Download DATE - Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources

INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
11:704:101
TENTATIVE SYLLABUS*
Date
Lecture
TOPICS
1/20
1
Introduction
1/24
2
Evolution – Charles Darwin
1/27
3
Natural Selection
1/31
4
Evolutionary Mechanisms I
2/3
5
Evolutionary Mechanisms II
2/7
6
Phylogenetic Trees
2/10
7
Human Evolution I
2/14
8
Human Evolution II
2/17
9
Recent gene evolution
2/21
EXAM 1 (Lecture 2-8)
2/24
10
Evolution of Sexual Selection
2/28
11
Evolution of Mating Systems
3/3
12
3/7
13
3/10
14
Evolution of Domestication: Animals & Plants
Guest lecture: Ari Novy, P.hD. candidate " Dominating the Land: The Story
of Plant Evolution”
Population Ecology
SPRING BREAK
3/21
15
Population Growth
3/24
16
Intraspecific Effects: Density-dependent & -independent
3/28
17
Community Ecology
3/31
EXAM 2 (Lecture 9-16)
4/4
18
Interspecific Competition
4/7
19
Predation
4/11
20
Food Webs & Symbiosis
4/14
21
Guest lecture: Dr. Michael Sukhdeo "Parasites and food webs”
4/18
22
Terrestrial Ecosystems
4/21
23
Biodiversity
4/25
24
Chemical Cycling
4/28
25
Climate Change
5/2
26
Conservation Ecology
5/6
EXAM 3 (Lecture 17-24)
*lecture topics and dates are subject to change
INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION*
WEBPAGE: www.rci.rutgers.edu/~ssukhdeo/
11:704:101
MTH 9:15-10:35
LOREE-022
Instructor:
Dr. Suzanne Sukhdeo
Dept. Ecol., Evol. & Nat. Res.
84 Lipman Drive, rm 217
Email: [email protected]
Webpage: www.rci.rutgers.edu/~ssukhdeo/
Tel: 732-932-3760
Office hrs: by appointment
Course:
This course covers basic principles in evolution and ecology at an introductory
level. The evolution section is meant to provide an understanding of natural selection
and evolutionary mechanisms, including how to interpret phylogenetic trees and current
theories on human evolution. The ecology section covers population ecology,
community ecology, ecosystems, climate, biochemical cycling in the ecosystems and
conservation ecology.
The course consists of lectures interspersed with research seminars by faculty
from the Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources. These speakers will
discuss their research areas to illuminate concepts given in the preceding lectures.
Suggested Textbook:
A textbook is NOT a requirement for this course. All tests will be based on
lecture material and guest seminars. However, for those students interested in ecology
and evolution, an excellent basic textbook is:
Thomas M. Smith & Robert L. Smith (2009) “Elements of Ecology”, 7th Edition.
Pearson/Benjamin Cummings. [older editions are fine]
Grading:
In-lecture Quizzes
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Total
100
128
128
128
484 (THERE IS NO EXTRA CREDIT!!!)
*Lecture topics and grading scheme are subject to change.