BIO 430

Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation in Ecuador and the Galapagos

CUNY Honors Winter Intersession Course sponsored by the College of Staten Island/CUNY at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Quito, Ecuador

Syllabus

Professor:Carlos A. Valle, Ph. D.

Credits:3

Prerequisites:One semester General Biology

Dates:Jan 2 to Jan 23, 2010

Location:USFQ main campus, Quito, the Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences (GAIAS), San Cristobal, Galapagos, and elsewhere while cruising the Archipelago.

Objective

This course will discuss the concepts that shaped the theory of evolution ever since Darwin's memorable visit to the Galapagos, and aims to accomplish an overview of the most central concepts of evolutionary ecology and conservation biology. The course emphasizes the interplay of these disciplines while facing the challenge of conservation of the Galapagos Islands. Students will have the opportunity to examine first hand the fauna and flora of the Galapagos while learning about the evolutionary processes.

Course Content

The Ecology of Ecuador and its conservation: Ecuador’s main ecosystems (an ecological and biogeographic perspective). The Ecuadorean National System of Protected Areas (SNAP).

Biodiversity conservation:What are biodiversity, biodiversity conservation, and management? Habitat degradation and fragmentation; conservation of small populations; keystone and vulnerable species/ populations. Introduced species.

The Ecology of the Galapagos Islands: the origin of oceanic islands, main factors shaping the ecology of the islands: historical ecology (island age, arrival and colonization), current ecological factors (geography/ latitude; ocean currents, weather; island size and isolation from mainland and from island to island); vegetation zones.

General topics on Conservation Ecology/ Biology:

Conservation of the Galapagos: geography; human history, permanent colonization and current human distribution; current threats to conservation: introduced species, marine resource depletion, and ecosystem/community alteration. People as root cause for conservation problems. The legal regime (provincial status) and its implications for conservation and management; have we failed in our endeavor for conservation of the Galapagos?

Topics on Evolution: Evolution as a fact and theory. What is the evidence for the fact of evolution? How and why organisms do evolve? The mechanisms of evolutionary change: notions on population genetics, inheritance and heritability of traits; Microevolution and genetic variation; theory of inbreeding and random genetic drift, founder effects, migration and gene flow. Natural selection, its measurements, types and levels. Adaptation and natural selection. Neutral evolution. Species and its variation; Speciation: reproductive isolation and the origin of new species, modes of speciation, genetic theories of speciation. Macroevolution: gradualism, punctuated equilibrium, rates of evolution, adaptive radiation.

Topics on Evolutionary Ecology: The ecological niche and competition (ecological and evolutionary consequences of competition): resource partitioning and species packing; competitive exclusion, character release and character displacement, coexistence. Sexual Selection: the origin of sex, sex ratios, sexual selection, and mating systems.

Course description

The professor will cover all topics while encouraging discussion between students, particularly at the end of each session or chapter; explain the guidelines for field research and scientific reporting. Each student will be responsibly for the following: (1)Essay regarding an ecological/ evolutionary question about a particular species/ group of species found in the Galapagos; (2)Presentation of the essay before the class (10-minute + 5 minutes for discussion; 2 questions); (3)submitting a Research report (3-5 pages + Literature cited, Tables, Figures) that should be written following technical/ scientific style; the report summarizes and analyze pooled data from a short field study conductedby the class.

Grading

%

Essay20

Presentation10

Field research report20

[1]Quizzes20

Comprehensive exam30

100

Textbooks (Required) (material from textbooks will be expanded and treated more in depth during lectures by the professor; students will be tested about this material).

- Coyne, J. A. 2009. Why evolution is true. Viking Penguin. New York, NY. US.

- Kricher, J. 2002. Galapagos. Smithsonian Natural History Series, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.

Optional:

- Swash, A. and R. Still. 2000 (or updated edition). Birds, mammals, & reptiles of the Galapagos Islands. Yale University Press, New Haven and London. (Field guide for those interestedwildlife observers).

Predeparture reading of Kricher's and Coyne´sbooks of will definitely enhance the students' experience.

Professor

Carlos Valle, Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton. Carlos was raised on Santa Cruz Island where he attended primary and secondary school. Carlosis a professor at USFQ since beginning 1994, and GAIAS Codirector since 2002. He teaches Evolution, Ecology, Biostatistics, and Research Techniques in Ecology. He was the Galapagos Ecoregional Director for World Wildlife Found (WWF), associated research scientist (Ornithologist) for the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), a naturalist guide for the Galapagos National Park, Member of the CDF' General Assembly and twice reelected Member of the CDF' Board of Directors. He has conducted extensive scientific research on marine birds of the Galapagos since 1983 with support from the Charles Darwin Foundation, Princeton University and National Geographic. He is one of the leading experts on the birds of the Galapagos.

[1] One single question about material covered the day before or from assigned readings (chapters from textbooks).