Bi7004 Evolutionary Ecology

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2015
Extent and Intensity
2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Andrea Vetešníková Šimková, PhD. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Andrea Vetešníková Šimková, PhD.
Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Andrea Vetešníková Šimková, PhD.
Supplier department: Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Tue 10:00–11:50 D31/238
Prerequisites (in Czech)
Bi6340 Ekologie společ. a makroekol. && Bi8150 Evoluční biologie
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 10 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
Evolutionary ecology is the study of the selective pressures imposed on organisms by the environment and the evolutionary responses to these pressures. The main aim of the lecture „Evolutionary ecology“ is to analyze the biology of species from the view of evolutionary biology and ecology.
Syllabus
  • 1. Darwin’s biology – ecology and evolution, evolutionary trees. Variability, the cause and evolutionary significance of the variability. 2. Mechanisms of evolutions – natural selection, molecular evolution, adaptation, phenotypic plasticity, speciation and extinction 3. Ecological and biogeographical aspects of evolutionary changes. 4. Evolution and ecology of biodiversity. Diversification. 5. Physical ecology of organisms – effect of temperature and light on organismal function, adaptation of organisms, size and shape of organisms – effect on organismal structure and function, allometric methods. How do organisms work? – mechanisms of regulation, osmoregulation, metabolism and substance transport. Evolution of physical systems of organisms. 6. Evolution of life history traits – theory of energy allocation based on trade-off, fitness and life traits, age and size in maturity, size and number of offspring, evolution of aging, life cycles, sex ratio and allocation in sex, ecological specialization and generalization 7. Phylogenies and their application in evolutionary ecology. Principles of macroevolution – phylogenetic tree, comparative analysis, methods of phylogenetically independent contrasts. Integrating micro- and macroevolution – coevolution, human evolution – history and diseases, selection and virulence. 8. Intraspecies interactions in evolutionary ecology. Evolution and ecology of sexual behavior (sexual selection, sexual conflict, mating strategies, social evolution. Behavioral ecology and speciation. 9. Feeding behavior, evolutionary ecology of movement. 10. Interspecies interaction in evolutionary ecology. Evolution of ecological niche. Numerical and functional response to competition, evolutionary restriction of niche, species coexistence. 11. Evolution and ecology of sex – mating strategies, role of sexual ornamentation in sexual selection, handicap hypothesis, immunocompetence handicap hypothesis, sperm protection hypothesis, coexistence of sexual and asexual reproduction, Red Queen hypothesis. 12. Parasites in evolutionary ecology – evolution of ecological characters of parasites, origin of parasitism, speciation and diversification of parasites, parasite strategies to exploit their hosts, parasite aggregation – ecological cause and evolutionary consequences 13. Immunity in evolutionary ecology. Immune genes and investment in immunity. Immunity versus reproduction. Parasite-mediated selection of MHC genes, the role of MHC in sexual selection.
Literature
    required literature
  • FLEGR, Jaroslav. Evoluční biologie. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2005, 559 s. ISBN 8020012702. info
    recommended literature
  • Fox C. W., Rolf D. A., Fairbain D.J. 2001. Evolutionary Ecology: Concepts and Case Studies. Oxford University Press.
  • Stearns S. C. , Hoekstra R. F. 2005. Evolution, an introduction, second edition - Oxford university Press, Oxford
  • Rose M. R., Mueller L. D. 2006. Evolution and ecology of the organism. Pearson Prentice Hall, USA.
  • Moya A., Font E. 2004. Evolution, from molecules to ecosystems - Oxford university press, Oxford.
  • Gotelli N. J. 1998. A Primer of Ecology, second edition - Sinauer Associates, Inc.
  • Westneat D. F., Fox C. W. 2010. Evolutionary behavioral ecology - Oxford university press, Oxford.
  • Bell G. 2008. Selection, the mechanism of evolution, second edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • POULIN, Robert. Evolutionary ecology of parasites. 2nd ed. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2007, x, 332. ISBN 9780691120850. info
Teaching methods
lectures
Assessment methods
oral exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2015, recent)
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