LIFE HISTORY THEORY
(1 ov)Adaptive evolution is played in the theatre of ecology. This metaphor is particularly pertinent to life history evolution, that is, to the evolution of traits directly related to reproduction such as the number and size of offspring, the timing of reproduction, or the allocation of resources to reproduction versus self-maintenance. The challenge of life history theory is to interpret the huge variation in reproductive strategies seen in nature as adaptive responses to ecological determinants and lineage-specific constraints. Life history evolution is an area of evolutionary ecology where theory is exceptionally well connected with empirical research, and while aiming at an introduction to the theory in this course, I shall also highlight influential case studies. I assume no prior knowledge other than an introductory course on general ecology; no mathematical background is necessary.
Lectures: Friday 10-12 starting on 25 January 2002 (see detailed schedule below)
Place: Lecture room XI on 25 January and 1 February, afterwards the Ecology seminar room
Contact: Eva Kisdi (Department of Mathematics, room 451)
Office hour: Friday 14-15, phone: 333 5686, e-mail address:
This course is supported by the European Research Training Network ModLife through the Department of Mathematics, University of Turku.
EXAM:
- written test of ca 1 hour
- notes, books, etc. can be used freely (but may not be shared during the exam)
- sample questions can be downloaded in PDF format (final update 25/04/2002)
The next test opportunity will be after 20 May. Everyone interested in taking a test should email
eva.kisdi@utu.fi as soon as possible in order to find a suitable date. As agreed, anyone may repeat the test once if not satisfied with the grade.
PROGRAMME
1. Introduction: the life history problem. Selection, fitness, and adaptation. Cole's paradox: why reproduce more than once?
2. How to find the best life history strategy? Optimisation with trade-offs. Optimal seed size in plants; optimal clutch size in birds. Cole's problem revisited.
3. Changes in the optimal strategy across different environments. Alternative hypotheses explaining the trends in avian clutch size.
4. The effects of crowding: Optimisation with density dependence
5. Heterogeneous environments and optimal reaction norms
6. Measuring trade-offs
7. Populations with age structure. Stable age distribution. Which are the "important" life stages? Sensitivity analysis and applications in conservation biology.
8. The timing of reproduction: Age at maturity and senescence
9. An uncertain life: life histories in stochastic environments. Dormancy and perennation as risk spreading strategies.
10. The evolution of diversity: spatial structure and the storage effect
11. Reproduction in sexual species: Parent-offspring conflicts, mate choice, sex ratio, and the cost of sex.
TIME SCHEDULE
25 January - lecture room XI
1 February - lecture room XI
8 February - Ecology seminar room
15 February - Ecology seminar room
22 February - Ecology seminar room
1 March - Ecology seminar room
8 March - Ecology seminar room
no lectures on 15, 22, 29 March
5 April - Ecology seminar room
12 April - Ecology seminar room
19 April - Ecology seminar room
26 April - Ecology seminar room
3 May - Ecology seminar room, exam