BB512: Population and Evolution (5 ECTS)

STADS: 04011401

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the autumn semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: jones@biology.sdu.dk

Additional teachers
thomasbb@biology.sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
Students taking the course are expected to have basic understanding of genetics and classification.

Course introduction
The aim of this course is to provide students with a fundamental understanding of population biology and evolution, which are the foundations for understanding biological phenomena including biological diversity, population fluctuations and extinctions, and interactions among species.

This course builds on knowledge of genetics, evolution and classification acquired in courses in the biology curriculum (BB525, BB531).

The course gives an academic basis for further studies in population biology and evolution, for example in the bachelor or masters project.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

• Provide knowledge and understanding of scientific theories, experimental methods and current research topics in biology, and how these are employed in biological discussions. 
• Structure personal learning.
• Provide skills in critically evaluating biological theories, and express, evaluate and solve biological problems.

Expected learning outcome
The learning objectives of the course are that the student demonstrates the ability to:

• express the importance of key mechanisms and processes in population biology and micro- and macro-evolution
• identify and apply fundamental concepts in population biology and evolution
• critically interpret observations of the natural world in the light of population biology and evolutionary theory

Subject overview
The following main topics are contained in the course:

Population biology:

• models of population growth/decline
• population extinction
• intraspecific competition
• age/stage-structured population models
• interspecific competition 
• predation and parasitism

Evolution:

• adaptive and neutral evolution
• natural selection and genetic drift
• genetic impact of natural selection
• origin, and maintenance of genetic variation
• genotype-phenotype-fitness map
• phenotypic plasticity
• life-history evolution
• the evolution of sex and sexual selection
• speciation
• coevolution

Literature

• Gotelli, N.J (2008): A Primer of Ecology, 4th Edition. Sinauer ISBN: 978-0878933181.
• Stearns, S & Hoekstra R (2005): Evolution, 2nd edition. Oxford University Press ISBN: 978-0199255634.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam

1. Online submission of at least five of the six multiple choice quizes conducted during the course in order to participate in the final examination a). (04011412).

Assessment and marking:

1. 4 hr. written exam with multiple choice and short answers and questions. Internal marking, Danish 7-mark scale. (5 ECTS). (04011402).

The mode of exam at the re-examination may differ from the mode of exam at the ordinary exam.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 23 hours
Skills training phase: 23 consisting of exercises hours
 - Tutorials: Discussion or tutorials hours

Educational activities
Activities during the study phase:

• writing reports from laboratory or class exercises
• reading assigned material

Educational form
The course is divided into two roughly-equal parts: first population biology and then evolution. In both parts the classes are structured as a series of 1hr lectures on population biology or evolutionary concepts, usually followed by 1hr exercises, which are designed to reinforce the message of the lectures.

Language
This course is taught in Danish or English, depending on the lecturer.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.