EcoDevo - Biol 4370

Course details are here.

In this class, we will meet twice weekly to discuss topics at the interface of ecology, development and evolution. As a text and launching point for discussion, we will use Gilbert and Epel’s Ecological Developmental Biology. Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to, how environmental variation is transduced through development - for better or worse - to produce phenotypic variation, endocrine disruptors, adaptive evolution via phenotypic plasticity, evolution via regulatory region change, epigenetics in disease and evolution, etc. During our first meeting, we will also discuss other topics we might cover. For example, we will likely cover some evolutionary topics in detail that text overlooks, such as the evolution of developmental robustness or the evolution of alternate develomental pathways, like direct development in frogs shown above and heterochrony in axolotls (which reproduce while retaining their larval form shown below. We could also talk about the developmental basis of limb regeneration in such animals, which occurs via very different routes than initial limb development.

Format. There will be few lectures. Instead, we will have roundtable discussions of the chapters and selected supplementary readings. The discussions of the supplementary readings will be student led and will comprise the majority of class time. Grades will be based primarily on student participation in the discussions, quality of the discussions you lead, and three short papers. I prefer that we cover a few topics in depth (rather than aiming for wide breadth in coverage) and that the class will be fun.

The course is capped at 25 students. Keep in mind that this is a discussion-based course and participation is mandatory for academic success. Evolution (Biol 3306) is a prerequisite, and I believe very strongly that you will do poorly in EcoDevo if you do not earn at least a B in Biol3306. If EcoDevo fills up and you still want to enroll, set up an appointment with me to discuss it.