Principles of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior – Free Course

July 15, 2013

This course presents the principles of evolution, ecology, and behavior for students beginning their study of biology and of the environment.

It discusses major ideas and results in a manner accessible to all Yale College undergraduates. Recent advances have energized these fields with results that have implications well beyond their boundaries: ideas, mechanisms, and processes that should form part of the toolkit of all biologists and educated citizens.

The Nature of Evolution: Selection, Inheritance, and History
Basic Transmission Genetics
Adaptive Evolution: Natural Selection
Neutral Evolution: Genetic Drift
How Selection Changes the Genetic Composition of Population
The Origin and Maintenance of Genetic Variation
The Importance of Development in Evolution
The Expression of Variation: Reaction Norms
The Evolution of Sex
Genomic Conflict
Life History Evolution
Sex Allocation
Sexual Selection
Species and Speciation
Phylogeny and Systematics
Comparative Methods: Trees, Maps, and Traits
Key Events in Evolution
Major Events in the Geological Theatre
The Fossil Record and Life’s History
Coevolution
Evolutionary Medicine
The Impact of Evolutionary Thought on the Social Sciences
The Logic of Science
Climate and the Distribution of Life on Earth
Interactions with the Physical Environment
Population Growth: Density Effects
Interspecific Competition
Ecological Communities
Island Biogeography and Invasive Species
Energy and Matter in Ecosystems
Why So Many Species? The Factors Affecting Biodiversity
Economic Decisions for the Foraging Individual
Evolutionary Game Theory: Fighting and Contests
Mating Systems and Parental Care
Alternative Breeding Strategies
Selfishness and Altruism

Requirements: None

Textbooks:

Instructor: Stephen C. Stearns

Price: Free

Visit the course page

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