This is an advanced course for students with a
solid background in evolutionary ecology, evolutionary genetics and
quantitative genetics with a strong interest in understanding Darwinian fitness
and natural selection. The basic evolutionary problem the course addresses is
how natural selection "designs" organisms to achieve optimal survival
and reproductive success. The course will be strongly based on a book by
Stearns (Stephen C. Stearns. 1992. The evolution of life histories. Oxford: Oxford
University Press). The course requires proficiency in English and the
willingness to actively engage in discussing, asking questions, reading,
presenting material, etc. An understanding of basic statistics and mathematics
(including calculus) is helpful. At the end of the course, the students will
take an oral exam in form of giving a presentation
- Enseignant·e: Thomas Flatt