Zool 576. Seminar in Ecology: Endless Forms and Imperfect Simulations
A gamified introduction to historical and contemporary biogeography
Lecture & Lab: R 9:00 am (or 10:00 am) to noon, Life Science II 256
Instructor: Dr. Jason L. Brown
Co-instructors: Morgan Muell and Wilson Guillory
Email: jason.brown@siu.edu
Office Hours: by appointment, Life Science II 254
Course Documents
Syllabus: PDF
Project 1: DOC
Project 2: DOC
Essay: DOC
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Schedule
January 17th: 10am-noon. Week 1. Intro to course
Class:
-Discuss Syllabus
-Learn and play: Evolution: The Beginning
Homework:
-Read paper: ‘What really is Evolution?’, 'Simulating evolution: how close do computer models come to reality?'
January 24th: 10am-noon. Week 2. Into to evolution and biogeography
Class:
-Discuss: ‘What really is Evolution?’, 'Simulating evolution: how close do computer models come to reality?'
-Play: Evolution: The Beginning
-Discuss how board games emulate evolution
-Play again: Evolution: The Beginning (with new rules)
Homework:
-Post-game reflection worksheet
-Read article:‘Historical Biogeography: Evolution in Time and Space’
-Watch rules overview for Evolution: Climate
January 31th: 10am-noon. Week 3. The role of climate and geography in biogeography
Class:
-Briefly Discuss: ‘Historical Biogeography: Evolution in Time and Space’
-Assign Project 1
-Learn and Play: Evolution: Climate
Homework:
-Read paper: “Human Evolution Out of Africa: The Role of Refugia and Climate Change”
February 7th: 10am-noon. Week 4: The role of climate and geography in evolution
Class:
-Discuss: “Human Evolution Out of Africa: The Role of Refugia and Climate Change”
-Rule refresh and Play: Evolution: Climate
Homework:
-Read paper: “Population Genetics and Demography Unite Ecology and Evolution”
-Post-game reflection worksheet
February 14th: 10am-noon. Week 5: Population genetics and demographic processes in evolution
Class:
-Present Project 1
-Assign Project 2
-Discuss “Population Genetics and Demography Unite Ecology and Evolution”
-Run Splatche Simulations – bring a laptop if you have one. LINK TO FILES
Homework:
-Watch game preview Biosphere:
February 21th: 10am-noon. Week 6: Demographic processes and evolution
Class:
-Learn and play: Biosphere --- Random habitats
February 28th: 9am-noon. Week 7. Demographic processes, biogeography and humans
Class:
-Play: Biosphere – North America Scenario or Urbanization Challenge
Homework:
-Post-game reflection worksheet
March 7th: 10am-noon. Week 8. Project 1, Wrap-up discussion of biogeography, demographic processes, and evolution
Class:
-Discuss/Present Project 1
-Discuss Biosphere Scenarios
-Discuss differences between active learning mediums (computer vs. board games)
Homework:
-Read paper: “On the causes of mass extinctions”
March 14th: Spring break. Week 9. No class - go outside
March 21st: 10am-noon. Week 10. Historic biogeography and mass extinction
Class:
-Discuss paper: “On the causes of mass extinctions”
Homework:
-Watch first 42 minutes of the following video:
March 28th: 9am-noon. Week 11: 541 million years of evolution in Phanerozoic eon
Class:
-Learn and Play: Bios- Megafauna - team Ameerega
Homework:
-Post-game reflection worksheet
April 4th: 9am-noon. Week 12. 541 million years of evolution in Phanerozoic eon
Class:
-Learn and Play: Bios- Megafauna - team Ranitomeya
Homework:
-Post-game reflection worksheet
April 11th: 10am-noon. Week 13. Wrap-up, ‘Dominant Species’ Award, Kumbaya, Project 2
Class:
-Present/Discuss Project 2
-Wrap-up course
-Assign essay
-Present the ‘Dominant Species’ award
April 18th. Weeks 14. No Class
April 25th - Week 15. Essay is due at 5pm. END OF CLASS