Title

Neutral Theory in Ecology

Course Description

This semester we will be working through The Unified Neutral Theory of Biodiversity and Biogeography by Stephen Hubbell. Our objective is to understand Hubbell’s theory, the foundations upon which this work is based (i.e. Kimura’s Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution), and to understand how this theory has fared since Hubbell’s book was published by reading contemporary papers on the subject. Each student will be expected to lead discussion at least one week. I hope that this discussion group will help you to understand a theory that E.O. Wilson called “… the most important contribution to ecology and biogeography of the past half century”.

Instructor (s)

Colleen Webb

E-mail

ctwebb@lamar.colostate.edu      

Phone Number

970-491-4289

Credits

1

Academic Restrictions or Recommendations

None

Meeting Times

3:00 – 4:00 p.m., Mondays preferred – one hour per week.  Time may shift to accommodate students.

Classroom

Yates 214/216

First Meeting Date

August, 20, 2007 at 3:00 p.m.

Section ID/CRN

60565

Will this course be cross-listed or cross-enrolled

No

Enrollment Limit

20

Background

Text to be used

The Unified Neutral Theory of Biodiversity and Biogeography by Stephen P. Hubbell.  Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. 2001.  Please purchase this book ahead of time.  We will start readings from it for the second week of class.