Spring 2006
2:00-3:30pm, Mondays and Fridays
521 Carr Hall

Instructors: Gustav Paulay, Craig Osenberg, Colette St. Mary

[presentations and readings lists are available via gatorlink login: click here]

This discussion group/seminar will explore biodiversity from ecological and evolutionary perspectives. We will focus on reef biodiversity, but also draw relevant examples from other aquatic and terrestrial systems, and explore for cross-system generalities. Through readings and discussions, interspersed with mini-lectures, we will cover the origin, dynamics, and maintenance of biodiversity. We will consider: historical biogeography of the marine biosphere, history of reefs, spatial and temporal patterns in diversity, methods for measuring diversity, ecological and evolutionary controls of diversity, symbioses, and anthropogenic impacts. Students taking this course for credit will present papers and lead discussions. We will meet twice a week for an hour during the first 6 weeks in the term, and may continue once a week after that. This course is part of the UF - Florida-France training and research cooperative program on coral reef conservation and biodiversity (FACE).