Course content

This course deals with how patterns of biological diversity change over time and processes causing these changes. Focus will be on understanding micro- and macro-evolutionary processes, how these change species diversity and species distributions, and how to obtain knowledge of species histories. Emphasis will be placed on understanding methods used in analyses of micro- and macro-evolutionary diversification in time and space. 

This course is part of the Nordic Master in Biodiversity and Systematics 

Learning outcome

Knowledge: Processes leading to speciation, migration and introgression, how to use population genetic theory to draw inferences about population processes and species delimitations. Phylogenetic analyses, calibration of phylogenies and analyses of evolutionary rates, the use of phylogenies in biogeographic studies, reconstruction of ancestral characters. Knowledge about how evolutionary theory and molecular methods can be used to study species histories on an advanced level. Skills: Having overview of theory and tools to be used in studies of species histories and historical biogeography. General competense: How to use various types of methodology to understand processes causing patterns and changes in biological diversity in time and space.

Learning methods and activities

Teaching will be in the form of online lectures, exercises and obligatory discussion meetings. Submitted results on exercises, as well as contributions towards discussion meetings, must be approved, and written project report must be approved and will be used in grading for students taking this as a PhD course. Online exam is held during one day. Compulsory activities Reports from exercises, contributions towards discussion meetings as well as written project report (for PhD level students) must be approved and will be used in grading.

Compulsory assignments

• Project, exercise

Required previous knowledge

The course requires knowledge in phylogenetic biology at the level of NABiS course "Advanced Phylogenetics" http://www.nabismaster.org/BIO404.php