Plant Population Biology BIOL 760

Dr. Michele Dudash Fall 2009

3 credits Room 2249 BPS Wed 12-3

3202 Biology Psychology

Tel: 405-1642

Email:

Text: Introduction to Plant Population Biology, fourth edition, by Silvertown and Charlesworth. Recent articles from the primary literature will be assigned weekly with an emphasis on both basic and applied research. The class format is ½ lecture and ½ discussion of the primary literature each week. We will also be investigating how sustainability is being incorporated into conservation and restoration decisions where preserving biodiversity is a major goal.

DateTopic TextReadings

Sept 2Introduction to course

Sept 9Evolution of mixed mating systems overviewChap. 1, 9

Sept 16Evolution of mating and breeding systems: Herkogamy/dichogamyChap.2,9

Sept 23Evolution of mating and breeding systems: Evolution of selfingChap. 2,9

Sept 30Evolution of mating and breeding systems: Self-incompatability/dioecyChap.2,9

Oct 7 Population demographic models: Life history strategiesChap. 5,6,10

Oct 14 Population demographic models: Matrix approachesChap. 5,6,10

Oct 21 Population demographic models: Elasticity analysesChap. 5,6,10

Oct 28Meta-analysisand meta-populationsChap. 7

Nov 4 Polyploidy and Apomixis

Nov 11Measurement of Natural SelectionChap. 3,4,8

Nov 18Path Analysis

Nov 25 Thanksgiving

Dec 2 Interspecific interactions Chap. 8

Dec 9 Student Presentation (12 min. plus time for questions with POWER POINT)

Dec 16Final Projects DUE

Plant Population Biology (BIOL 760)

FINAL ASSIGNMENT: Write a (1) research proposal (max. 8 pages) following the model of a NSF doctoral dissertation improvement grant on your own research topic or on a topic of interest to you at this time or (2) manuscript draft from your research, or (3) collate an extensive literature review (minimum of 20 papers). A section (500-1000 words) on some appropriate aspect of “sustainability” must be included in this assignment.

Final Projects: Must be discussed and approved by M. Dudash no later than Oct 30, 2009

Option 1: Doctoral dissertation improvement grant

Option 2: Manuscript preparation

Option 3: Extensive Literature Reviewof topic with a 4 page overview.

Sustainability Initiatives at University of Maryland:

Grading:

Presentation: 100 pts

Final Project: 100 pts

Class discussion leader/participation: 100 pts

TOTAL POINTS in class = 300 pts.

Reading examples: Evolution of mating and breeding systems

Fenster, C. B., W. S. Armbruster, M. R. Dudash, J. Thomson and P. Wilson. 2004. Pollination syndromes and the evolution of floral diversity. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 35: 375-403.

Goodwille C. et al. 2005. The evolutionary enigma of mixed mating systems in plants: Occurrence, theoretical explanations, and empirical evidence. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 36: 47-79.

Fontaine, C., Dajoz, I.M., JacquesLoreau, M. 2006. Functional Diversity of Plant-Pollinator Interaction Webs Enhances the Persistence of Plant Communities. PLoS Biology 4 : 129-134.

Dudash, M. R. and C. J. Murren. 2008. The influence of breeding systems and mating systems on conservation genetics and conservation decisions. In Evolution in Action edited by S. C. Carroll and C. W. Fox., pp. 68-80, Oxford University Press, UK.

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