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 conducted by the class.
Grading
Essay
Presentation
Field research report
1
Quizzes
Comprehensive exam
%
20
10
20
20
30
-------------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:
1
One single question about material covered the day before or from assigned readings (chapters from
textbooks).
- 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 interested wildlife observers).
Predeparture reading of Kricher's and Coyne´s books 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. Carlos is 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.