Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Introduction

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) arose, along with its sister department, the Department of Cell and Systems Biology, from a reorganization of the previous departments of Botany and Zoology. Ecologists and evolutionists recognize that all life has evolved and that an understanding of the central question of the origin and maintenance of diversity from genomes to ecosystems underlies all life sciences and is critical to our stewardship of life. Society needs to make informed decisions about sustainable development, global temperature change, control of invasive species, the preservation of genetic diversity and ecosystem integrity, and control of emerging infectious diseases such as SARS and drug-resistant malaria. These are fundamentally evolutionary and ecological problems.

Research and teaching in the department covers all life forms (microbes, fungi, plants, animals) and is aimed at an understanding of the diversity of life and all aspects of organismal biology in the natural world. Research faculty use a broad array of approaches in their studies, including molecular studies, laboratory experiments, computer and mathematical modeling, and field studies in many different areas of the world. Instruction provides opportunities for research projects in addition to laboratory and field studies. We offer a very wide range of courses that deal with molecular evolution, population and quantitative genetics, animal behaviour, population, community and landscape ecology, evolutionary and ecological theory, bioinformatics, and systematics. Students exposed to these subjects come to realize that the ecological and evolutionary underpinnings of life present a host of scientific problems that are both intellectually challenging and critical to our future.

For 2006-7, the courses and programs offered by the previous departments of Botany and Zoology will continue to be available. All students currently pursuing these programs, and those starting in these programs, will be able to complete their degrees within them. As new EEB programs are developed, students may be able to transfer into them, depending on the courses they have taken.
Students entering their first year in the life sciences typically take BIO150Y1. BIO150Y1 is taken by students who have successfully completed OAC or grade 12 Biology (or an equivalent course) and is a prerequisite for almost all further courses in the life sciences. All students, regardless of campus or Faculty, must abide by the stated course prerequisites and exclusions.

Student Counselling and Enquiries:
Contact the Undergraduate Office in the Earth Sciences Centre and consult the departmental website.

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Programs

Behaviour (Science program)

Students wishing to take PSY courses to fulfill the requirements of this program should take PSY100H1. To take additional PSY courses, students must be enroled in a PSY program or have obtained a minimum of 70% in PSY100H1.

Specialist program:

(13 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)

First Year: BIO150Y1; (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1; JMB170Y1/MAT135Y1/MAT136Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1
Higher Years:
1. BIO250Y1, BIO260H1/HMB265H1 (BIO260H1 is recommended); (PSY290H1, PSY391H1)/ZOO252Y1
2. ZOO322H1
3. (PSY201H1, PSY202H1)/(STA220H1, BIO225H1)/(STA220H1, STA221H1)/(STA220H1, JBS229H1)/(STA250H1, STA255H1)/(STA257H1, STA261H1)
4. BIO323H1, BIO324H1;
BIO301H1/BIO302H1/BIO303H1/BIO305H1/BIO306H1/BIO307H1/BIO308H1/BIO469H1/
ZOO304H1/ZOO360H1/ZOO361H1; BIO494Y1/BIO495Y1/BIO496Y1
5. 3.5 courses from ANT436H1, BIO, ENV234Y1, HMB321H1, HPS323H1, HPS333H1, JZP, PSY (except PSY300H1), ZOO (except ZOO200Y1, ZOO214Y1, ZOO215H1, ZOO216H1), 1.5 of which must be at the 300+ level. JZP326H1, JZP428H1; PSY260H1, PSY280H1, PSY362H1, PSY369H1, PSY390H1, PSY392H1, PSY393H1, PSY396H1, PSY399H1, PSY460H1, PSY490H1; ZOO362H1, are recommended for this program.

Biology: see Biology

Botany: see Biology

Ecology (Science program)

Specialist program:

(13.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)

First Year:
BIO150Y1; (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1; JMB170Y1/MAT135Y1/MAT136Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1
Higher Years:
1. BIO250Y1, BIO260H1, BIO323H1; BOT251Y1/ZOO252Y1; ENV234Y1/ZOO265Y1
2. (PSY201H1, PSY202H1)/(STA220H1, BIO225H1)/(STA220H1, STA221H1)/(STA220H1, JBS229H1)/(STA250H1, STA255H1)/(STA257H1, STA261H1)
3. BIO301H1/BIO302H1/BIO303H1/BIO305H1/BIO306H1/BIO307H1/BIO308H1/BIO469H1/ZOO304H1/ZOO360H1/ZOO361H1
4. Two courses from: BIO319H1, BIO321H1, BIO324H1, BIO328H1, BIO365H1, ZOO322H1
5. One course from: BIO494Y1, BIO495Y1, BIO496Y1
6. Two courses from: ANT436H1, BIO, BOT (except BOT202Y1), CHM, ENV (except ENV200Y1), GGR (only science courses), GLG (except GLG 100H1, GLG103H1, GLG105H1, GLG110H1), HMB321H1, HPS323H1, HPS333H1, JZP, MAT, PHY (except PHY100H1, PHY110Y1), STA, ZOO (except ZOO200Y1, ZOO214Y1, ZOO215H1, ZOO216H1) and at least 0.5 course at the 300+ level. BIO370H1, BIO428H1, BIO440H1, BIO465H1, BIO469H1, BIO471H1, ZOO 373H1, ZOO375H1 are recommended for this program

Environmental Biology (Minor): see Centre for Environment

Evolutionary Biology (Science program)

Consult Departments of Zoology and Botany.

Specialist program:

(12.5 or 13 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)

First Year:
BIO150Y1; (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1; JMB170Y1/MAT135Y1/MAT136Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1
Higher Years:
1. BIO250Y1, BIO260H1; BOT251Y1/ZOO252Y1
2. (CHM220H1, CHM247H1)/CHM249H1/ (PSY201H1, PSY202H1)/(STA220H1, BIO225H1)/(STA220H1, STA221H1)/(STA220H1, JBS229H1)/(STA250H1, STA255H1)/(STA257H1, STA261H1)
3. (CHM220H1, CHM247H1)/CHM249H1/ (GLG110H1, GLG216H1)/MAT235Y1/MAT237Y1/PHY110Y1/PHY138Y1/PSY100H1/(PSY201H1, PSY202H1)/(STA220H1, BIO225H1)/(STA220H1, STA221H1)/STA220H1, JBS229H1)/(STA250H1, STA255H1)/(STA257H1, STA261H1)
4. BIO319H1, BIO323H1, BIO324H1; ZOO362H1
5. 3.5 courses from: ANT436H1, BIO, BOT (except BOT202Y1), ENV234Y1, HMB321H1, HPS323H1, HPS333H1, JZP, ZOO (except ZOO200Y1, ZOO214Y1, ZOO215H1, ZOO216H1). Of the 3.5 courses, 0.5 must be from: BIO301H1/BIO302H1/BIO303H1/ BIO305H1/BIO306H1/BIO307H1/BIO308H1/BIO469H1/ZOO304H1/ZOO360H1/ZOO361H1, and one from: BIO494Y1, BIO495Y1, BIO496Y1, ZOO 480Y1-496Y1 (BIO494Y1 is recommended). BIO321H1, BIO365H1, BIO370H1, BIO460H1, ZOO462H1 are recommended for this program.

Zoology: see Biology