Ecology & Evolutionary Biology


On this page: Introduction | Programs |
See also: Faculty Members | Course Descriptions | Course Winter Timetable |

Introduction

Ecologists and evolutionary biologists 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 the 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 conducted in the laboratory and the field. We offer a very wide range of courses that deal with molecular evolution, population and quantitative genetics, genomics, animal behaviour, population, community, and landscape ecology, evolutionary and ecological theory, biodiversity, conservation biology, 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.

The Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology offers six programs: Specialist programs in Behaviour, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology; a Major program in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; and two Minor programs in Environmental Biology. The Department also jointly offers, with the Department of Cell & Systems Biology, Specialist, Major, and Minor programs in Biology, Botany, and Zoology. The Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB) arose, along with its sister department, the Department of Cell & Systems Biology (CSB), from a reorganization in 2006 of the previous departments of Botany and Zoology.

Students entering their first year in the life sciences in 2010-11 take BIO120H1 (offered by EEB) and BIO130H1 (offered by CSB). These courses are taken by students who have successfully completed Grade 12 Biology, SBI4U (or an equivalent course); BIO130H1 also requires Grade 12 Chemistry, SCH4U. One or both of these half courses is a prerequisite for almost all further courses in the life sciences.

Students requiring more information about BIO120H1 please contact the BIO120/150 Office, Earth Sciences Centre (25 Willcocks St.), room 3045A, BIO120@utoronto.ca
Note: The Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology’s former first-year course BIO150Y1 was offered for the last time in SumMER 2010 and has been replaced with BIO120H1 and BIO220H1; BIO220H1 will be offered for the first time in January 2012. The Department of Cell & System Biology’s courses BIO240H1 and BIO241H1 will be replaced with BIO130H1 and BIO230H1; BIO130H1S, BIO240H1F, and BIO241H1S will be offered in 2010-11.

Note to students who enrolled in 300 series field courses prior to 2010-11: These courses have been renumbered at the 400 series. You are not permitted to take the corresponding 400 series course if previously taken at the 300 series. Please check the individual course descriptions for more information.

Students requiring more information about Ecology & Evolutionary Biology programs and courses please visit the departmental website or contact the Undergraduate Office, Earth Sciences Centre (25 Willcocks St.), room 3055B, undergrad.eeb@utoronto.ca.

Website: www.eeb.utoronto.ca/undergraduate

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Programs

After completing 4.0 FCEs (four full courses or their equivalent), it is recommended students in these programs discuss their course selections with the Department. Contact: undergrad.eeb@utoronto.ca

Enrolment in the programs listed below requires completion of 4.0 FCEs; no minimum GPA is required.

Behaviour (Science program)

Specialist program:

(12.5 full courses or their equivalent)

Students who have taken BIO150Y1, do not take BIO120H1 and BIO220H1 in this program. Students who have taken BIO240H1 and BIO241H1, do not take BIO130H1 and BIO230H1 in this program.

First Year (3.0 FCEs): (BIO120H1,BIO130H1)/150Y1; (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1; JMB170Y1/ MAT135Y1/136Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1
Higher Years:
1. 2.5 FCEs: BIO220H1; BIO230H1/(BIO240H1, BIO241H1)/BIO255Y1; BIO260H1/HMB265H1; (PSY290H1, PSY260H1/PSY280H1)/(BIO270H1, BIO271H1)
2. 1.0 FCE in statistics from: (PSY201H1, PSY202H1); (STA220H1, EEB225H1) (recommended); (STA220H1, STA221H1); (STA250H1, STA255H1); (STA257H1, STA261H1)
3. 1.5 FCEs: EEB322H1; EEB318H1/EEB323H1; EEB324H1
4. Any two (or all three) of (1.0 to 2.5 FCEs, depending on your choices): (1) one field course (0.5 FCE); (2) one 400-series seminar (0.5 FCE) from EEB494H1/EEB495H1/EEB496H1 (EEB496H1 is recommended); and/or (3) one 400-series research project course (1.0 FCE) from EEB498Y1/EEB499Y1 and the concurrent research issues course (0.5 FCE) EEB488H1. List of field courses: EEB401H1/EEB403H1/EEB404H1/EEB405H1/EEB406H1/EEB407H1/EEB409H1/EEB410H1/EEB360H1/ ENV336H1/ FOR306H1/NUS343H0
5. The remaining FCEs for a total of 12.5 FCEs (at least 1.5 must be 300+ series) from: ANT436H1; BIO; EEB (excluding EEB202H1/EEB214H1/EEB215H1/EEB216H1); ENV234Y1; HMB321H1 ; EHJ351H1, EHJ352H1; JHE353H1, JHE355H1; JZP; NUS; PSY (excluding PSY300H1); ZOO (excluding ZOO200Y1/214Y1/215H1/216H1). Note: EEB319H1, EEB321H1, EEB362H1; PSY397H1/JZP326H1, PSY497H1/JZP428H1; PSY260H1, PSY280H1, PSY362H1, PSY390H1, PSY396H1, PSY399H1, PSY460H1, PSY490H1, PSY493H1, PSY494H1 are recommended for this program. Students wishing to take PSY courses to fulfill the requirements of this program should take PSY100H1.

Biology: see Biology

Botany: see Biology

Ecology (Science program)

Specialist program:

(12.5 full courses or their equivalent)

Students who have taken BIO150Y1, do not take BIO120H1 and BIO220H1 in this program. Students who have taken BIO240H1 and BIO241H1, do not take BIO130H1 and BIO230H1 in this program.

First Year (3.0 FCEs): (BIO120H1,BIO130H1)/150Y1; (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1; JMB170Y1/MAT135Y1/136Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1
Higher Years:
1. 3.5 FCEs: BIO220H1; BIO230H1/(BIO240H1, BIO241H1)/BIO255Y1; BIO260H1/HMB265H1; BIO251Y1/BIO270H1/BIO271H1; EEB266H1/EEB267H1/ ENV234Y1
2. 1.0 FCE in statistics from: (PSY201H1, PSY202H1); (STA220H1, EEB225H1) (recommended); (STA220H1, STA221H1); (STA250H1, STA255H1); (STA257H1, STA261H1)
3. 0.5 FCE: EEB318H1/EEB323H1
4. 2.0 FCEs from: EEB319H1, EEB321H1, EEB322H1, EEB324H1, EEB328H1, EEB365H1, EEB370H1, EHJ351H1
5. Any two (or all three) of (1.0 to 2.5 FCEs, depending on your choices): (1) one field course (0.5 FCE); (2) one 400-series seminar (0.5 FCE) from EEB494H1/EEB495H1/EEB496H1 (EEB495H1 is recommended); and/or (3) one 400-series research project course (1.0 FCE) from EEB498Y1/EEB499Y1 and the concurrent research issues course (0.5 FCE) EEB488H1. List of field courses: EEB401H1/EEB403H1/EEB404H1/EEB405H1/EEB406H1/EEB407H1/EEB409H1/EEB410H1/EEB360H1/ ENV336H1/ FOR306H1/ NUS343H0
6. If fewer than 2.5 FCEs are chosen from #5 then select the remaining FCEs for a total of 12.5 FCEs (at least 0.5 must be 300+ series) from: ANT436H1, BIO, BOT (excluding BOT202Y1), CHM; EEB (excluding EEB202H1/EEB214H1/EEB215H1/EEB216H1); ENV (excluding ENV200Y1); GGR (only Science courses); GLG (excluding GLG100H1, GLG103H1, GLG105H1, GLG110H1); HMB321H1; EHJ351H1, EHJ352H1; JHE353H1, JHE355H1; MAT; NUS; PHY (excluding PHY100H1, PHY101H1); STA; ZOO (excluding ZOO200Y1/214Y1/215H1/216H1). Note: EEB375H1, EEB428H1, EEB440H1, EEB465H1 are recommended for this program.

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (Science program)

Major program:

(8 full courses or their equivalent)

Students who have taken BIO150Y1, do not take BIO120H1 and BIO220H1 in this program. Students who have taken BIO240H1 and BIO241H1, do not take BIO130H1 and BIO230H1 in this program.

First Year (2.0 FCEs): (BIO120H1, BIO130H1)/150Y1; (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1
Higher Years:
1. 2.0 FCEs: BIO220H1; BIO230H1/(BIO240H1, BIO241H1)/BIO255Y1; BIO260H1/HMB265H1; STA220H1
2. 1.0 FCE from: BIO251Y1, BIO270H1, BIO271H1, EEB266H1, EEB267H1, ENV234Y1
3. 2.0 FCEs from: EEB318H1, EEB319H1, EEB321H1, EEB322H1, EEB323H1, EEB324H1, EEB328H1, EEB362H1, EEB365H1, EEB370H1, EHJ351H1, EHJ352H1
4. 1.0 FCE from: BIO251Y1; BIO270H1, BIO271H1; EEB (excluding EEB202H1, EEB214H1, EEB215H1, EEB216H1); ENV234Y1; EHJ351H1, EHJ352H1; JHE353H1, JHE355H1; JMB170Y1/ MAT135Y1/136Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1; NUS

Environmental Biology (Science program)

Minor program:

(4 full courses or their equivalent)

Students who have taken BIO150Y1, do not take BIO120H1 and BIO220H1 in this program.

1. 2.0 FCEs: (BIO120H1, BIO220H1)/150Y1; ENV234Y1
2. 2.0 FCEs from: EEB318H1, EEB319H1, EEB321H1, EEB322H1, EEB323H1, EEB324H1, EEB362H1, EEB365H1, EEB370H1, EEB465H1, EHJ351H1, EHJ352H1 (courses in both ecology and evolution are recommended), with no more than 0.5 FCE field course from EEB401H1/EEB403H1/EEB404H1/EEB405H1/EEB406H1/EEB407H1/EEB409H1/EEB410H1/EEB360H1/ ENV336H1/ FOR306H1/NUS343H0

Environmental Biology (offered jointly with the National University of Singapore) (Science program)

This Type 3 minor program represents a unique opportunity to study environmental biology in a different cultural environment. For more information, contact the International Student Exchange Office (ISXO, www.utoronto.ca/student.exchange).

Students who have taken BIO150Y1, do not take BIO120H1 and BIO220H1 in this program.

Minor program:

(4 full courses or their equivalent)

1. 2.0 FCEs (at U of T): (BIO120H1, BIO220H1)/150Y1; ENV234Y1
2. 1.5 FCEs (at National University of Singapore) from: NUS341H0, NUS342H0, NUS344H0, NUS345H0, NUS346H0 (see below)
3. 0.5 FCE field course: NUS343H0

NUS341H0 Marine Biology [24L, 24T]
Scientific study of marine life and the marine environment. Physical characteristics of oceans, marine habitats and ecosystems, diversity of marine life and their adaptations to marine environments, impact of human activities and management systems. (Co-listed as LSM 4261 at National University of Singapore)
Prerequisite: (BIO120H1, BIO220H1)/150Y1, ENV234Y1/(EEB319H1, EEB321H1)
Exclusion: EEB/BIO301H1
DR=SCI; BR=TBA

NUS342H0 Tropical Conservation Biology [24L, 24T]
The impact of habitat loss on biodiversity, conservation management strategies, ecological theory of conservation, socio-economic issues, and conservation options and challenges, especially in SE Asia. (Co-listed as LSM 4262 at National University of Singapore)
Prerequisite: (BIO120H1, BIO220H1)/150Y1, ENV234Y1/(EEB319H1, EEB321H1)
Exclusion: EEB/ZOO215H1; EEB/BIO365H1
DR=SCI; BR=TBA

NUS343H0 Field Studies in Biodiversity [12L, 8P, TBA]
Introduction to field biology, including sampling design and execution, data management and analysis. Includes a 7-day field experience (currently on Pulau Tioman, Malaysia) with trips to coastal, mangrove and freshwater habitats, and primary and secondary forests. Students will work in small groups to conduct mini-projects. (Co-listed as LSM 4263 at National University of Singapore)
Prerequisite: (BIO120H1, BIO220H1)/150Y1, ENV234Y1/(EEB319H1, EEB321H1)
DR=SCI; BR=TBA

NUS344H0 Behavioural Biology [24L, 24T]
The relationships that organisms have with each other and with the environment. Key concepts and ultimate and proximate explanations of animal interactions and other life history characteristics, with examples from diverse animals and ecological systems. Students also evaluate contemporary literature on relevant current issues. (Co-listed as LSM 4253 at National University of Singapore)
Prerequisite: (BIO120H1, BIO220H1)/150Y1, ENV234Y1/(EEB319H1, EEB321H1)
Exclusion: EEB/ZOO322H1
DR=SCI; BR=TBA

NUS345H0 Forest Ecology [24L, 24T]
Fundamental principles of forest ecology, primarily focusing on tropical regions. Diversity and distributions of forests, soils and nutrient cycling, animal-plant interactions, disturbance ecology and succession, energy flow and food webs, population biology. Emphasis on how humans are affecting these processes. (Co-listed as LSM 3271 at National University of Singapore)
Prerequisite: (BIO120H1, BIO220H1)/150Y1, ENV234Y1/(EEB319H1, EEB321H1)
Exclusion: FOR305H1
DR=SCI; BR=TBA

NUS346H0 Global Change Biology [24L, 24T]
Aspects of current environmental change and its effects on biological systems, including rising carbon-dioxide concentrations, climate change, loss of biodiversity, and eutrophication. Global warming, land-use changes, invasive species, fire, carbon sequestration, carbon mitigation, and global (macro) ecology. Classroom projects, discussions, and debates. (Co-listed as LSM 3272 at National University of Singapore)
Prerequisite: (BIO120H1, BIO220H1)/150Y1, ENV234Y1/(EEB319H1, EEB321H1)
Exclusion: EEB/BIO428H1
DR=SCI; BR=TBA

Evolutionary Biology (Science program)

Specialist program:

(12.5 full courses or their equivalent)

Students who have taken BIO150Y1, do not take BIO120H1 and BIO220H1 in this program. Students who have taken BIO240H1 and BIO241H1, do not take BIO130H1 and BIO230H1 in this program.

First Year (3.0 FCEs): (BIO120H1,BIO130H1)/150Y1; (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1; JMB170Y1/MAT135Y1/136Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1
Higher Years:
1. 2.5 FCEs: BIO220H1; BIO230H1/(BIO240H1, BIO241H1)/BIO255Y1; BIO260H1/HMB265H1 (BIO260H1 is recommended); BIO251Y1/(BIO270H1, BIO271H1)
2. 1.0 FCE in statistics from: (PSY201H1, PSY202H1); (STA220H1, EEB225H1) (recommended); (STA220H1, STA221H1); (STA250H1, STA255H1); (STA257H1, STA261H1)
3. 2.0 FCEs: EEB319H1, EEB323H1, EEB324H1, EEB362H1
4. Any two (or all three) of (1.0 to 2.5 FCEs, depending on your choices): (1) one field course (0.5 FCE); (2) one 400-series seminar (0.5 FCE) from EEB494H1/EEB495H1/EEB496H1 (EEB494H1 is recommended); and/or (3) one 400-series research project course (1.0 FCE) from EEB498Y1/EEB499Y1 and the concurrent research issues course (0.5 FCE) EEB488H1. List of field courses: EEB401H1/EEB403H1/EEB404H1/EEB405H1/EEB406H1/EEB407H1/EEB409H1/EEB410H1/EEB360H1/ ENV336H1/ FOR306H1/NUS343H0
5. The remaining FCEs for a total of 12.5 FCEs (at least 1.0 must be 300+ series) from: ANT436H1; BIO; BOT (excluding BOT202Y1); CHM220H1, CHM247H1/CHM249H1; CSB351Y1, CSB352H1, CSB452H1, CSB458H1, CSB460H1, CSB472H1, CSB474H1; EEB (excluding EEB202H1/EEB214H1/EEB215H1/EEB216H1); ENV234Y1; GLG110H1, GLG216H1; HMB321H1; EHJ351H1, EHJ352H1; JHE353H1, JHE355H1; MAT235Y1/MAT237Y1; NUS; PHY131H1, PHY132H1, PHY151H1, PHY152H1; PSY100H1/100Y1; ZOO (excluding ZOO200Y1/214Y1/215H1/216H1)Note: EEB321H1, EEB365H1, EEB370H1, EEB459H1, EEB460H1 are recommended for this program.

Zoology: see Biology