Principles of Population Genetics in Natural Populations

Organizers

Prof. dr. P.J. Palsboll
Dr. M. Bérubé
Dr. Corine Eising (RSEE)

At the end of the course, you will be able to:

1. Select the appropriate population genetic approach for specific common questions in conservation, ecology and behaviour.
2. Apply population genetic methods for analysis of population genetic data.
3. Interpret outcomes of common population/conservation genetic data (genotype and sequence data) sequence data).
4. Critically assess published population/conservation genetic data.

Description
The course consists of lectures, in-depth reading and discussion of original research papers as well as computer exercises. Each week will focus on different specific applications of population/individual-based genetic data in conservation, ecology and behavior, such as individual identification and parentage analysis; delineation of management units and population structure; long- and short-term abundance; as well as detection of selection/adaptation.

Students will prepare by reading two pre-selected case studies each week, make a brief presentation on the specific approach and chair the subsequent discussion of the approach and case studies. Each week students will use common computer programs as part of a weekly assignment to analyze specific data sets relevant to the weekly case studies. The last week students will be tasked with a comprehensive review of a published study.

Contact hours:

• 25 hours of lectures,
• 11 hours of guided class discussion,
• 48 hours of computer exercises as part of a weekly assignment (with the instructor present)
• = 84 hours Self-study (reading, preparation of lectures and preparation for weekly assignment)
• = 36 hours. Duration 3 weeks (total of 120 hours)

Lectures and practicals as well as assignments. Unjustified absence above 10% results in a fail grade.

The final grade is based upon five components:

1. The individual students' participation and involvement in the class discussions.
2. The students' presentation of one specific application (one time during the course).
3. Three written assignments, due the Friday each week.
   
   Each component counts for 20%. PhD students were graded pass/no pass. MSc students on the standard numerical scale (0 – 10))

Literature

• 28 primary research papers
• Lecture hand-outs and software manuals
• Conservation and the Genetics of Populations, 2 edition Fred W. Allendorf, Gordon H. Luikart, Sally N. Aitken 978-0470671450

Requirements for participating
The course unit assumes prior knowledge acquired from Genes and Evolution as well as Conservation Biology, degree programme(s) Undergraduate major in Ecology and Evolution.

General Information