1. Biol 115 Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology
Dr. Steven Goldsmith
MS 314
ext. 2204
Office hours:
Tuesday 9:30 -11:00
Thursday 1:30 - 3:00

2. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology
What are the goals or purposes of science?
What is the purview of science?
What is the process of science? (How is science done?)
The goals or purposes of science: Description, explanation, prediction, control
The purview of science is any object or process in the physical universe (nothing metaphysical or supernatural)
Science is a “knowledge system” a way of knowing about and understanding some aspect of human experience
observation, hypothesis, observations (experiments), conclusions…
What is a hypothesis? A potential explanation for a particular phenomenon that can be tested experimentally or assessed observationally, and which can be either supported or rejected (falsified)
Theory: A comprehensive conceptual framework that explains a broad range of related phenomena, that has been repeatedly substantiated by empirical observation and experimentation, and that generates hypotheses about phenomena that have not been observed scientifically, empirically
Observation: males (of many species) are bigger than females. Hypothesis: males are bigger because they get more food. Observations: How much do males and females eat?

3. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology
What are the goals or purposes of science?
What is the purview of science?
What is the process of science? (How is science done?)
What is a hypothesis?
What is a theory?
The goals or purposes of science: Description, explanation, prediction, control
The purview of science is any object or process in the physical universe (nothing metaphysical or supernatural)
Science is a “knowledge system” a way of knowing about and understanding some aspect of human experience
observation, hypothesis, observations (experiments), conclusions…
What is a hypothesis? A potential explanation for a particular phenomenon that can be tested experimentally or assessed observationally, and which can be either supported or rejected (falsified)
Theory: A comprehensive conceptual framework that explains a broad range of related phenomena, that has been repeatedly substantiated by empirical observation and experimentation, and that generates hypotheses about phenomena that have not been observed scientifically, empirically
Observation: males (of many species) are bigger than females. Hypothesis: males are bigger because they get more food. Observations: How much do males and females eat?

4. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology
What are the goals or purposes of science?
What is the purview of science?
What is the process of science? (How is science done?)
What is a hypothesis?
What is a theory?
What natural phenomenon…?
The goals or purposes of science: Description, explanation, prediction, control
The purview of science is any object or process in the physical universe (nothing metaphysical or supernatural)
Science is a “knowledge system” a way of knowing about and understanding some aspect of human experience
observation, hypothesis, observations (experiments), conclusions…
What is a hypothesis? A potential explanation for a particular phenomenon that can be tested experimentally or assessed observationally, and which can be either supported or rejected (falsified)
Theory: A comprehensive conceptual framework that explains a broad range of related phenomena, that has been repeatedly substantiated by empirical observation and experimentation, and that generates hypotheses about phenomena that have not been observed scientifically, empirically
Observation: males (of many species) are bigger than females. Hypothesis: males are bigger because they get more food. Observations: How much do males and females eat?

5. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology What natural phenomenon does the science of biology seek to understand?
The origin, diversity, and complexity of organisms (“organic beings”)
What is an organism?
what are the fundamental chemical components of organisms
what makes organisms function?
organisms are exceedingly complex chemical reactions in an aqueous solution

6. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology What does it mean to be an “organism”?
Organisms exhibit…
Cellular organization
Order
Homeostasis
Metabolism
Sensitivity (simple… complex…)
Growth, development, and reproduction
Adaptation
Order (they are organized relative to inorganic matter)
Sensitivity (responsiveness to the environment; appropriate responses…)
Regulation (metabolism; uptake of M and E; processing of M, storage, release of E; release of waste prodects to env; regulation permits sensitivity; metabolism of nerve cells)
Homeostasis (maintenance of more or less constant internal environment; homeostasis, regulation, and sensitivity are related phenomena)
Growth, development, and reproduction

7. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology
What is the purpose of this course?
“Big Picture” questions:
Origin…
Complexity…
Diversity…
Why behavior and ecology with evolution?
behavior is an important ecological process and responds readily in an evolutionary way to environmental selection pressures

8. Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and between organisms and the physical environment; the process of evolution depends on "selection pressures" which are most often thought of as being the physical environment or the activities of other organisms; these affect the evolution of phenotypic characteristics (physiology, morphology, life history, behavior);

9. Behavior is an important ecological process; individual animals (heterospecifics and conspecifics) interact with one another through their behavior; ecological selection pressures affect behavior so behavior is one of the phenotypes that is most readily thought of as being adaptive or designed by the process of evolution; behavior evolves in an ecological context
So we put them together because they form a pretty natural unit.

10. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology
Some practical issues…
electronic reserve
course website (
the warm-up quiz
the first exam
the library assignment
the “animal behavior observations”

11. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology Things you should know about this course:
It is not “baby biology”
Powerpoint is a double-edged sword
Attendance is important
Vocabulary is important
Exams include both multiple choice and essay questions
Exam questions are not “tricky”
It is possible to get “0” on an essay question
I do not curve exams

12. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology
What practical good…?

13. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology
An evolutionary arms race…
competitors for food, habitation (Luckett Hall)
mountain lions, bears, sharks?
MRSA??

14. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology
An evolutionary arms race…
competitors for food, habitation (Luckett Hall)
mountain lions, bears, sharks?
MRSA??

15. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology
Environmental stewardship…
human induced alterations of the global environment lead to degradation of ecosystem services, loss of biological diversity, reduced food production, changes in the distribution of pathogenic organisms, etc
understanding of ecological, evolutionary, and behavioral processes will allow us to take better care of what is left of our environment; promote the maintenance of “ecosystem services”
animal husbandry…

16. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology
Human social behavior…
Knowledge of the principles of behavior and how it evolves (in an ecological context) will allow us to better understand and control our own behavior…
Do humans exhibit behaviors that need to be modified and controlled? Can an understanding of underlying psychology help us to control our own behavior?
Have you ever thought or acted in a way that didn’t make rational sense? Some (but not all) of that may be better understood in light of the evolution of our social behavior over millions of years.

17. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology Some terms I used in the syllabus:
Abiotic…
Biotic…
Social…
Conspecific…
Heterospecific…
Intraspecific…
Interspecific…

18. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology Levels of biological organization:
atom, molecule, macromolecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system…

19. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology Levels of biological organization:
individual
if you have read the textbook you can tell me what its authors think the next level of biological organization is…

21. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology Levels of biological organization:
individual
family

22. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology Levels of biological organization:
individual
family
social group

23. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology Levels of biological organization:
individual
family
social group
population

24. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology Levels of biological organization:
individual
family
social group
population
species

25. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology Levels of biological organization:
individual
family
social group
population
species
community

26. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology Levels of biological organization:
individual
family
social group
population
species
community
ecosystem

27. Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology Levels of biological organization:
individual
family
social group
population
species
community
ecosystem
biosphere