University of Connecticut
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

EEB 375, Spring 2008
Instructor: Prof. Robert K. Colwell

Topic this year: The Ecology and Evolution of Species Ranges

Class Meetings: Monday and Wednesday, 10:00 – 11:45 AM (new time)

Classroom: TLS 313

Credits: 3 Credits

Overview of the Course
Record of Meetings and Readings
Overview of the Course

Instructor: Robert Colwell

First Meeting: Monday, January 28, 10:00 AM in TLS 313 (there is a reading assignment for the first meeting)

Objective: The objective of this graduate course (offered in alternate years) is to explore, in depth, a spectrum of evolutionary and ecological approaches to understanding biological communities. Within this scope, the focus varies from year to year.

Format: For each meeting of the course, one or two students will work closely with the instructor to plan and help lead an interactive presentation-discussion on assigned readings from the primary literature (there is no textbook), but thorough preparation and active involvement in all class meetings is expected of each participant at each class meeting. In lieu of a term paper or final exam, each participant will write three brief (2-3 page) "syntheses" of pairs or triplets of papers selected from the course readings.

Topic: The topic this time will be "The Ecology and Evolution of Species Ranges." We will have a look at several rapidly-developing areas that, each in its own way, touches on the topic of the geographical ranges of individual species. Topics include:

Evolution of species ranges

  • Population genetic and demographic processes
  • Phylogenetic patterns of range size

Evolutionary constraints on range size and range limits

  • Niche conservatism
  • Pre-adaptation
  • Adaptation

Ecological constraints on range size and range limits

  • Dispersal limitation
  • Species interactions

Anthropogenic effects on species ranges

  • Climate change and range shifts: data and models
  • Habitat alteration and range shifts: data and models
  • What can be learned from range expansion by invasive species

If you might want to participate: Please email me for a Permission Number and be sure to indicate whether the proposed meeting times will work for you. If not, please give me your best guess at this point of a list of potential times your could meet.

Meetings and Readings

Mtg

Date

Focus

Reading

Discussant(s)

1

Jan 23

No meeting

TBA

 

2

Jan 28

3

Jan 30

 

4

Feb 4

5

Feb 6

6

Feb 11

No meeting

7

Feb 13

No meeting

8

Feb 18

9

Feb 20

10

Feb 25

11

Feb 27

12

Mar 3

13

Mar 5

   

14

Mar 10

No meeting (Spring Break)    

15

Mar 12

No meeting (Spring Break)

    

16

Mar 17

     

17

Mar 19

     

18

Mar 24

     

19

Mar 26

     

20

Mar 31

     

21

Apr 2

      

22

Apr 7

      

23

Apr 9

      

24

Apr 14

  

 

 
25 Apr 16      
26 Apr 21      
27 Apr 23      
28 Apr 28      
29 Apr 30      
 

This page maintained by Robert K. Colwell.