an original doctor’s certificate is
required within one week. If a practical is missed for medical reasons, the student still needs to complete the
practical in their own time.