EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY

BIOS 614   FALL 2009

Readings for Discussions and Supplemental Material 



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Photocopies of these chapters and articles are in the notebook outside my office door (LS 436).  You can take a copy to read or photocopy for yourself, but please return them to the notebook within 3 hours.  Some articles are available as .pdf downloads, indicated as a link to the Author/year of the citation.

         (Date)                                                                              Topic/ Reading


    (Th 9/3)    Discussion:  Heritability and the Breeders' Equation
                        Wiggins, D.A. 1989. Heritability of body size in cross-fostered tree swallow broods.
                                Evolution 43(8):1808-1811.
                        Galen, C. 1996. Rates of floral evolution: adaptation to bumblebee pollination in an alpine wildflower,
                                Polemonium viscosum. Evolution 50(1):120-125.

                        download discussion questions for these two papers

   (Th 9/17)    Discussion:  Selection gradients and multivariate response to selection
                         
                           For each of the two papers prepare a short summary of the paper and 2 questions to bring to the discussion on
                           Thursday.  In particular, take note of the analytical methods used to quantify variation and forms of
                            selection and what factors may constrain trait evolution in the different studies.

                          A. animal studies.
                          Grant, P.R., and B. R. Grant. 1995. Predicting microevolutionary responses to directional selection
                                 on heritable variation. Evolution 42:241-251.  (classic study of Galapagos finches)
                          
                            B. plant studies.
                           Sandring, S., and J. Agren. 2009. Pollinator-mediated selection on floral display and flowering time in the perennial
                                 herb Arabidopsis lyrata. Evolution 63:1292-1300. (recent study that manipulates agents of selection)

                                                            Download a list of useful references on this topic

   (Th 9/24)      Discussion: Empirical tests of adaptation

                             Read the paper by Nosil (2009) on adaptive divergence in stick insects and be prepared to discuss my questions
                             (link below) as well as some questions of your own. You should also read and summarize a paper of your choosing
                             on the study of adaptation in organisms related to your own interests. When reading these papers - determine the
                             methods used to demonstrate adaptation. To which of Endler's (1986) methods do each study most closely correspond?

                            Nosil, P. 2009. Adaptive population divergence in cryptic color-pattern following a reduction in gene flow. Evolution
                                  63(7):1902-1912.

                            Questions for discussion
 
   (Tue 9/29)    Lecture/Discussion: Phenotypic Plasticity
                          Pigliucci, M. 2001. Phenotypic Plasticity.  Chapter 5 in C.W. Fox, D.A. Roff, and D.J. Fairbairn (eds.), 
                            Evolutionary Ecology:Concepts and Case Studies. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
                          Download the discussion questions for this chapter.

  (Thur 10/1)    Discussion:  Phenotypic Plasticity
                         You do not need to summarize an additional paper this week. Use the time to work on your essays. Read the
                            following paper and be prepared to discuss the questions below, as well as those of your own.
                         
                          Eckhart, V.M., M.A. Geber, and C.M. McGuire. 2004. Experimental studies of adaptation in
                             Clarkia xantiana. I. Sources of trait variation across a subspecies border. Evolution 58(1):59-70.
                       
                          Download discussion questions for this paper
                          Download a list of references on these topics

  (Thur 10/8)    Discussion: Population structure and F-statistics
                         Please read and summarize an additional paper on the analysis of population structure and gene flow in your
                         favorite organism. Be prepared to give a short summary of the paper including the questions addressed, the
                         methods used and the major results/conclusions of the study. Also prepare 1-2 questions to elicit discussion over the
                         paper below.

                         Williams, C.F., J. Ruvinsky, P.E. Scott, and D.K. Hews. 2001. Pollination, breeding system, and genetic structure
                               in two sympatric Delphinium (Ranunculaceae) species. American J. Botany 88: 1623-1633.

 (Thur 10/15)   Discussion:  Inbreeding and outbreeding
                          Keller, L.F., and D.M. Waller. 2002. Inbreeding effects in wild populations. Trends in Ecology and
                              Evolution 17(5):230-241.                    
                          Download discussion questions for this paper

  (Tue 10/20)     Lecture/Discussion:  Age and size at maturity
                           Roff, D.A. 2001. Age and Size at Maturity. Chapter 8 in C.W. Fox, D.A. Roff, and D.J. Fairbairn (eds.), 
                                Evolutionary Ecology:Concepts and Case Studies. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
                            Lagarde, F., X. Bonnet, B.T. Henen, J. Corbin, K.A. Nagy, and G. Naulleau. 2001. Sexual size
                                dimorphism in steppe tortoises (Testudo horsfieldi): growth, maturity, and individual variation.
                                Canadian Journal of Zoology 79:1433-1441.
                            Download discussion questions for this paper

  (Thur 10/22)   Lecture/Discussion:  Offspring size/number tradeoffs
                           Messina, F.J., and C.W. Fox. 2001. Offspring Size and Number  Chapter 9 in C.W. Fox, D.A. Roff,
                              and D.J. Fairbairn (eds.), Evolutionary Ecology:Concepts and Case Studies. Oxford University
                              Press, Oxford, UK.
                           Smith, R.J. (manuscript in preparation). The Smith-Fretwell model predicts optimal offspring size in the
                               burying beetle Nicrophorus investigator.
                            Download discussion questions for this topic

  (Tue 10/27)   Lecture/Discussion:  Why Sex? Why different sexes?
                           Rhen, T., and D. Crews. 2001. Sex and Gender. Chapter 12 in C.W. Fox, D.A. Roff, and
                              D.J. Fairbairn (eds.), Evolutionary Ecology:Concepts and Case Studies. Oxford University
                              Press, Oxford, UK. (Tue 10/27)   Lecture Discussion

                            Allsop, D.J., and S.A. West. 2004. Sex-ratio evolution in sex changing animals. Evolution 58:1019-1027.
                            Download discussion questions for this topic

(Thur 10/29)   Lecture/Discussion:  Sex ratios and sex allocation
                           Orzack, S.H. 2001. Sex Ratios and Sex Allocation. Chapter 13 in C.W. Fox, D.A. Roff, and D.J.
                              Fairbairn (eds.), Evolutionary Ecology:Concepts and Case Studies. Oxford University Press,
                              Oxford, UK.                            
                           Dawson, T.E., and J.R. Ehleringer. 1993. Gender-specific physiology, carbon isotope discrimination, and
                                habitat distribution in Boxelder, Acer negundo. Ecology 74:798-815.
                            download discussion questions for this topic

  (Tue 11/3)   Lecture/Discussion:  Mating systems
                           Sakai, A.K., and D.F. Westneat. 2001. Mating Systems. Chapter 15 in C.W. Fox, D.A. Roff,
                              and D.J. Fairbairn (eds.), Evolutionary Ecology:Concepts and Case Studies. Oxford
                              University Press, Oxford, UK
                            West, S.A., S.E. Reece, and B.C. Sheldon. 2002. Sex ratios. Heredity 88:117-124.

                             download discussion questions for this topic                        

  (Thur 11/5)   Lecture/Discussion:  Sexual selection
                           Savalli, U.M. 2001. Sexual Selection. Chapter 16 in C.W. Fox, D.A. Roff, and D.J. Fairbairn (eds.), 
                             Evolutionary Ecology:Concepts and Case Studies. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.

                          Holland, B., and W.R. Rice. 1999. Experimental removal of sexual selection reverses intersexual
                            antagonistic coevolution and removes a reproductive load. PNAS 96: 5083-5088.

                            download discussion questions for this topic

 (Tue 11/10)     Lecture/Discussion:  Cooperation and altruism
                           Wilson, D.S. 2001. Cooperation and Altruism. Chapter 17 in C.W. Fox, D.A. Roff, and D.J.
                              Fairbairn (eds.), Evolutionary Ecology:Concepts and Case Studies. Oxford University Press,
                              Oxford, UK.

                          Moller, L.M. et al. 2001. Alliance membership and kinship in wild male bottlenose dolphins
                                (Tursiops aduncus) of southeastern Australia. Proc. Royal Society B 268: 1941-1947
                           download discussion questions for this topic.

  (Thur 11/12)    Lecture/Discussion:  Foraging behavior
                          Kramer, D.L. 2001. Foraging Behavior. Chapter 18 in C.W. Fox, D.A. Roff, and D.J. Fairbairn (eds.), 
                            Evolutionary Ecology:Concepts and Case Studies. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.

                        Kie, J.G. 1999. Optimal foraging and risk of predation: effects on behavior and social structure in ungulates.
                            J. Mammalogy 80: 1114-1129
                         download discussion questions for this topic

(Tue 11/17)     Lecture/Discussion:  Character displacement
                          Schluter, D. 2001. Ecological Character Displacement. Chapter 20 in C.W. Fox, D.A. Roff,
                             and D.J. Fairbairn (eds.), Evolutionary Ecology:Concepts and Case Studies. Oxford
                             University Press, Oxford, UK.

                        Pfennig, D.W., and P.J. Murphy. 2002. How fluctuating competition and phenotypic plasticity mediate
                            species divergence. Evolution 56:1217-1228.
  
                        download discussion questions for this topic
                        

 (Thur 11/19)    Lecture/Discussion:  Parasite-host interactions
                            Lively, C.M. 2001. Parasite-host Interactions. Chapter 22 in C.W. Fox, D.A. Roff, and
                                D.J. Fairbairn (eds.), Evolutionary Ecology:Concepts and Case Studies. Oxford
                                University Press, Oxford, UK.

                         Zuk, M., J.T. Rotenberry, and L.W. Simmons. 1998. Calling songs of field crickets (Teleogryllus oceanicus)
                            with and without phonotactic parasitoid infection. Evolution 52: 166-171.

                            discussion questions for this topic

    (Tue 12/1)    Lecture/Discussion:  Mutualisms
                            Bronstein, J.L. 2001. Mutualisms. Chapter 24 in C.W. Fox, D.A. Roff, and D.J. Fairbairn (eds.), 
                              Evolutionary Ecology:Concepts and Case Studies. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.

                         Ruby, E.G., and M.J. McFall-Ngai. 1992. A squid that glows in the night: development of an
                                animal-bacterial mutualism. J. Bacteriology 172: 4865-4870.

                            download discussion questions for this topic.                       

    (Thur 12/3)    Lecture/Discussion:  Geographic dynamics of coevolution
                          Thompson, J.N. 2001. The Geographic Dynamics of Coevolution. Chapter 25 in C.W. Fox,
                              D.A. Roff, and D.J. Fairbairn (eds.), Evolutionary Ecology:Concepts and Case Studies.
                              Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK

                           Siepielski, A.M., and C.W. Benkman. 2004. Interactions among moths, crossbills, squirrles, and
                                lodgepole pine in a geographic selection mosaic. Evolution 58:95-101.
 
                           download discussion questions for this topic


                                  

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