Download Natural Sciences Tripos, PART IB ECOLOGY

TEACHING MATERIALS- DAVID COOMES
The following information is taken from course descriptions available on Departmental
websites. Dates are for 2007-2008
NATURAL SCIENCES TRIPOS, PART IA EVOLUTION AND BEHAVIOUR
This course is an inter-departmental course
Field course
Students have the opportunity of attending three one-week field courses held away from
Cambridge in the Easter Vacation.
Aims
To provide an introduction to the biology, ecology and diversity of organisms in natural
habitats. To enable students to study, in their natural habitats, some of the organisms
discussed during the lectures, and to illustrate some of the concepts, such as adaptive
morphology and behaviour covered in the rest of the course. Students are encouraged to do
some work on their own, and to discuss this orally during the course.
David Coomes teaches plant evolution, as part of the Devon-based field course.
NATURAL SCIENCES TRIPOS, PART IB ECOLOGY
This course is taught jointly by the Departments of Genetics, Plant Sciences and Zoology.
Aims
 to develop key ecological concepts and approaches
 to introduce major ecosystems
 to offer information and literature references to enable you to develop and defend a
reasoned position on some controversial issues
 to introduce habitats, organisms, approaches and the methodology of ecological research
on the field course and through project work
The Ecology of Change – David Coomes
In his block of 6 lectures, David Coomes discusses how humans have transformed terrestrial
ecosystems. He starts by considering the major natural determinants of vegetation structure temperature, rainfall, soil processes and herbivory - and the history of change observed
during the Holocene. He then explains how humans have radically changed terrestrial
vegetation through fire, agriculture and moving species outside their native ranges.
16 Nov The effects on temperature on plant evolution and present-day distribution.
19 Nov Succession and migration during the Holocene
21 Nov The effects of fire on vegetation dynamics
23 Nov The influences of plants on microbial decomposers
26 Nov The effects of invasive plants on ecosystem processes
28 Nov Large-scale impacts of herbivores on vegetation
NATURAL SCIENCES TRIPOS, PART IB PLANT & MICROBIAL SCIENCES
This course is taught by the Department of Plant Sciences.
Aims
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to extend the interest and knowledge of modern plant and microbial science acquired
during Part IA courses.
to consider fundamental physiological processes such as photosynthesis, water relations
and nutrient uptake; the interaction of plants with microorganisms and animals; plant
development; evolution and diversity of plants; exploitation of plants and plant products.
for each topic, to deal first with the major issues and ideas which have arisen from
studying plants and microbes in the field, and then to describe current understanding of
the relevant processes at the cellular and molecular levels.
to provide experience of practical experiments that stimulate, educate and illustrate
experimental approaches to plant and microbial sciences, both in the laboratory and in the
field, and in local industrial settings.
to provide the opportunity to compose and present individual discussions of specific
topics in oral presentations.
to provide a framework for further study of plant and microbial sciences in Part II
courses.
Lectures and practical given by David Coomes
The conservation module focuses primarily on global issues associated with human
population growth. We examine evidence that humans have already exceeded their carrying
capacity, and move on to consider the consequences for biodiversity of land-use
intensification and habitat fragmentation. Next we assess critically the mounting evidence of
an extinction crisis. Finally, we move from the global scale to our back door step,
considering chalk grasslands as an example of a highly fragmented habitat, and visiting a
nature reserve to develop plans for the management of a locally endangered species.
1 May - How many people can the world feed?
3 May - The decline and demise of species as a result of habitat loss
5 May - In situ strategies for conservation: chalk grasslands
8 May - Minimising the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation
12/13th November: Practical class: Phenotypic and genotypic variation among junipers at
the Botanic Garden
6 / 7th May - Practical class: Conservation of Chalk Grassland on Devil’s Dyke
NATURAL SCIENCES TRIPOS, PART II ECOLOGY
This course is taught jointly by the Departments of Plant Sciences and Zoology. Modules are
given in both Departments. Students select to be based in one Department, in which they do
their research project(s) and Trends-style essay, but they can choose modules from either
Department. I teach in four modules.
Dynamics, History and Future of Vegetation (based in Plant Sciences)
Module Organiser - Professor Howard Griffiths
This module consists of three inter-linked sections. One theme evaluates the way that global
vegetation has shaped, and has been shaped, by changing climates, giving a palaeohistorical
history to the colonisation of the land by plants. Having firstly considered the evidence for
changing CO2:O2 ratios, the course will examine the likely limiting factors imposed on and
by Rubisco during the progression from early bryophytes and through to the modern day
angiosperms. We will explore the development and diversification of the C4 pathway and
how, more recently, tree rings and other biological markers track Quaternary climatic history.
David then gives three lectures on the ecology and evolution of ferns, conifers and angiosperms.
In the next theme, Ed and David give an integrated approach to the understanding of competition,
co-existence and succession. Ed will have given examples of primary and secondary successions,
and the way that competitive interactions develop. He then considers co-existence and
regeneration in tropical forests. In the second half of David’s lectures, he will discuss theories
defining population distributions, followed by examples of competition and facilitation along
gradients of resource availability, to provide an understanding of diversity in populations,
communities and ecosystems.
Lectures given by Dr Coomes
2 November Evolution and ecology of ferns
5 November Evolution and ecology of conifers
6 November Evolution and ecology of angiosperms
9 November Niche theory
12 November Dispersal limitation
13 November The Diversity - Ecosystem Function Debate
Plant Responses to the Environment (based in Plant Sciences)
Module Organiser – Dr Edmund Tanner
Plants must be able to respond to a range of challenges from the environment, and be able to
respond to these in both the short- and long-term by modification of both their morphology,
physiology and biochemistry. In this course, we will examine the responses of plants to
changes in a range of abiotic components, such as inorganic ions (e.g. low phosphate, high
salinity), water and light, and specifically how C4 photosynthesis is an adaptation to high
light and high temperature. We will examine whether vascular transport systems are
optimized to minimize hydraulic resistance, and discuss the constraints that transport places
on physiological processes. Finally, various types of plant competition will be considered.
Lectures given by Dr Coomes
9 March The mechanistic bases for interspecific variation in traits.
12 March Competition for resources – a comparison of Tilman’s and Grime’s theories
14 March Competition and facilitation along environment gradients
Population Biology (Interdepartmental, based in Zoology)
Module Organiser – Dr Andrea Manica
This course aims to provide an integrated understanding of key issues in population biology,
spanning population dynamics, population genetics and evolutionary dynamics.
The course begins with 6 lectures outlining the basic concepts of population dynamics. In
particular, Andrea Manica assesses how basic population processes such as competition,
predation and parasitism influence the persistence and dynamics of real populations in time
and space. Recent theoretical and empirical work on spatial heterogeneity is introduced. The
focus of the last 2 lectures is on methods for explaining spatial processes at different scales
(notably the metapopulation concept), the effects of spatial dynamics on population
persistence and the trade-off between competition and dispersal-colonization.
The next 9 lectures explore three major groups (vertebrates, diseases and plants) that
have been the subject of a large body of research in population biology. Kavita Isvaran
focuses on the population demography and dynamics in vertebrate populations. Derek Smith
looks at the ecology and management of diseases in animals and humans. Finally, David
Coomes provides an overview on plant population dynamics. Plants are a great study system
to quantitatively test both simple and complex theories in population biology, and Dave
highlights both successes and short-comings of the current framework.
The next 4 lectures introduce basic concepts of a new ecological discipline: molecular
ecology. After a lecture on the use of genetic marks, Bill Amos describes the application of
molecular ecology to analyse the interaction between population genetics and population
dynamics in a range of systems. The final 4 lectures concentrate on evolutionary changes
within populations. Rufus Johnstone explores the concept of trade-offs in the context of life
history evolution.
Lectures given by Dr Coomes
2 November Self-thinning and other plant-mortality processes
5 November The scaling of growth with body size
7 November Theories of species coexistence - trade-off theories
9 November Theories of species coexistence - neutral theory and spatial ecology
Conservation Biology (Interdepartmental, based in Zoology)
Module Organiser – Professor Andrew Balmford
Aims
 To explain the importance and origins of biological diversity and examine the
evidence that nature is currently in decline;
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To understand the immediate threats and underlying drivers causing this decline;
To explore how biological, economic, political and social insights can be integrated to
identify potential solutions;
 To help students appreciate that solving real-world practical conservation problems
usually requires a multi-disciplinary approach
Course structure
This is an inter-departmental course taught by the Departments of Zoology and Plant
Sciences, with additional input from outside experts on policy, economics, and conservation
practice. The module begins by addressing several fundamental issues – what the evidence is
for an extinction crisis, why that might matter, what we mean by biological diversity, and
where it is found. The next block of lectures examines reasons for current declines in wild
species and the places they live, including over-harvesting, habitat destruction and
degradation, the introduction of exotic species, climate change, genetic factors, and
underlying economic pressures. This section will also explore several key concepts in
conservation biology, such as priority-setting, island biogeography theory, the idea that small
populations of plants and animals are particularly vulnerable to extinction, and practical
approaches to diagnosing causes of threat. The final part of the module explores potential
solutions to conservation problems. By combining socio-economic as well as biological
insights, the lectures take a constructively critical look at ex situ conservation, ecosystem
management and restoration, conservation treaties, agri-environment schemes, ecosystem
services, nature-related tourism, and the sustainable exploitation of wild plants and animals.
Lectures and practical given by David Coomes
24 February Ecosystem management
26 February Excursion to Wicken Fen and Kingfisher Bridge reserves, to see management
in action
28 February Ecosystem restoration
2 March
The implications of global climate change