Evolution & Adaptation:

ECOLOGY!
Tues. & Thurs. Weeks 5 & 6

Announcements:

Tuesday:

• More possible events listed on website for assignments - one tonight!  Don't miss out!

• Volunteer van driver for Wolfwood trip?

• Dates for news presentations

• Conservation in the News item to share!: Langdon Adams

Thursday:

• News Items: Troye Boone, Nate Vasquez

• 2nd Moodle Quiz next week, Fri-Mon; First Mini-Exam in 2 weeks

• VAN DRIVER FOR WOLFWOOD TRIP!!!???

Tuesday:

• News Items: Christina Scott, Greg Mauger, Nate Vasquez

• :-(  No 2nd van driver for Wolfwood trip; need volunteer car drivers who can bring at least 4 passengers (5 total); 3-4 cars
  SIGN UP!

• FIELD TRIP Thursday - NO CLASS

• Meet for trip at bus turn-around behind Union Building, at 1 pm - we leave at 1:02 sharp!!

Topics for Tuesday:

1. Finish discussions of the mechanisms of Evolution

    

2. Adaptation & Ecology:

• what are the results of evolutionary change/natural selection?  (ADAPTATION!!)

• how do organisms come to be "adapted" to their environments?

• what main factors define different biomes?

• be able to give an example of an adaptation to a particular biome/habitat

• Powerpoint

• what is the next level of biological diversity, & why does it exist?

• source of habitat diversity on Earth

• levels of species diversity: alpha, beta, gamma - be able to apply these concepts to an example (see your hand-out), & understand how an area might have very high species diversity locally, but might have LOW "habitat" (= gamma) diversity.  example?

Topics for Thursday & Tuesday:

1. ECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS:

   • within habitats - how do ecological interactions (e.g. within a food web) allow for a maintenance of & increase in species diversity?

   • specific skills/goals:

     • how are ecological systems structured - nature of food webs

     • make predictions for a given scenario

     • interpret a graph & explain the results

     • what happens to overall animal diversity in this example when you remove the top predator?

     • Big Picture: How might ecological interactions impact species diversity within a given habitat?

   • Case Study Powerpoint - Coyote Removal

   • To be continued on Tuesday next week...

   • Link to Case Study Questions