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New Mexico State University
Biology Department Graduate Emphasis in


Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Research

The Ecology/Evolution core curriculum is appropriate for graduate students who wish to specialize in areas of biology that study the various processes that encompass the ecology and evolution of living and extinct taxa. Students are expected to choose at least 4 courses at the 500 level in ecology and evolutionary biology to fulfill the Eco/Evo emphasis. Students who complete the M.S. or Ph.D. by thesis must present at least one formal seminar (exit seminar) in front of the public. Other courses from other disciplines (Microbiology or Cell/Organismal) can be substituted for these courses, depending on the direction of the degree/thesis.

Participating faculty in Biology:

Dr Donovan Bailey dbailey@nmsu.edu Plant Systematics
Dr. William J. Boecklen wboeckle@nmsu.edu Population and community ecology; conservation biology
Dr Angus Dawe

Dr. Vincent P. Gutschick vince@nmsu.edu Plant Physiology; Resource-Use strategies
Dr Kathryn A. Hanley khanley@nmsu.edu Evolution, Ecology and control of Arthropod-Borne Viruses
Dr. Peter W. Houde phoude@nmsu.edu Avian Systematics
Dr. Brook G. Milligan brook@nmsu.edu Plant evolutionary genetics
Dr. Michele K. Nishiguchi nish@nmsu.edu Evolutionary biology; symbiosis of marine organisms
Dr. Ralph Preszler rpreszle@nmsu.edu Biology education

 
Degree requirements for Biology with an emphasis in Ecology and Evolution

Ph.D. in Biology  M.S., Thesis option  M.S., non-Thesis option

As a rule, the Ecology and Evolutionary biology emphasis requires a minimum of 4 core courses. All other course requirements are decided upon by the advisor, as well as the student's committee.


Course Offererings:

The ecology core courses are:
BIOL 567, Individuals and Populations
BIOL 568, Communities and Ecosystems
BIOL 569, Evolutionary Ecology
BIOL 570, Ecological Biogeography

The evolution core courses are:
BIOL 586, Advanced Molecular Systematics
BIOL 587, Behavioral Ecology
BIOL 588, Principles of Evolutionary Genetics
BIOL 589 Speciation and Adaptation

Additional Courses:
Research

400-Level:
BIOL 461G, Human Ecology
BIOL 462, Advanced Ecology
BIOL 463, Field Ecology
BIOL 467, Evolution
BIOL 470, Plant Community Ecology
BIOL 473, Ecology of Microorganisms
BIOL 486, Intermediate Genetics
BIOL 488, Principles of Conservation Genetics
BIOL 489, Genetic Aspects of Population Biology

500-Level:
BIOL 513, Plant Speciation and Evolution
BIOL 537, Animal Speciation
BIOL 541, Advanced Genetic Aspects of Population Biology
BIOL 551, Landscape Ecology
BIOL 559, Evolutionary Genetics
BIOL 572, Seminar in Evolutionary Biology >BIOL 621: Advanced Studies in Plant Ecology 1-3 cr.
BIOL 623: Advanced Studies in Plant Morphology 1-3 cr.
BIOL 627: Advanced Studies in Plant Physiology 1-3 cr.
BIOL 629: Advanced Studies in Plant Biosystematics 1-3 cr.
BIOL 631: Advanced Studies in Genetics 1-3 cr.
BIOL 637: Advanced Studies in Mycology 1-3 cr.
BIOL 645: Advanced Studies in Ecosystem Analysis 1-3 cr.
BIOL 648: Advanced Studies in Arthropod Ecology 1-3 cr.
BIOL 697: University Teaching Experience 1-3 cr.
BIOL 698: Selected Topics 1-3 cr.


Links of Interest to Eco/Evo Students



Ecology and Evolution Graduate Student Presentations and Publications
  • Bardwell, E., C. W. Benkman, and W. R. Gould. 2001. Adaptive geographic variation in Western Scrub-jays. Ecology 82:2617-2627.
  • Britch, S.C., M.L. Cain, and D.J. Howard. 2001. Spatio-temporal dynamics of the Allonemobius fasciatus  A. socius mosaic hybrid zone: a fourteen year perspective. Molecular Ecology 10:627-638.
  • Golinski, M.R. and M.K. Nishiguchi. 2001. Theoretical and empirical evidence for mutualism in a luminescent-bacterium-squid host symbiosis. Society for the Study of Evolution. Knoxville, TN.
  • Howard, D. J., S. C. Britch, W. E. Braswell, and J. L. Marshall. Evolution in Hybrid Zones. R. S. Singh (ed.), The Evolution of Population Biology - Modern Synthesis. Cambridge University Press, New York. In press.
  • Howard, D.J., J.L. Marshall, D.D. Hampton, S.C. Britch, M.L. Draney, J. Chu, and R.G. Cantrell. 2002. The genetics of reproductive isolation: a retrospective and prospective look with comments on ground crickets. The American Naturalist 159S:S8-S21. 
  • Howard, D. J., J. L. Marshall, W. E. Braswell, and J. A. Coyne. 2001. Examining evidence of reproductive isolation in sockeye salmon. Science 291:1853a.
  • Jones, B.J. and M.K. Nishiguchi. 2002. Host-symbiont dynamics affect community structure in Vibrio populations. Ocean Scienes Meeting, Honolulu, HI.
  • Lopez, R., K.J. Watson, and M.K. Nishiguchi. 2002. Molecular mechanisms for host specificity in the sepiolid-Vibrio mutualism. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology. Anaheim, CA.
  • Nishiguchi, M.K., V. Nair, and C.L. Lickliter. 2002. Phylogeny and systematics of the genus Vibrio: Evolutionary implications of symbiosis and pathogenicity. (in prep).
  • Parchman, T. L., and C. W. Benkman. 2002. Diversifying coevolution between crossbills and black spruce on Newfoundland. Evolution 56 in press.
  • Smith, J. W., C. W. Benkman, and K. Coffey. 1999. The use and mis-use of public information by foraging red crossbills. Behavioral Ecology 10:54-62.
  • Walsh, L.W., M.R. Golinski, P. Lee, and M.K. Nishiguchi. 2002. Growth and fecundity of sepiolid squids (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) reared under laboratory conditions (in prep)
  • Williams, J. H., D. J. Howard, and W. J. Boecklen. 2001. Reproductive processes in two oak (Quercus) contact zones with different levels of hybridization. Heredity 87:680-690.


Research

Societies and Special Conferences