Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Courses |
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All students regardless of campus or Faculty must abide by the stated course prerequisites and exclusions. First Year Seminars The 199Y1 and 199H1 seminars are designed to provide the opportunity to work closely with an instructor in a class of no more than twenty-four students. These interactive seminars are intended to stimulate the students’ curiosity and provide an opportunity to get to know a member of the professorial staff in a seminar environment during the first year of study. Details here.
BIO120H1 Principles and concepts of evolution and ecology related to origins of adaptation and biodiversity. Mechanisms and processes driving biological diversification illustrated from various perspectives using empirical and theoretical approaches. Topics include: genetic diversity; natural selection; speciation; physiological, population and community ecology; global change biology; conditions for coexistence; conservation, species extinction, and invasion biology. JMB170Y1 Applications of mathematics to biological problems in physiology, genetics, evolution, growth, population dynamics, cell biology, ecology, and behaviour. Mathematical topics include: power functions and regression; exponential and logistic functions; binomial theorem and probability; calculus, including derivatives, max/min, integration, areas, integration by parts, substitution; differential equations, including linear constant coefficient systems; dynamic programming; Markov processes; and chaos. This course is intended for students in Life Sciences. SCI199Y1 Undergraduate seminar that focuses on specific ideas, questions, phenomena or controversies, taught by a regular Faculty member deeply engaged in the discipline. Open only to newly admitted first year students. It may serve as a distribution requirement course; See page 52. BIO220H1 Dynamics of genetic and ecological change in biological systems, from genomes to ecosystems. Evolutionary genetic and ecological perspectives on wide-ranging topics including disease, aging, sexual conflict, genetics of human differences, conservation, and global climate change. Applications of evolutionary, ecological, and molecular-genetic principles and processes. Responsibilities of human societies in a changing world. (First offered in 2011-2012) BIO251Y1 An introduction to the biology of plants, fungi, and algae. Lectures and labs emphasize the diversity of organisms with a focus on life cycles, morphology, anatomy, physiology, ecology, and evolution. EEB202H1 The importance of plants to society. Plant biology, domestication of crop plants, plant breeding and genetic engineering, biologicial invasions, conservation, biodiversity and genetic resources. Evaluation of the ecological implications of advances in modern plant science. A two-hour mid-term test will be scheduled for October and held outside of class time. EEB214H1 Evolution and adaptation through natural selection. Concepts and application based on faunal life goals of habitat survival, food acquisition, predator avoidance, and reproduction. Topics include: speciation, mutation, co-evolution, symbiosis, pollination, cannibalism, parasitism, eusociality, and sexual and parental conflict. Essays, debates, and reading required. EEB215H1 Introduction to the scientific discipline that deals with endangered wildlife. Topics include: biodiversity, extinction, threats, demography, genetic diversity, nature reserves, and captive breeding. Also, endangered species laws, moral philosophies, and political, economic and social justice issues surrounding biodiversity. Essays and reading required. EEB216H1 Introduction to ecological, evolutionary, and physiological adaptations of marine mammals to their aquatic environment. Issues of conservation and environmental biology are also covered. Tutorials will be supplemented with video and other teaching tools including the use of anatomical specimens. EEB225H1 A statistics course designed especially for life science students, using biological examples where appropriate. Students learn to choose and use statistics that are appropriate to address relevant biological questions and hypotheses. Lectures and computer labs will be used to cover the following methods: sampling and experimental design, data exploration, correlation, regression, EEB263Y1 The ontogeny and phylogeny of vertebrate structure are considered within the context of evolutionary theory. Functional aspects of the various organ systems are examined. Representative fish and mammals are dissected in detail and other forms are dealt with briefly to illustrate selected anatomical features and to provide practical exposure to vertebrate construction. EEB266H1 This course explores the diversity of invertebrate animals (e.g., sponges, jellyfish, flatworms, molluscs, annelids, nematodes, arthropods, and echinoderms), focusing on the special attributes and biological requirements of different groups, how they function in their natural environments, and what makes each group vulnerable to human-based exploitation. Labs emphasize EEB267H1 This course explores the diversity of chordate animals (vertebrates, tunicates, and lancelets), focusing on morphological, physiological, ecological and behavioural traits that make each group special and how those traits increase vulnerability to human-based exploitation. Labs involve living organisms whenever possible, but only for display purposes.Prerequisite: BIO120H1/150Y1 EEB299Y1 Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. Details here. ENV234Y1 A broad-based science course drawing on elements from geology, systematics, soil science, and ecology to understand past and present environments and how humans are altering the environment. Emphasis is placed on examination of ecological phenomena in relation to population, community, and ecosystem processes with particular reference to the biomes of Ontario. Descriptive and experimental laboratory studies including a weekend field trip (total cost about $15.00). (Offered by the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Department of Geology, and the Faculty of Forestry) EEB318H1 Principles and practice of evolutionary biology since Darwin. Topics may include: phylogeny, speciation, mutation and neutral evolution, population genetic variation, quantitative genetics, molecular evolution, natural selection and adaptation, evolutionary conflict and cooperation, and levels of selection. EEB319H1 Distribution of species; population growth and regulation; interactions within and among species; food webs; harvesting of natural resources; diseases; pest control. Basic ecological principles and applied issues discussed. Labs include experiments and computer simulations. EEB321H1 A comprehensive survey of community ecology: nature and analysis of community structure; disturbance and community development; species interactions; community assembly processes. As part of the course requirements there will be two day field trips held on weekends. A fee of approximately $15 will be charged for each field trip. Both the field trips and computer exercises in weekly labs provide training in sampling, simulation, and data analysis. EEB322H1 A broad introduction to animal behaviour emphasizing concepts from ethology and behavioural ecology, including foraging, predation, mating systems, parental care and behaviour genetics. Field and laboratory studies are undertaken. EEB323H1 Evolutionary biology rests on a foundation of evolutionary genetics. This course focuses on the core ideas in population genetics and extends to evolutionary genomics. Students are exposed to the mathematical theory underlying evolutionary genetics and are expected to learn the mathematical foundations underlying these ideas. Topics include the population genetics of mutation, migration, drift, and selection, analysis of sequence variation, and the evolution of sexual reproduction. EEB324H1 Empirical and theoretical approaches to key areas of research including natural selection, sexual selection, and life histories. Other topics may include phenotypic plasticity, speciation, co-evolution, and quantitative genetics. EEB328H1 An advanced treatment of the physiological mechanisms controlling plant and animal distribution and ecological success. Topics of focus include photosynthesis and resource balance, water and nutrient relations, temperature effects, and adaptations to abiotic stress. (Not offered in 2010-2011) EEB330H1 The theoretical foundations of taxonomy and the types of evidence used in constructing plant classifications. Labs emphasize taxonomic characters and their uses. Includes an independent taxonomic project. EEB331H1 Topics include fungal systematics, morphology, physiology, and ecology. The roles of fungi in the environment and their importance to man. A field trip explores the natural occurrence of fungi. Labs introduce the techniques used for morphological and molecular identification, and for isolation in pure culture. Students use fungal cultures to conduct an independent experimental research project. EEB337H1 This course examines variation in morphology, predominant breeding systems, dispersal syndromes, and other features families of vascular plants in the Ontario flora. Students learn key characteristics for identification of important groups of free-sporing and seed-producing plants in the context of green plant evolution and phylogeny. EEB340H1 This course focuses on land plant origins and subsequent diversification of land plant vegetative and reproductive form and function. Discussions synthesize morphological and anatomical knowledge from living organisms and fossil records with cellular, physiological, and molecular information on the developmental tool kit of land plants and their ancestors throughout geological time. Topics address the evolution of vegetative and reproductive meristems; stem, leaf, and root architecture; vascular tissue; the ovule habit; fertilization processes; and pollination biology. (Not offered in 2010-2011) EHJ351H1 Predicting human population growth is important to society. How many people can Earth support and what constraints on lifestyle will be imposed by different population sizes? Topics include: principles of demography; history of and scientific bases for predicting human population growth; uncertainty in growth predictions; ecological consequences of population growth; impacts of behavioural or evolutionary change on population growth; philosophical and political issues affecting human population regulation.Prerequisite: (BIO120H1, BIO220H1)/150Y1, JMB170Y1/ MAT135Y1/136Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1 EHJ352H1 Human genome diversity and evolution with a focus on current research. The course integrates applications of human evolutionary genomics to the understanding of human history and adaptation, the causes of disease, and genome structure and function. Topics include: comparative genomics, population genomics of adaptation, association mapping, repetitive/selfish DNA, and gene duplication.Prerequisite: (BIO120H1, BIO220H1)/150Y, BIO260H1/HMB265H1 JHE353H1 An examination of major ideas about biological evolution from the 18th century to the 1930s and of their impact on scientific and social thought. Topics include the diversity of life and its classification, the adaptation of organisms to their environment, Wallace’s and Darwin’s views on evolution by natural selection, sexual selection, inheritance from Mendel to T.H. Morgan, eugenics, and the implications of evolution for religion, gender roles, and the organization of society. JHE355H1 An examination of ideas about biological evolution from the 1930s to the present. Topics include the Modern Synthesis, population genetics, the concept of biological species, ecology, sociobiology, and creationism. EEB356H1 Lectures provide an introduction to the morphology, physiology, development, behaviour, evolutionary history and biological significance of insects. Practicals will include demonstrations, multimedia, and group discussions. (Offered in alternate years; not offered in 2010-2011). EEB360H1 Introduction to the morphology, physiology, development, behaviour, ecology, evolutionary history, and biological significance of insects. Labs include making an insect collection and learning the major groups of insects. Mandatory one week of fieldwork in southern Ontario at the end of August. EEB360H1 can fulfill a program’s field course requirement. (Offered in alternate years; offered in 2010-11). EEB362H1 Explores patterns of large-scale evolutionary change, played out over large geographic expanses and extended periods of time. Integrates patterns with field and experimental studies to clarify evolutionary processes. Topics include: origins of species and their adaptations, historical biogeography, co-evolution, radiations and extinctions, fossils and macroevolutionary patterns, and the role of evolutionary information in conservation and biodiversity initiatives. Tutorials emphasize methods used to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and the sequence of character evolution. EEB365H1 Introduction to the study and conservation of biodiversity at all levels genes, species, populations, habitats and ecosystem functions. Includes threats to biodiversity and approaches to maintaining biodiversity. Practicals include small group discussions of lecture topics and computer labs. EEB370H1 Introduction to mathematical modeling techniques used in ecological and evolutionary theory. Applications include understanding the dynamics of populations and ecological communities and the evolution of ecologically important characteristics within species. Includes applied linear algebra, dynamic systems models, optimization techniques, and game theory. Requires good knowledge of first-year calculus, but not extensive mathematical background. Computer lab once a week. (Not offered in 2010-2011) EEB375H1 A lecture and seminar course dealing with the effects of physical and chemical environments on animals. EEB382H1 The systematics, morphology, ecology, behaviour, biogeography, and conservation of fishes. Identification of major groups of fish; what makes each group biologically special and how those unique traits might contribute to conservation concerns. Laboratories focus on exercises designed to highlight how ichthyologists actually do research. (Not offered in 2010-2011) Prerequisite: (BIO120H1, BIO220H1)/150Y1 EEB384H1 Introduction to the natural history, evolution, and diversity of amphibians. (Offered in alternate years; offered in 2010-2011) EEB386H1 Avian diversity and evolution; form and function; adaptations for flight; biogeography; migration and navigation; reproduction, sexual selection, and social behaviour; species, speciation, and hybridization; population trends and conservation. Local field trips possible. Tutorials will largely focus on avian evolution, classification, and identification. EEB388H1 Natural history of mammals emphasizing ecology, community structure, behaviour, reproduction, and life history strategies; form and function related to different modes of life and physical environments. Labs include a survey of Ontario mammals. (Offered in alternate years; offered in 2010-2011) EEB389H1 The origin, evolution, zoogeography, phylogenetic relationships, and diversity of mammals; speciation, extinction, and current issues in conservation biology. Labs survey mammalian orders, their characteristics, identification, and systematic relationships. (Offered in alternate years; not offered in 2010-2011) EEB397Y1 An intermediate research project requiring the prior consent of a member of the Department to supervise the project. The topic is to be one mutually agreed on by the student and supervisor. They must arrange the time, place, and provision of any materials and submit to the Undergraduate Office a signed form of agreement outlining details prior to being enrolled. This course is open to highly self-motivated students who are in their Third Year and have a strong interest in ecology and/or evolutionary biology. Students are required to write up the results of their research in a formal paper, often in the format of a research article, and may be required to present the results at a poster session and/or participate in an oral presentation. Students should contact their potential supervisors over the summer before classes begin in September. Information regarding how to register for the course is available on the EEB website. EEB398H0 EEB399Y0 An instructor-supervised group project in an off-campus setting. Details here. 400-SERIES COURSES NOTE: EEB494H1, EEB495H1, EEB496H1 are
seminar courses that are advanced in level and broad in scope, emphasizing
the integration of related sub-disciplines, critical thinking, and the synthesis
of ideas often crossing disciplinary boundaries. Fundamental to these courses
are group discussions among peers, facilitated by faculty, and student presentations.
Students generally enrol in these courses in their Fourth Year. Students
wishing
to take more than one should contact the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Undergraduate Office. EEB401H1 A two-week field course offered in May at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrews, New Brunswick. Lectures and seminars with intensive field and laboratory work on different marine habitats and the animals and plants associated with them. Student projects included. EEB403H1 A two-week field course introducing students to the diversity of biological communities in the tropics focusing on ecological and evolutionary interactions. Plant and animal communities of the New World tropics are compared and contrasted with temperate communities. Students conduct small-scale research projects in the field. (Next offered in MAY 2011). EEB404H1 A two-week field course introducing students to the diversity of plants found in southern Ontario in the wild and to the field, herbarium, and laboratory methods used in plant organismal biology research. Topics include plant collecting, identification, preparation of voucher specimens, reproductive biology, and diversity and phylogeny. (Not offered in 2010) EEB405H1 A two-week field course offered in August at U of T’s Koffler Scientific Reserve, King City, Ontario. Students learn the natural history of the region and conduct a research project in the field. Projects focus on terrestrial plant ecology, plant-insect interactions, and other topics in evolutionary ecology selected by the students. EEB406H1 A two-week field course offered May to August by another Ontario university (to various locations) as part of the Ontario Universities Program in Field Biology (OUPFB). The selection of field course modules are announced in January. For registration information consult the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Undergraduate Office or EEB’s website. EEB407H1 A two-week field course at a high mountain field station in the summer. Students learn the natural history of alpine and subalpine biomes and investigate major abiotic and biotic interactions. Required projects catalogue natural diversity, examine species interactions, or assess abiotic influences and stresses on high-altitude organisms and their environment. (Not offered in 2010) EEB409H1 A two-week field course in May at the Wildlife Research Station in Algonquin Park, Ontario. Lectures on the biology of birds with daily field work emphasizing field identification (visual and acoustic), field research methodologies, analysis of census data, habitat relationships, and behaviour of territoriality, reproduction and migration. Student projects included. EEB410H1 A two-week field course in August at the Harkness Fisheries Research Laboratory in Algonquin Park, Ontario. Field and laboratory exercises demonstrate how interactions between physical, chemical, and biological parameters are crucial in understanding lake ecosystems. Students collect, analyse, and interpret data, and complete a class project and an independent project. EEB428H1 An examination of organism, population, and ecosystem responses to long-term environmental change occurring at the global scale, with emphasis on human caused perturbation to climate and the carbon, nitrogen, and hydrolic cycles and their ecological effects. EEB440H1 Major concepts in ecology and evolution from the perspective of plant-animal interactions. The richness of interactions between plants and animals is explored including antagonistic interactions (e.g., herbivory, carnivorous plants), mutualistic interactions (e.g., pollination, seed dispersal, ant-plant associations), and interactions involving multiple species across trophic levels. EEB459H1 A focus on theoretical population genetics, using mathematical models to understand how different evolutionary forces drive allele frequency change. Students learn how to mathematically derive classic results in population genetics. Topics include drift, coalescence, the relationship between population and quantitative genetics, selection in finite populations, and mutation load. (Offered in alternate years, not offered in 2010-2011) EEB460H1 Processes of evolution at the molecular level, and the analysis of molecular data. Gene structure, neutrality, nucleotide sequence evolution, sequence evolution, sequence alignment, phylogeny construction, gene families, transposition. EEB465H1 Conservation biology from a Canadian and global perspective including targets for conservation, methods of assessment, tools for recovery, key philosophical issues, policy, and legislation. This course teaches the theory and practice of real-world conservation. EEB488H1 This course is taken concurrently by students who are enrolled in EEB498Y1/EEB499Y1 Advanced Research Project in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and uses a combination of seminars, discussions and presentations (including presentations by students) designed to cover issues commonly encountered when conducting research in ecology and evolutionary biology. Topics may include: experimental design, effective use of statistics, scientific writing and publishing, public communication, ethics, and career development. Students will be required to attend departmental seminars. This is a half-course that runs from September to April and meets in alternate weeks. EEB494H1 Topics include evolutionary ecology and genetics, biodiversity, and behavioural ecology. Primary literature and research seminars form the basis for class discussion and short seminars. Student-led discussions. EEB495H1 Analysis and discussion of current topics in ecology. The topics vary from year to year. The seminar activities include both oral and written analyses of current research articles, and may include group projects. Critical discussion of research methods is an important component of the course. EEB496H1 Topics in behavioural ecology including predator-prey interactions, host-parasite interactions, mate choice, and foraging. Other topics for general discussions may include animal emotions, consciousness, culture and welfare. Evaluation based on presentations, participation in class discussions, and written assignments. EEB497H1 EEB498Y1 An advanced research project (a literature review alone is not sufficient) requiring the prior consent of a member of the Department to supervise the project. The topic is to be one mutually agreed on by the student and supervisor. They must arrange the time, place, and provision of any materials and submit to the Undergraduate Office a signed form of agreement outlining details prior to being enrolled. This course is normally open only to highly self-motivated students who are in their Fourth-Year and have adequate background in ecology and/or evolutionary biology. Students are required to write up the results of their research in a formal paper, often in the format of a research article, and are also required to present the results at a poster session and/or presentation. Students should contact their potential supervisors over the summer before classes begin in September. Information regarding how to register for the course is available on the EEB website. EEB499Y1 Allows students to do another independent project, supervision of which must be different from EEB497H1/EEB498Y1. Operates in the same manner as EEB498Y1. |