PLSCI 5600

Symbioses: Evolution and Ecology

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2023-2024.

Symbiosis, the living together of unlike organisms, encompasses a spectrum of interactions ranging from mutually beneficial to reciprocally detrimental. We will examine a selection of ecologically important symbioses, including interactions of bacteria and fungi with plants, protists, invertebrates, and vertebrates, focusing on their ecological, physiological and molecular mechanisms. We will consider the evolutionary origins, and explore conditions required for the establishment and maintenance of these associations. We will discuss the role of symbioses in the assembly of ecological communities and agriculture. Lastly, we will examine the impact of global change on symbioses.

When Offered Spring.

• Identify, explain, and categorize the ecological, physiological and molecular mechanisms of symbiotic interactions.
• Discuss these mechanisms and interpret associated data analyses in the light of evolutionary theory.
• Apply, categorize and integrate basic conceptual and analytical tools to describe ecological and evolutionary origins and stability of symbioses.
• Articulate the utility of symbiotic systems in sustainable agriculture.
• Evaluate consequences of global change for the functioning of symbiotic systems.
• Describe how the body of knowledge evolves in the face of new evidence.

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