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Åbo Akademi University 2014/2015
BIOSCIENCES
Evolutionary analysis
223055.0
5 credits
Advanced level
Lectured course
Offered: Autumn 2014
Lecturers: Ane T. Laugen, Kai Lindström
Contents: This course will present the general concepts of
evolutionary biology and provide insight into basic evolution-
ary methodology. We will study evolutionary patterns and
processes and introduce experimental and analytical methods
for investigating evolutionary problems. The main focus will
be population genetic analyses, comparative analyses and
selection analyses. Finally, the course will give an overview
of evolutionary biology applied to ongoing human-induced
environmental problems. Upon successful completion of this
course, the student will be able to i) provide an overview of
latest research and the current developments in evolutionary
biology, and ii) evaluate hypotheses, consider experimental
design, analyze data, and highlighting new questions for fu-
ture research inevolutionary biology. This is an advanced-level
course for students with a strong background in biology (4th
or 5th year students), but will also be open for PhD students,
interested postdocs and researchers.
Textbook: Herron & Freeman (2014). Evolutionary analysis.
Pearson. 5th edition
Plant ecology
223092.0
5 credits
Advanced level
Seminars
Offered: Spring 2015
Lecturer: Satu Ramula
Contents: Plant ecology examines biotic and abiotic factors
determining the distribution and abundance of plant species.
This seminar-based course focuses on the fundamental con-
cepts of plant ecology including plant life histories, popula-
tions, communities andplant-animal interactions (pollination,
dispersal, herbivory).
By the end of this course, you are expected to have an under-
standing of 1) evolutionary forces shaping plant traits, 2) how
individual plants interact with their environment and what
consequences these interactions have for plant populations
and communities, and 3) howmodels are used to describe the
dynamics of plant populations and communities.
The course consists of seminars and discussions based on
the course book and most recent literature, providing an op-
portunity to practice your presentation skills.
Textbook: Gurevitch, J, Scheiner SM and Fox GA (2006) The
ecology of plants. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates Inc.
Linking data and ecological models
223078.0
5 credits
Advanced level
Lectured course, computer exercises
Offered: Spring 2015
Lecturer: Andreas Lindén
Contents: The course gives a broad view of the techniques,
principles and philosophy of modern statistics, using gentle
examples from the field of ecology. We will discuss different
probability distributions, the concept of likelihood functions,
aswell as different generalmethods for estimatingparameters
and their uncertainty. We will also compare the principles of
frequentistic, information theoretical and Bayesian statistics.
The aim is to give the participants deeper insight in what
statistics is about, how it can and should be used, and how
statistical results presented in research papers should be
interpreted. While we do not concentrate on introducing a
wide range of models and experimental designs, the course
should help to independently apply and learn to use more
specific statistical tools that can be looked-up from other
sources. The course consists of lectures, computer exercises
(using software such as Excel and R) and independent work
at home. It is suitable for both graduate and undergraduate
students (from the 3rd year), however, with the requirement
of basic knowledge in statistics.
Demographic methods and analyses
223091.0
5 credits
Advanced level
Lectured course, computer exercises
Offered: Spring 2015
Lecturer: Satu Ramula
Contents: Demography examines how the size and structure
of populations change over time. This course introduces
demographic methods that are commonly used to measure
rates of population change, and that can be applied to con-
serve rare species as well as to manage unwanted invaders
regardless of taxa.
By the end of the course, you are expected to be familiar
with count-based population models, matrix models and
individual-basedmodels. You should be able to collect demo-
graphic data, predict the future size of populations, estimate
population growth rate and identify the best potential targets
for management actions.
The course consists of lectures, computer exercises and a
final project work conducted in pairs or alone. This advanced
course requires basic skills in Excel and statistics, and is suit-
able for students interested in conservation/population
biology.
Animal Personalities: Behaviour, Physiology and
Evolution
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223090.0
5 credits
Advanced level
Lectured course
Offered: Spring 2015
Lecturer: Markus Öst
Aim: The course will provide an understanding of why dif-
ferent personality types coexist, why behaviour is not more
flexible and why the same personality traits correlate in dif-
ferent taxa. Central goals include understanding the interplay
between behaviour and underlying physiology in shaping
personality traits, and highlighting the applied aspects of
personality research.
Contents: The rise of personality research in ecology and evo-
lution; defining personalities; genetics, ecology and evolution
of personalities; ontogenetic and neuroendocrine control of
personalities; applied personality research.
Form of study: Lectures and student presentations examin-
ing a chapter in the recent textbook by Carere & Maestripieri
(2013) or a paper of their own choice; students also lead class
discussion on their presentation. A book exam (Carere &
Maestripieri 2013) will take place at the end of the course.
Grading is basedon student presentations and thebook exam.
Course literature: Carere, C. & Maestripieri, D. 2013: Animal
Personalities: Behavior, Physiology, and Evolution. Univ. of
Chicago Press (released 8.3.2013). 512 pp.
