Course content

I. Foundations of evolutionary ecology
A. Principles of evolution and adaptation
B. Application to ecological traits
C. Methods
1. Quantitative genetics
2. Testing adaptations; adaptive surface analysis
3. Phylogenies, trait evolution, and comparative methods
4. Phenotypic/genotypic selection analysis
II. Studying natural selection in the wild
III. Evolutionary ecology of plant-herbivore interactions
IV. Evolutionary ecology of plant-mutualist interactions
V. Evolutionary ecology of other species interactions
VI. Evolutionary ecology of life-history and mating-system evolution
VII. Evolution of physiological traits
VIII. Phylogenies and community ecology

Learning outcome

The course will give the students focus on both plants and animals and their interactions.
Phenotypic selection analysis in combination with structural-equation modeling is a powerful new way to examine ecological relationships in an evolutionary framework, and no one teaches it at NTNU.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures
Discussions
Practical on phenotypic selection analysis (data collection, data analysis, writing scientific paper)
The course is taught every second year, next time autumn 2011

Compulsory assignments

• Approved project report

Course materials

Shipley, B. 2000. Cause and correlation in biology. Cambridge University Press
Fox, C. W. et al. 2001. Evolutionary ecology –concepts and case studies. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, UK.
Herrera, C. and Pellmyr, O. 2002. Plant-animal interactions. An evolutionary approach. Blackwell, Oxford, UK.
Endler, J. A. 1986. Natural selection in the wild. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ, USA.