3 ECTS credits
75 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4023855FNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.
Ecology and evolution are entangled to an extent that ecological and evolutionary processes interact in virtually every natural system and can therefore rarely be studied separately. This course gives a theoretical and practical introduction to the interface of ecology and evolution and exemplifies how they feed back into each other. Specific topics addressed in this course include natural selection, adaptive divergence, evolution at ecological time scales, population dynamics, species interactions, ecosystem function, genetics, and plasticity.
Recommended literature
Hendry, A. (2017) Eco-evolutionary Dynamics. Princeton University Press.
Pianka, E.R. (2011) Evolutionary Ecology. 7th Edition.
The overall objective of the course is to introduce the students in evolutionary processes at ecological timescales and feedback mechanisms between ecology and evolution. After following this course, the students are expected to
Understand the important ecological and evolutionary processes and how they interact
Understand the concept of eco-evolutionary dynamics
Linking evolutionary ecology with other disciplines in biology
Be able to formulate a research hypothesis that addresses state-of-the-art questions in evolutionary ecology
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Assessment will be based on:
Written exam (50 %)
Oral presentation of assignments (50 %)
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Biology: Ecology and Biodiversity