PLSCI 2430 - Ecology and Evolution of Plants

(OPHLS-AG)

Spring. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: PLSCI 1101, PLSCI 1420, and PLBIO 2410, or equivalent.

D. Katz, C. Specht.

In this course, we will explore the fundamental principles of ecology and evolutionary biology from a plant perspective. We will introduce you to plant ecology at scales ranging from individual organisms, to populations, communities, and ecosystems. At each level, we will explore interactions between plants and their environments, with a focus on societally-relevant issues and the ecological theories needed to understand them. This course also provides a comprehensive overview of microevolution (evolution at or below the species level) and macroevolution (evolution above the species level) with an emphasis on plants as exemplars for understanding evolutionary theory and the interpretation of data pertaining to evolutionary patterns and processes.

Outcome 1: Explain the various lines of evidence supporting the theory of evolution: evidence drawn from molecular biology, phylogenetics, population genetics, trait diversity, biogeography, and the fossil record.

Outcome 2: Explain the main areas of plant ecology (organismal, population, community, and ecosystem ecology) and provide examples of how plants interact with other organisms and their environment at each scale.

Outcome 3: Evaluate the effects of various global change drivers on evolutionary and ecological interactions and compare approaches for studying them.

Outcome 4: Link your observations of plants and plant communities to ecological and evolutionary processes. (Corollary: you will become a horrible hiking companion.)