Module 6

Queen's University
Ontario Universities Program in Field Biology

Course Title : Ecology & Evolution of Plant Sex
Instructor(s) :

Dr. Chris Eckert                                Phone: 613-533-6158
Department of Biology                      Fax: 613-533-6617
Queen's University                             
Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6               Website

Date(s) : 2-15 May 2010 (2 weeks)
Location : Queen's University Biological Station, on Lake Opinicon near Chaffey's Locks, 50 km north of Kingston, Ontario
Cost :

$975.00           (Deposit $250.00 + Balance $725.00)

Prerequisites : At least one university course in biology.  Some experience in ecology, genetics and botany will be useful but not essential.
Description : This course explores the major questions in plant evolutionary ecology using the diverse array of flora and habitats in the Rideau Lakes area of eastern Ontario. We’ll focus mostly on the evolution of plant reproductive strategies; particularly the evolution of plant sexual systems and dispersal strategies. We’ll also consider the implications of plant evolutionary ecology for conservation and management. All students will get involved in individual projects to provide hands-on experience with the local flora as well as the fundamentals of experimental design and data analysis. For more information: http://biology.queensu.ca/~eckertc/plantsex/
Enrollment : 14 students
Evaluation :

Seminar                     10%                 Experiment                  10%
Practical test              10%                 Report                         40%
Field Book                  10%                 Participation                20%

Assignment(s) :

(a) One half-hour seminar based on an assigned research paper
(b) Development and presentation of a field experiment
(c) Mid course practical test of plant identification & natural history
(d) Write-up of the field study, due one month after the course
(e) A field notebook to be evaluated at the end of the course
(f) General participation in the course

Additional Information: