Evolutionary Ecology of Insects
| Numbering Code |
G-AGR04 6DA08 LB85 G-AGR04 6DA08 LB69 |
Year/Term | 2022 ・ First semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Credits | 2 | Course Type | Lecture |
| Target Year | Target Student | ||
| Language | Japanese | Day/Period | Wed.4・5 |
| Instructor name |
MATSUURA KENJI (Graduate School of Agriculture Professor) TAKATA MAMORU (Graduate School of Agriculture Assistant Professor) |
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| Outline and Purpose of the Course | The aim of this course is to understand the latest research trends of Evolutionary Ecology and Insect Ecology by reading newly published papers in the relevant fields. | ||
| Course Goals | Develop the ability to read and understand academic papers related to insect ecology and evolutionary ecology. | ||
| Schedule and Contents |
This course will cover various topics related to evolutionary ecology, including the following: (1) Natural selection and fitness; (2) sexual selection; (3) frequency-dependent selection; (4) kin selection and inclusive fitness; (5) selfish and altruistic behavior; (6) camouflage and warning colors; (7) cost and benefit; (8) optimal foraging theory; (9) proximate cause and ultimate cause; (10) alternative hypothesis and spurious correlation. We will examine the evolution and fitness of inspects by studying examples of these selection and evolutionary processes. Session 1: The structure of a scientific paper Session 2: Understanding the methods used to represent data Sessions 3 to 5: Understanding various types of statistical analyses Sessions 6 to 14: Reading a scientific paper Session 15: Final examination/progress check Session 16: Feedback |
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| Evaluation Methods and Policy |
Evaluation will be based on final examination (30%) and class performance (70%). Class performance will be based on the student’s comprehension of research papers, ability to explain difficult concepts, debating skills, and commitment to learning. However, students who attend less than 10 of the sessions 1 to 14 are not eligible to take the final exam. |
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| Course Requirements | Undergraduate-level basic knowledge of insect ecology and evolutionary ecology is required. | ||
| Study outside of Class (preparation and review) | Students are expected to read assigned research papers and look up all technical terms in advance. | ||
