Biological evolution

Teacher(s)

Nieberding Caroline; Rezsohazy René;

Language

French

Prerequisites

The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.

Main themes

This course aims to provide a current overview of evolutionary biology, and to show the diversity of approaches to characterize and understand what underlies biological evolution at its different levels of organization: from molecules to ecosystems. This course will specifically address evolutionary biology themes in complementarity and integration with other related courses:
- Special Evolutionary Issues (LBIO1350)
- Speciation: origins of biodiversity (LBIO1355)
- Biogeography (LGEO1332),
- Molecular biology (LBIO1223),
- Functional Ecology (LBIO1317),
- Animal Behavior (L1254).

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

Master the concepts and vocabulary used in evolutionary biology; Understand the methods, and their limitations, used in evolutionary biology, both laboratory and field methods; List and relate experimental and correlative evidence of biological evolution from a range of distinct scientific disciplines; Formulate testable hypotheses on the adaptive value and evolutionary dimension of the phenotypic (morphology, physiology, behaviour) and genotypic traits of living organisms in their natural environment.

Content

This course deals with the main themes of evolutionary biology: molecular evolution, evolution of constraints, of development, of life history traits, of behaviour, including the ways in which individuals are paired and the interactions between species, will be documented. The role of sexual selection and natural selection in the evolution of organisms will be particularly discussed. We will also learn about the methods available to quantify evolution (experimental evolution, artificial selection), as well as natural selection (selective value or "fitness"). The evolution of man as well as the evolution of organisms in the Anthropocene, an environment profoundly modified by human activities, will be quantified.

Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

In audience, with online reference book support and ppt on moodle; modalities of practical work to be specified at the beginning of the course.

Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

Written examination and report on the practical part of the course. It is important to note that a serious failure (7/20 or less) in one of the parts of the course (partim Prof. Nieberding, Prof. Rezsohazy, partim "practical work") is rated overall with a 7/20 for the entire course. A partial exemption during the academic year can be obtained for the part(s) passed for the following sessions, upon written request by email to the teacher at the exemption office is possible.

Other information

Course given in French, including written support

Online resources

Course content and practical information is available and provided via the Moodle platform for the course. It is important to register as soon as possible to receive this information. The reference book "Evolutionary Biology" by Frédéric Thomas et al (2016), at de Boeck will be available free of charge in an annotated electronic version for students with a UCL matricule (and therefore registered at UCLouvain). See practical information on the Moodle platform.

Bibliography

Livre de référence : Biologie évolutive, par Frédéric Thomas et al (2016), de Boeck.

Faculty or entity

BIOL