Teaching

Biology Department, University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras (UPR-RP), San Juan, PR, 00931, Puerto Rico

Graduate classes only. Undergraduate classes are on Blackboard.

Fall 2008

Microevolution and Evolutionary Theory (Biol 6996) - Biol 6996 is an advanced course that focuses on microevolutionary processes, and how these processes translate into the realm of macroevolution. It does not deal with strictly macroevolutionary processes, some of which are covered in the Phylogenetic systematics course. During the course we will discuss such topics as species and speciation, natural and sexual selection, selection at different levels of biological organization, quantitative traits, genetic architecture, genetic drift, gene flow, population structure, population history and other topics. For a full syllabus click here [PDF]. Access to course material including lecture Power Points, assigned reading and presentation material, and data examples is here.

Summer 2008

Phylogenetic Systematics (GCBEV - INPA/UFAM) - Class.

Spring 2008

Analytical Tools for Conservation Genetic Studies (UFSCar) - This course is an intesive 60 hour introduction to methods and computational tools for the analyses of intraspecific molecular data. The course will proceed from the theory and tools to identify species, then population structuring, distinguishing between historical and ongoing events and then analyzing and interpreting intraspecific and/or intrademe variation. The course will focus on the interpretation of these results for conservation genetic studies. The course will entail discussion of theory, laboratory exercises in data analysis, and discussion and presentation of current literature. For a full syllabus click here [PDF]. Access to course material including lecture Power Points, assigned reading and presentation material, and data examples is here.

Fall 2007

Phylogenetic Systematics (Biol 6120) - Biol 6120 is an advanced course on Phylogenetic Systematics. It focuses on phylogenetic inference using primarily molecular data. It, however, also deals with morphological data. The course explores all main methods of phylogenetic inference, the phylosophy behind these methods, and implementation of these methods. The course introduces the concept of homology, and discusses problems for phylogenetic reconstruction associated with homoplasy. It explores data partitions, if to partition and how to partition. It further explores how to assess the robustness of phylogenetic hypotheses, hypotheses testing using phylogenetic trees, and phylogenetic dating. Since systematics is intended for the analysis of species, thus we also discuss species and species concepts. The course entails discussion of theory, laboratory exercises in data analysis, and discussion and presentation of current literature. For a full syllabus click here [PDF]. Access to course material including lecture Power Points, assigned reading and presentation material, and data examples is here.

Summer 2007

Phylogenetic Systematics (GCBEV - INPA/UFAM) - Class.

Fall 2006

Microevolution and Evolutionary Theory (Biol 6996) - Class.

Summer 2006

Phylogenetic Systematics (GCBEV - INPA/UFAM) - Class.