321 Steinhaus Hall; (949) 824-6006
Timothy J. Bradley, Department Chair
Faculty
Francisco J. Ayala: Population and evolutionary genetics
Albert F. Bennett: Environmental physiology; physiological ecology
Rudi C. Berkelhamer: Director of Instructional Laboratories
Peter A. Bowler: Habitat restoration; wetland ecology
Timothy J. Bradley: Comparative physiology of ion transport epithelia
Nancy Burley: Behavioral ecology, sexual selection, social organization and communication
Diane R. Campbell: Plant population biology; pollination ecology
F. Lynn Carpenter: Community ecology; behavioral ecology
Walter M. Fitch: Molecular and genetic evolution
Steven A. Frank: Social behavior and evolutionary genetics
Branden S. Gaut: Plant molecular evolution
Alan G. Gibbs: Comparative physiology and biochemistry; arthropod cuticle lipids and cell membranes
Bradford A. Hawkins: Insect population and community ecology
James W. Hicks: Comparative physiology of circulation and gas exchange
George L. Hunt, Jr.: Behavioral ecology, marine ornithology
Robert K. Josephson: Comparative neurophysiology; muscle physiology
Harold Koopowitz: Comparative neurophysiology; conservation of endangered plant species
George V. Lauder, Jr.: Functional vertebrate morphology
Anthony D. Long: Quantitative genetics
Laurence D. Mueller: Theoretical and empirical studies of density-dependent natural selection
Michael R. Rose: Evolution of life histories and genetic systems
Ann K. Sakai: Plant population biology
Richard Symanski: Conservation biology
Arthur E. Weis: Evolutionary ecology of plant-insect interactions; plant population biology
Stephen G. Weller: Plant reproductive ecology; plant population ecology
Ecology and evolutionary biology deals with the establishment of adaptations over evolutionary time and with the organismal function in ecological time. Faculty in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology study questions pertinent at a variety of levels of biological organization, from molecular aspects of evolution, to organismal structure and performance, to the ecology of ocean ecosystems. Research is conducted in both the laboratory and field and includes work on a variety of organisms from phage and bacteria, to higher plants and animals. Primary attention is given to evolutionary, ecological, and functional questions rather than to particular habitats or taxa. Faculty and graduate student research is often collaborative and interdisciplinary in approach. Departmental research activities include physiological ecology energetics, plant-herbivore and plant-pollinator interactions, microbial ecology and coevolution, quantitative genetics, life history evolution, population and reproductive ecology, and community ecology. These research endeavors provide a balance between empirical and theoretical approaches to evolutionary, organismal, and ecological problems.
Primary emphasis in the graduate program is placed on training leading to the Ph.D. in Biological Sciences; under exceptional circumstances, a student may be admitted initially to the M.S. program. A basic course sequence consisting of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 205, 206, 207, and 208 is recommended for most entering students during their first year. At the end of the first year, students complete an oral examination based upon three of these courses (205, 206, and 208) and other materials the Department might require. Satisfactory performance on this examination is required for continuation in the graduate program.
Each entering graduate student chooses a faculty advisor and a three-person advisory committee for guidance, with whom the student meets at least twice each year. All students are encouraged to submit a research proposal to their advisory committee during their first year of residency. A comprehensive proposal is required before the end of the second year. The progress of each student is reviewed by the departmental faculty once each academic year.
Normally, all requirements for the Ph.D. should be completed within five years. No more than six years will be allowed for completion of the program. Advancement to doctoral candidacy by a comprehensive oral examination will be expected during the third year for students entering with a B.A. or B.S. or during the second year for those entering with an M.A. or M.S. Applicants for this program should have a solid undergraduate program in biology and ecology, emphasizing both research and field work. In addition, course work in statistics, mathematics, and physical and chemical sciences is expected. All applicants are required to submit aptitude and advanced biology GRE scores. The deadline for application is January 15.
200A-B-C Research in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (2 to 12 per quarter) F, W, S. Individual research supervised by a particular professor. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
201 Seminar in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (2-2-2) F, W, S. One and one-half hours. Invited speakers, graduate students, and faculty present current research in ecology and evolutionary biology. Prerequisite: graduate standing. May be repeated for credit. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.
203A-B-C Graduate Tutorial in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (2 to 12 per quarter) F, W, S. Advanced study in areas not represented by formal courses. May involve individual or small group study through reading, discussion, and composition. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
205 Special Topics in Ecology (4) F. Lecture, four hours. Survey of special topics in ecology. Restriction: graduate students only.
206 Special Topics in Evolution (4) S. Lecture, four hours. Extensive introduction to the primary literature of evolutionary biology. Topics include population genetics, quantitative genetics, neutralism, molecular evolution, evolution of genetic systems, genetic architecture of fitness, speciation, and macroevolution. Restriction: graduate students only.
207 Quantitative Methods in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (4) W. Lecture, four hours. Statistics for ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Emphasis on specific applications and underlying assumptions rather than on methods of calculation. Topics include experimental design, parametric and nonparametric methods, analysis of variance and covariance, and multiple regression. Prerequisite: at least one quarter of statistics, including regression and analysis of variance. Open to graduate students only.
208 Special Topics in Organismal Biology and Physiology (4) F. Seminar, two hours. A summary of information in organismal biology, comparative and ecological physiology, and the biophysical basis of organismal function. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor.
NOTE: Enrollment in the following courses may be approved for undergraduate students with advanced standing.
210A-B-C Foundations of Physiology (4-4-4) F, W, S. Lecture and discussion, four to eight hours. Physical and functional principles common to many living forms. Course forms a basis for subsequent specialization in any of the subdisciplines of physiology. May be repeated for credit. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.
218 Advanced Topics in Evolutionary Biology (4) F, S. Seminar, three hours. Content and instructor will vary from quarter to quarter. Possible topics include quantitative genetics, experimental methods of evolutionary studies, mathematical modeling in evolutionary studies, and the evolution of genetic systems. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
219 Advanced Topics in Ecological Genetics (4) W. Seminar, three hours. Content and instructor will vary from year to year. Possible topics include coevolution, sex-ratio evolution, evolution senescence, plant population biology, and density-dependent selection. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
221 Topics in Plant Ecology (2 to 4) F, W, S. Weekly discussion of current topics in plant population biology and ecology. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.
227 Seminar in Population/Community Ecology (2) F, W, S. Seminar, two hours. Selected topics in population or community ecology (such as island biogeography, evolution of sex ratios, reproductive biology of marine birds) through discussion of current literature and preparation of papers. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
228 Seminar in Conservation Biology (2) F, W. Devoted to the application of basic ecological principles to the understanding and resolution of environmental problems of both local and global natures. Current problems approached through a combination of readings, group discussions, and visiting speakers. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor.
240 Mathematical Population Biology (2 to 4) S of even years. Seminar, three hours. Mathematical modeling of ecological and evolutionary processes is developed with a view toward teaching methods of theoretical research in ecology and evolutionary biology. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
251 Molecular Evolutionary Methods (4) S of even years. Emphasizes the understanding of basic algorithms used to analyze nucleotide and amino acid sequences, including methods of alignment, phylogeny reconstruction, and the examination of molecular clocks, codon bias, and compositional equilibrium. Includes simple computer problems. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
274 Behavioral Ecology (4) W. Seminar, three hours. Selected topics in behavioral ecology through discussion of current literature and preparation of papers. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
398 Teaching Assistant Seminar (2) W. Seminar, two hours. Readings, lectures, workshops, and student presentations designed to help develop teaching skills of graduate students teaching university-level biology classes. Topics vary and may include: course organization, presentation styles, exam design, grading, motivating students, and commonly encountered problems. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.
399 University Teaching (4-4-4) F, W, S. Limited to Teaching Assistants.
