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Fall 2009
Catalog Description: BIOL 353. Ecology and Evolution (3:2:0). Prerequisites: BIOL 120 and BIOL 121. This is a writing intensive course intended to convey a basic understanding of how life evolves, how organisms interact with their environments, and how evolutionary and ecological principles can be applied to a wide range of questions. Emphasis will be placed on the writing process.
Expanded Course Description: This course is intended for upper-level students interested in bridging connections between ecology and evolution. In addition to understanding the mechanisms that drive evolutionary change, factors affecting population growth, and evolutionary adaptations that result from ecological interactions, students will learn how to use mathematical models and graphs to better understand ecological and evolutionary processes. Students will also learn how to synthesize scientific information into their own ideas and present those ideas in a well-written and coherent argument.
Student Learning Outcomes: a. Explain the mechanisms of evolution, including mutation, migration, genetic drift, nonrandom mating, and natural selection. b. Describe density-independent, density-dependent, and age-structured models of population growth. c. Describe intraspecific and interspecific interactions, and how they influence ecological processes and evolutionary adaptations. II. Skill Outcomes a. Apply mathematical models to answer questions regarding evolutionary mechanisms and ecological processes. b. Critically analyze graphs to better understand evolutionary mechanisms and ecological processes. c. Use online databases to find peer-reviewed journal articles that pertain to ecological and evolutionary topics. III. Writing Outcomes a. Create a properly formatted bibliography for peer-reviewed articles. b. Critically interpret previous research to create a synthesis paper that integrates current understanding into your own assessment. c. Develop revision abilities, especially as they pertain to clarity, completeness, conciseness, and content.
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08/10/09
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