For Fall 2003

nothing yet!

From Spring 2003

As an optional final 25-point assignment, you may read the following paper and write a summary/critique of it, not to exceed 2 typewritten pages using the following formatting guidelines: 1"margins on all sides, 11-pt Times New Roman font, and 1.5 spacing.  The summary/critique is due by 12:30 pm on Fri 25 April.  

Density-dependent mortality and the latitudinal gradient in species diversity.  (2002. Nature 417:732-735.)

You can click here to see a nicely-written summary/critique submitted by a student in this class.

And . . . you should read at least the abstract and introduction of the following paper before the final exam:

Mackey, R.L. and D.J. Currie.  2001.  The diversity-disturbance relationship: is it generally strong and peaked?  Ecology 82(12):3479–3492

Papers that we discussed in class on Weds 2 April (and that constitute fair game for a question on Exam 3!):
Pfiesteria shumwayae kills fish by micropredation not exotoxin secretion.  (2002.  Nature 418:967-970.)
Masting in animal-dispersed pines facilitates seed dispersal.  (2002.  Ecology 83(12):3508-3516.)

Papers that we discussed on 29 Jan 2003 (links were removed 18 March):
Widespread local house-sparrow extinctions. (2002. Nature 418:931.)
The value of bees to the coffee harvest.  (2002. Nature 417:708.)

A few other papers (for your information and enjoyment!):
Pretender punishment induced by chemical signaling in a queenless ant.  (2002. Nature 419:61-65.)
Host plants influence parasitism of forest caterpillars.  (2002. Nature 417:170-173.)

From Spring 2002

Papers to read and discuss in class on Monday 28 January (links removed 11 Feb 2002):

>> She-male snakes
>> Caching behavior of scrub jays

From Spring 2001

ABSTRACTS from the journal NATURE (discussed in class 8 Jan '01):

>> Disruptive sexual selection for plumage coloration in a passerine bird 
>> Variation in the reversibility of evolution
>> Fluorescent pigments in corals are photoprotective
>> Biomechanics: Penguin waddling is not wasteful
>> Concurrent density dependence and independence in populations of arctic ground squirrels
>> Density cycles and an offspring quantity and quality game driven by natural selection
>> Mistletoe seed dispersal by a marsupial
>> Spider manipulation by a wasp larva
>> Metapopulation dynamics of bubonic plague
>> Spatial synchronization of vole population dynamics by predatory birds
>> Disturbance and diversity in experimental microcosms
>> Analysis of an evolutionary species–area relationship

From Spring 1999

Readings for group presentations:   I have chosen the following papers for us to read and discuss as a class this semester.  I am still working to make it possible for you to download the papers whose titles are underlined as Adobe Acrobat files from this page.  However, for now you will have to go to the reserve desk in the library to get hold of a copy.  Anyway, here they are:

Readings I (for Monday 8 February):
Fox, C.W.  1995.  Parental host plant affects offspring life histories in a seed beetle.  Ecology 76:402-411.

Herzig, A.L.  1995.  Effects of population density on long-distance dispersal in the goldenrod beetle Trirhabda virgata.  Ecology 76:2044-2055.

Readings II (for Monday 1 March):
Dyer, L.A.  Tasty generalists and nasty specialists?  Antipredator mechanisms in tropical lepidopteran larvae.  Ecology 76:1483-1496.

Sagers, C.L. and P.D. Coley.  1995  Benefits and costs of defense in a neotropical shrub.  Ecology 76:1835-1843.

Readings III (for Monday 12 April):
Creed, R.P., Jr.  1994.  Direct and indirect effects of crayfish grazing in a stream community.  Ecology 75:2091-2103.

Stouffer, P.C. and T.A. Mousseau.  1995.  Use of Amazonian forest fragments by understory insectivorous birds.  Ecology 76:2429-2445.