The investigation of the ecological and evolution of natural communities through the use of mathematical models. Topics include complexity and stability, patterns of species abundance and diversity, theory of the niche, spatial and temporal heterogeneity, and the dynamics of natural populations. Tropical Ecology Staff Intensive three-week field course undertaken in January or February in a suitable tropical locality. There are readings, discussions, and individual projects. The content and location are varied to suit the needs of the participants.
Students provide their own travel funds.
522 Colloquium on the Biology of Populations Staff Discussion of the central problems of population biology and approaches that have proved fruitful. Topics ranging throughout ecology, evolution, biogeography, and population genetics are usually related to presentations by visiting speakers and students. 524 Topics in Evolution Staff Discussion of current topics in evolutionary biology, ranging from historical processes inferred from the fossil record to microevolution demonstrated by observation and experiment. Topics vary from year to year, depending on current controversial issues. 525 Quantitative Field Ecology Henry S. Horn, Staff Techniques for physical measurement, photography, mapping, and recording data.