Climate change is not only inevitable as it is already irreversible. In contrast to most past changes, the current human-made changes are abrupt and will unleash widespread extreme weather, with dramatic consequences for ecosystems and evolution. With this scenario of rapid alterations, it has become urgent to identify ecological and evolutionary patterns by which natural populations can adapt at different rates.
In this Q-Team, we will use a research-based learning approach to answer the question of “how ecological interactions affect the rate of adaptation to change?”. The seminar will introduce the student to climate change, ecological interactions, and evolution, as well as to the different stages of a research project. Students will have the opportunity to perform independent research, both individually and in group, by focusing on a subordinate question defined by their favorite phylogeny and ecological interaction. By emphasizing interactive and hands-on sessions, the seminar will employ open-source resources such as large trait databases and software methods for identification of hidden rate changes in organismal trait evolution. With this joint goal-oriented work as a research team, students will generate new knowledge useful to improve predictions of future ecosystem dynamics under climate change.
The Q-Team aims to provide an interdisciplinary and collaborative setting fitted for students of the MSc in Organismal Biology, Biodiversity and Evolution and MSc in Global Change Geography. Students of other biology degrees and political science with strong interest in biodiversity and climate change are encouraged to participate. Students should bring to the team a proactive attitude to undertake a challenging question, wiliness to learn a complex method and assimilate interdisciplinary ideas, ability to read and discuss scientific papers, and motivation to discuss and communicate the implications of results.
Due to the "Dies Academicus" the course will start on monday 25.10.2021.
Contact: Marco Cosme (marco.cosme@hu-berlin.de) |
