Courses (All)

Evolution and Ecology Undergraduate and Graduate Courses

This is a list of all Evolution and Ecology undergraduate and graduate level courses.  Course offerings are subject to change.

Contact EEB Undergraduate Advisors Yasmine Jefferson or Joyce Fernandez if you have any questions on undergraduate coursework.

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES:

• EVE/ENT 2: Biodiversity (3)

  Offered: Winter (Lewin)

  No prerequisites (same course as ENT 2)

  Introduction to nature, scope and geographical distribution of biodiversity (the diversity of life, with emphasis on plants and animals, especially insects). Humans and biodiversity - domestication, aesthetics, ethics and valuation. Species richness and “success.” Biodiversity through time; monitoring, evaluation and conservation. GE credit: SE, SL, WE.

• EVE 10: Evolution for Non-Biologists (4)

  Offered: Fall – Odd-Numbered Years (Begun)

  No prerequisites

  Introduction to evolutionary biology for the general population. GE credit: QL, SE, SL

• EVE 11: Principles of Ecology (4)

  Offered: Not currently being offered

  Prerequisites: Elementary biology recommended

  This course is an introduction to ecological principles with an emphasis on humans and their interactions with the environment. In particular, there will be an exploration of the future of civilization and the Earth’s biosphere given the apparently unlimited growth of the planet’s human population.

• EVE 12: Life in the Sea (3)

  Offered: Spring (Wainwright)

  No Prerequisites

  Diversity of life in the sea; adaptations to physical/chemical ocean environment; marine science research methods; utilization of living marine resources by humans; factors and processes that influence diversity of sea life, including humans. GE credit: SE, SL

• EVE 13: Sex in the Natural World (3)

  Offered: Fall - Even-Numbered Years (Patricelli)

  No Prerequisites

  Explores the diversity, mechanisms and evolution of sexual behaviors across the kingdoms of life. GE credit: SE, SL, VL.

• EVE 16: Wild Davis: A California Naturalist Certification Course (4) 

  Offered: Spring (Gerhart-Barley)

  No Prerequisites

  Lecture and fieldwork.  Natural history and urban ecology of Davis. Basics of ecological observation, community science and service, and California’s unique natural communities. If fee is paid, completion of the course provides certification in the UC California Naturalist Program.

• EVE 20: Darwinian Medicine (3)

  Offered: Fall - Odd-Numbered Years (Begun)

  No Prerequisites

  Introduction for non-biologists to the evolved traits of humans and pathogens that influence human biological variation, health, and disease. GE credit: QL, SE, SL.

• EVE 92: Internship (1-12)

  Prerequisites: Lower division standing and consent of instructor

  Work experience off and on campus in all subject areas offered in the Department of Evolution and Ecology. Internships supervised by a member of the faculty. P/NP grading only.

• EVE 99: Special Study for Lower Division Students (1-5)

  P/NP grading only.

• EVE 100: Introduction to Evolution (4)

  Offered: Fall, Winter, and Spring (Begun, Coop, Kopp, Ramirez)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C or 2A, 2B, 2C, and 101; Mathematics 16A, 16B, 16C or the equivalent; Statistics 13 or 100 (Statistics 100 recommended)

  Lecture: 3 hrs.; discussion: 1 hr.

  A general survey of the origins of biological diversity and evolutionary mechanisms.

• EVE 101: Introduction to Ecology (4)

  Offered: Fall, Winter, and Spring (Gaylord, Gerhart-Barley, Gremer, Sanford, Schoener, Shapiro, Strong)

  Prerequisites: Prerequisite(s): (BIS 002A, BIS 002B, BIS 002C); (MAT 016A or MAT 017A or MAT 021A); (MAT 016B or MAT 017B or MAT 021B); or the equivalent.

  Lecture: 3 hrs.; lecture/discussion: 1 hr.

  A general survey of the principles of ecology.  GE credit: QL, SE, SL, VL.

• EVE 102: Population and Quantitative Genetics (4)

  Offered: Fall – Even-Numbered Years (Coop, Langley)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 101; and Statistics 100 or 102; and EVE 100

  Lecture: 3 hrs.; discussion: 1 hr.

  Evolution as caused by random mating, genetic drift, natural selection, inbreeding, migration, and mutation in theory and actuality. Application of these ideas to topics such as the evolution of sex. GE Credit: SE.

• EVE 103: Phylogeny and Macroevolution (4)

  Offered: Winter – Even-Numbered Years (Moore, Turelli)

  Prerequisites: Course 100

  Lecture: 3 hrs.; laboratory/discussion: 3 hrs.

  Patterns and processes of evolution above the species level. Homology, homoplasy, and character evolution. Adaptive radiation; modes and rates of diversification. Evolution of complexity, and macroevolution of the genome. Principles of phlyogeny reconstruction and their application to macroevolutionary studies.  GE credit: QL, SE, SL.

• EVE 104: Community Ecology (4)

  Offered: Fall - Even-Numbered Years (Fernanda Valdovinos)

  Prerequisites: Course 101 or Environmental Science and Policy 100

  Lecture: 3 hrs.; discussion: 1 hr.

  Population growth and density dependence; predation; exploitative, interference and apparent competition; coexistence mechanisms; niches spatial and temporal variation etc. Emphasis on quantitative understanding through models, concepts, and empirical evidence.

• EVE 105: Phylogenetic Analysis of Vertebrate Structure (4)

  Offered: Spring – Odd-Numbered Years (Wainwright)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 1A and 1B, or 2B and 2C

  Lecture: 2 hrs.; laboratory: 6 hrs.

  The structure of the classes and subclasses of vertebrates is described and interpreted in terms of phylogeny.  GE credit: SE.

• EVE 106: Mechanical Design in Organisms (3)

  Bodega Marine Laboratory Course

  Offered: Not currently being offered (Gaylord)

  Prerequisite: upper division standing or consent of instructor; introductory animal biology (BIS 1B or 2B), invertebrate zoology (EVE 112), and/or ecology (EVE 101) are recommended; residence at or near Bodega Marine Laboratory required. Student must complete the application available at http://www.bml.ucdavis.edu.

  Lecture: 2 hrs.; discussion: 1 hr.; laboratory: 3 hrs.; fieldwork: 3 hrs.

  Explores fundamental principles in the form and function of organisms, examining how basic properties of size, shape, structure, and habitat constrain ways in which plants and animals interact and cope with their physical surroundings. The course will employ a combination of lecture, lab, and fieldwork.  GE credit: QL, SE, VL, WE.

• EVE 107: Animal Communication (4)

  Offered: Fall – Odd-Numbered Years (Patricelli)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 1B or 2B

  Lecture: 3 hrs; discussion: 1 hr

  How animals use songs, dances, colors, chemicals, electricity and vibrations to communicate. Mechanisms of signal production and detection (sensory system), theory of information transfer and signal design, and the role of natural selection in shaping communication.  GE credit: QL, SE, VL.

• EVE/PLB 108: Systematics and Evolution of Angiosperms (5)

  Offered: Spring (Potter)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C or 2A, 2B, 2C (same course as PLB 108)

  Lecture: 3 hrs; laboratory: 6 hrs

  Diversity and classification of angiosperms (flowing plants) on a world scale, and current understanding of the origin of angiosperms and evolutionary relations and trends within them based on morphological and molecular evidence. 

• EVE 109: Molecular Ecology (4)

  Offered: Fall (Bay)

  Prerequisites: EVE 100

  Lecture: 3 hrs; discussion: 1 hour

  This course will provide a survey of molecular ecology methods, emphasizing how genetic tools can be applied to relevant questions in ecology and conservation.

• EVE 111: Marine Environmental Issues (1)

  Offered: Spring - Davis Campus (Gaylord, Todgham); SS I Bodega Marine Laboratory (Gaylord)

  Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

  For summer, please also note: Concurrent enrollment in at least one course from Environmental Science and Policy 124, 152, course 106, 110, 114; residence at or near Bodega Marine Laboratory required. Student must complete the application available at http://www.bml.ucdavis.edu. May be repeated two times for credit. (Same course as Environmental Science and Policy 111.)

  Spring Discussion: 1 hr. (10 weeks)

  Summer Discussion: 1 hr., seminar: 2 hrs. (6 weeks)

  Readings and group discussion of critical environmental issues in coastal waters. The course will connect material from concurrent courses at BML and provide students with an integrative understanding of marine environments and conservation. The course will include two invited seminars/lectures by recognized experts.

• EVE 112: Biology of Invertebrates (3)

  Offered: Winter – Even-Numbered Years (Grosberg, Sanford)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 1B, or 2B and 2C; courses in systematics, ecology and evolution recommended; course 112L concurrently

  Lecture: 3 hrs.

  Survey of the invertebrate phyla emphasizing aquatic forms and focusing on morphology, development, natural history, and phylogenetic relationships.

• EVE 112L: Biology of Invertebrates Laboratory (2)

  Offered: Winter – Even-Numbered Years (Grosberg, Sanford)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 1B, or 2B and 2C; course 112 concurrently

  Laboratory: 6 hrs.

  Field and laboratory experience with representative members of the invertebrate phyla discussed in course 112. Emphasis on comparative morphology, natural history, ecology, and behavior of living invertebrates.

• EVE 114: Experimental Invertebrate Biology (3)

  Offered: SS I (Sanford)

  Prerequisite: upper division standing or consent of instructor; introductory cell, animal, and plant biology (Biological Sciences 1A, 1B and 1C or 2A, 2B and 2C), invertebrate zoology (EVE 112), ecology (EVE 101), and/or evolution (EVE 100) are recommended; residence at or near Bodega Marine Laboratory required. Student must complete the application available at http://www.bml.ucdavis.edu.

  Lecture: 2 hrs.; discussion: 1 hr.; laboratory: 3 hrs.; fieldwork: 3 hrs.

  Functional biology, ecology, and evolution of local marine invertebrates, with an emphasis on adaptations to physical and biological factors encountered on the California coast. The course will offer a strong field and lab component and will emphasize testing hypotheses that are generated by the class.

• EVE 115: Marine Ecology (4)

  Offered: Winter – Odd-Numbered Years (Stachowicz)

  Prerequisites: Course 101 or Environmental Science and Policy 100 or Biological Sciences 2B, or consent of instructor

  Lecture: 3 hrs.; discussion: 1 hr.

  Processes affecting the distribution, abundance, and diversity of plant and animal life in the sea. Introduction to marine habitat diversity and human impacts on marine ecosystems. GE credit: SE, SL, VL, WE.

• EVE/PLB 117: Plant Ecology (4)

  Offered: Fall (Gremer, Latimer, Rejmanek)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C or 2A, 2B, 2C; Plant Biology 111 recommended

  Lecture: 3 hrs.; fieldwork: 3 hrs.

  The study of the interactions between plants, plant populations or vegetation types and their physical and biological environment. Special emphasis on California.

• EVE/PLB 119: Population Biology of Weeds (3)

  Offered: Spring - Odd-Numbered Years (Rejmanek)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C or 2A, 2B, 2C; introductory statistics recommended

  Lecture: 2 hrs.; laboratory: 3 hrs.

  Origin and evolution of weeds, reproduction and dispersal, seed ecology, modeling of population dynamics, interactions of weeds and crops, biological control. Laboratories emphasis design of competition experiments and identification of weedy species. GE credit: SE.

• EVE 120: Global Change Ecology (3)

  Offered: Winter (Strong); and SS2 (Gaylord - Offered at BML)

  Prerequisites: Course 100 and 101 or equivalents

  Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs.

  Treatment of historical evolution of the biosphere resulting from physical, chemical, and biological influences. Topics pertain to biodiversity, resources, conservation, and ecosystem services.

• EVE 131: Human Genetic Variation and Evolution (3)

  Offered: Fall (Rannala)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 1B or 2B

  Lecture: 3 hrs.

  Introduction to genome-wide nucleotide sequence variation in human populations and computational methods for its analysis.

• EVE 138: Ecology of Tropical Latitudes (5)

  Offered: Spring – Even-Numbered Years (Shapiro)

  Prerequisite: one course in Biological Sciences, Entomology, Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, Geography, or tropical experience, or consent of instructor

  Lecture: 3 hours; discussion: 1 hour; extensive writing

  Biological, physical, and human-related aspects of the ecology of low latitudes. Distribution, numbers, and relationships of tropical organisms. Problems of development and conservation in the context of ecological and evolutionary theory.

• EVE 140: Paleobotany (4)

  Offered: Winter – Odd-Numbered Years (Doyle)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C or 2A, 2B, 2C

  Lecture: 3 hrs.; laboratory: 3 hrs.

  Introduction to plant fossil record, beginning with invasion of land in the Silurian, emphasizing origin and evolution of major groups and adaptations and changing composition and distribution of floras in relation to plate tectonics and climate change.

• EVE 141: Principles of Systematics (3)

  Offered: Spring – Odd-Numbered Years (Shapiro)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 1B or 1C or 2B; course 100 recommended

  Lecture: 2 hrs; independent study

  Historical background, philosophical rationale, contemporary approaches, and working rules of biosystematics, including international Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

• EVE 147: Biogeography (4)

  Offered: Fall – Even-Numbered Years (Shapiro)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 1A and 1B, or 2B

  Lecture: 3 hrs; term paper

  Movements of terrestrial organisms. The role of geologic, climatic, and biological changes in the geographic distribution of organisms.

• EVE 149: Evolution of Ecological Systems (4)

  Offered: Fall – Odd-Numbered Years (Shapiro)

  Prerequisites: Course 101 or Environmental Science and Policy 100 (or the equivalent); course 100 (or the equivalent)

  Lecture: 3 hrs; term paper

  Evolution as an organizing force in natural communities. Coadaptation in trophic and competitive relationships. Ecology of polymorphisms, clines, and speciation.

• EVE 150: Evolution of Animal Development (3)

  Offered: Winter – Not currently being offered (Kopp)

  Prerequisites: Molecular and Cellular Biology 150 or 163 or equivalent course in developmental biology (may be waived for graduate students with consent of instructor)

  Lecture: 3 hrs.

  Comparative analysis of animal development and the genetic basis of morphological diversification.

• EVE 161: Microbial Phylogenomics - Genomic Perspectives on the Diversity and Diversification of Microbes (3)

  Offered: Winter – Even-Numbered Years (Eisen)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 2A, 2B, 2C

  Lecture: 3 hrs.

  Use of DNA and genomic sequencing in studies of the diversity of microorganisms. Diversity of microbes, phylogenetics, genome sequencing, comparative genomics, phylogenomics, lateral gene transfer, molecular ecology, metagenomics, and studies of the human microbiome.

• EVE 175: Computational Genetics (3)

  Offered:  Spring - Odd-Numbered Years (Langley)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 101; Statistics 100 or 102

  Lecture: 2 hrs.; discussion: 1 hrs.

  The use of computers to solve problems in genetics and evolution. Introduction to general purpose computer language (Python), computational statistical methods, and applications such as QTL mapping, linkage detection, estimation of rates of evolution and gene finding.

• EVE 180A-180B: Experimental Ecology and Evolution in the Field (4-4)

  Offered: EVE 180A-Winter, EVE 180B-Spring – Odd-Numbered Years (Yang)

  Prerequisite(s): EVE 100; (EVE 101 or ESP 100); ENT 105.  (And EVE 180A for EVE 180B)

  Lecture/laboratory: 3 hrs.; fieldwork: 3 hrs.

  Experimental design in field ecology. Students will critique primary literature, design project, gather and analyze data. Students required to write original research paper based on field experiments. Deferred grading only pending completion of sequence (180A AND 180B). (Same courses as ENT 180A and ENT 180B.)

• EVE 181: Ecology and the Evolution of Animal-Plant Interactions (4)

  Offered: Fall – Even-Numbered Years (Strauss)

  Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 2B and 2C required, 2C may be taken concurrently

  Lecture: 1.5 hrs.; Lecture/discussion: 1.5 hrs., term paper, extensive writing / discussion

  Animal adaptations for eating plants, pollinating flowers, dispersing seeds. Plant adaptations to herbivore defense, attraction of mutualists; role of coevolutionary arms race, mutualists and cheaters in plant/animal speciation. Exploration through lectures, original scientific literature, discussions and term paper. GE credit: OL, QL, SE, SL, WE.

• EVE 189: Introduction to Biological Research (1)

  Prerequisites: upper division standing in Evolution and Ecology or related biological science

  Discussion: 1 hr.

  Introduction to research methods in biology. Presentation and discussion of research by faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students. May be repeated for credit up to a total of 6 units. P/NP grading only.

• EVE 190: Undergraduate Seminar (2)

  Offered: Fall (Shapiro)

  Prerequisite: upper division standing in the biological sciences or a related discipline

  Seminar: 2 hrs.

  Student reports on current topics with emphasis on integration of concepts, synthesis, and state-of-the-art research approaches. Reviews of literature and reports of undergraduate research may be included. May be repeated for credit, P/NP grading only.

• EVE 192: Internship (1-12)

  Prerequisites: completion of 84 units and consent of instructor

  Internship: 3-36 hrs.

  Work experience off and on campus in all subject areas offered in the Department of Evolution and Ecology. Internships supervised by a member of the faculty. P/NP grading only.

• EVE 194HA-194HB-194HC: Research Honors (2 units per quarter)

  Prerequisites: Students who have completed 135 units and qualify for the honors program (as defined by the General Catalog/3.5 GPA)

  Laboratory: 6 hrs.

  Students pursue intensive research under the guidance of a faculty adviser. Students are expected to complete the full three-quarter sequence culminating in the writing of an honors thesis. Deferred grading only, pending completion of sequence.  Letter graded.

• EVE 197T: Tutoring (1-2)

  Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1B or Biological Sciences 2B with a grade of B or better

  Tutorial: 3-6 hrs.

  Assisting the instructor by tutoring students in a Biological Sciences laboratory. Experience in teaching under guidance of the staff. P/NP grading only.

• EVE 198: Directed Group Study (1-5)

  Offered: variable

  Variable unit coursework. Directed group study. P/NP grading only.

   

• EVE 199: Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates (1-5)

  P/NP grading only

  Students must have completed 84 units in order to undertake 199 coursework.

GRADUATE COURSES:

• EVE 210: Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis (3)

  Offered: Not being offered

• EVE 211: Applied Phylogenetics (3)

  Offered: Spring (Moore and Wainwright)

  Prerequisites: EVE 103 or EVE 210 or PBG 200C; Or equivalent, graduate standing.

  Lecture 2 hours; Laboratory 3 hours

  Applications of phylogenetic methods to fields outside of systematics. Core lectures/labs in remedial phylogenetics, phylogeography, conservation and comparative morphology. Special topics very yearly. May be repeated up to 1 time.

• EVE 220: Species and Speciation (3)

  Offered: Winter Even-Numbered Years (Shapiro)

  Prerequisites: EVE 100 or PHI 108; Or the equivalent; HPS 130B recommended. 

  Lecture 2 hours; Discussion 1 hour

  Current status of species concepts, models of speciation, current research on speciation, and relevance of species to conservation biology.

• EVE 225: Linear Mixed Models in Ecology and Evolution (4)

  Offered: Either Winter or Spring Odd-Numbered Years (Laskowski) - next offering Winter or Spring 2023

  Prerequisites: STA 100, or STA 101, or PLS 205 or equivalent

  Lecture 3 hours; Laboratory 1 hour

  Most biological data is inherently clustered and so proper analysis requires the use of hierarchical or mixed models. This course will cover the conceptual basis and practical application of linear (mixed) models using examples drawn from evolutionary and behavioral ecology and will include hands-on manipulation and analysis of data in R.  (Letter grading only.)  Please visit Dr. Kate Laskowski's website for further details about the course:  https://laskowskilab.faculty.ucdavis.edu/teaching/. 

• EVE 231: Principles of Biological Data Analysis (3)

  Offered: TBD (Rannala)

  Prerequisites: Graduate standing

  Lecture 2 hours; Laboratory 3 hours

  Introduction to the principles of data analysis, experimental design, statistical modeling, inference, and hypothesis tests. Statistical methods of particular importance in biological applications will be emphasized. Examples will be presented from the fields of ecology and evolutionary genetics. (S/U grading only.)

• EVE 290C: Research Conference (1)

  Prerequisites: Consent of Instructor, graduate standing.

  Presentation and discussion of faculty and graduate student research in biology. May be repeated for credit. (S/U grading only.)

• EVE 298: Group Study (1-5)

  Variable.  Prerequisites: Consent of Instructor.  (S/U grading only.)

• EVE 299: Research (1-5)

  Variable.  Prerequisites: Consent of Instructor.  (S/U grading only.)

• EVE 390: Methods of Teaching (2)

  Prerequisites: Consent of Instructor. Graduate Standing.

  Lecture 1 hour; Discussion 1 hour.

  Practical experience in the methods and problems of teaching. Includes analyses of texts and supporting material, discussion of teaching techniques and preparing and conducting of laboratory and discussion sections.  May be repeated up to 8 units.  (S/U grading only.)

   

The UC Davis General Catalog has Department of Evolution and Ecology undergraduate and graduate course information.

Course offerings are subject to change.