Evolution Group

Practice for SSE next week

2006-06-07T22:56:00.000-03:00

Hi all,
Next week (friday the 16th) we will be practicing talks for SSE 2006 at Stoney Brook in NY. All talks must be approx. 12 minutes in length, and from what I remember, in powerpoint format or PDF. The practice session will be held at 11:30 in room 27.

Continutation of chapter 2 next week

2006-04-05T14:57:00.000-03:00

Next week we will be continuing with chapter 2 from "Speciation" by Coyne and Orr. Please read pages 69-82 and look over the model on pages 57-59 that discusses the contributions of 2 isolating mechanisms. Again if you need a copy of the chapter, pop by my lab (rm 137).

Book chapter: Speciation

2006-03-30T16:03:00.000-04:00

Next week on wednesday (April 5th) we will be starting our group reading of the book "Speciation" by Jerry Coyne and Allen Orr. We will be starting with chapter 2 entitled "Studying speciation". The main topic of this chapter is isolating barriers. Speciation is not available as an ebook, so please pop by my lab (room 137) for a copy of the chapter to run through the photocopier.

Models of Cultural Evolution

2006-03-27T13:27:00.000-04:00

This wednesday, April the 1st, we will be discussing "Models of Cultural Evolution" a paper written by Elliot Sober. The paper is not available electronically, I have a copy in my lab (room 137) available for photocopying. Should prove to be an interesting read.

Neutral Theory of Biodiversity and Biogeography

2006-03-05T13:14:00.000-04:00

Hey Everyone,

This week I will be presenting a quick introduction to the Neutral Theory of Biodiversity and Biogeography, and how it applies to some of the ideas I have had for PhD research. I've included a couple links to papers that provide a summary of the Neutral Theory.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.0269-8463.2005.00965.x

Hubbell, S.P. 2005. Neutral theory in community ecology and the hypothesis of functional equivalence. Functional Ecology 19: 166-172 (This is actually part of several articles on neutral theory)

http://weblinks3.epnet.com/citation.asp?tb=1&_ua=bo+B%5F+shn+1+db+afhjnh+bt+TD++%22BIO%22+C5B9&_ug=sid+108545E4%2D8C29%2D4699%2DB476%2D61B1AA3D0923%40sessionmgr2+dbs+afh+cp+1+2199&_us=hd+False+fcl+Aut+sl+%2D1+frn+1+sm+KS+mdbs+afh+dstb+KS+or+Date+sel+False+ri+KAAACB2D00066187+215A&_uh=btn+N+6C9C&_uso=st%5B0+%2DJN++%22Bioscience%22++and++DT++20030201+tg%5B0+%2D+db%5B0+%2Dafh+hd+False+op%5B0+%2D+mdb%5B0+%2Dimh+D178&cf=1&fn=1&rn=3

Norris, S. 2003. Neutral theory: A New, Unified Model for Ecology. BioScience 53: 124-129 (The scan quality on this article is very poor- I recommend reading the html full text instead of the pdf)

Book Chapters!

2006-03-03T14:17:00.000-04:00

Hi Folks!
At our last meeting Dennis mentioned that it might be good to read a book together.
I think this is a great idea, so (a bit selfishly), I would like to suggest a book.
Please let me know what you think. I hope there would be interest enough for us to go through a good part of the book.
My suggestion is Principals of Population Genetics by Harlt and Clark. This is the introductory text that is used in undergraduate Population Genetics courses. I have never taken population genetics, and UNB does not offer a course. I think it would benefit lots of us to get an introduction to population genetics.... what do you think?!? Leave a comment, or come prepared to discuss this at the next meeting!
thanks!!!
Hana

Talk for this wednesday: Why do fish stocks fail to recover?

2006-02-27T13:43:00.000-04:00

Hi all,
Here is the paper to be discussed this wednesday: "Maladaptive changes in multiple traits caused by fishing: impediments to population recovery". We will be meeting upstairs in the gradhouse at 12:30.

Click here for paper

GSA Practice Talks

2006-02-09T09:15:00.000-04:00

On Wednesday Feb. 15 come on out and watch GSA talks evolve from good to great!
Anyone giving a talk at the GSA conference is invited to come out and practice her/his talk and gain feedback.
See you all at 1230 at the grad house!

Meeting cancelled

2006-02-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

EGG meeting for Feb. 8 is cancelled due to the biology graduate student society meeting.
All biology graduate students are encouraged to attend the BGSS meeting at 1230 Feb. 8, in Bailey Hall rm 27.
-
On another note, last week's meeting was also cancelled. Vanessa will present on the paper "Sodium channel mutation leading to saxitoxin resistance in clams increases risk of PSP" at a later date, TBA.

Kin Selection and Aquatic Ecology group

2006-01-31T12:29:00.000-04:00

The aquatic ecology group is discussing two papers on kin selection and altruism this week. This will be an excellent follow up on our discussions of units and levels of selection from earlier this academic year.
I think it would be great if we showed up to this meeting! I am sure they would welcome and appreciate our input!
If you need copies of the papers, email me, I will send them along (but they did go out on the listserve from Linda).

Intro to Molecular Phylogenetics

2006-01-22T13:48:00.000-04:00

I will be presenting a draft of a lecture that I will be giving in a fourth year molecular evolution class.
The lecture is an introduction to Molecular Phylogenetics and will cover the basics of what phylogenetic trees are, how they are inferred, and a few examples of uses of molecular phylogenies. I will need some feedback on how the lecture can be improved, as well as if there are any topics that people might be interested in, but I haven't included. I encourage any of you who don't have experience with phylogenies to attend, because your feedback will be very valuable.
See you at 1230, Wednesday Jan 25, upstairs in the grad house!
thanks!
Hana

First EGG of 2006

2006-01-05T11:10:00.000-04:00

We will discuss publication of scientific papers and some recent debate regarding open access. Graham will lead discussion for this week.

If we want to keep to the same schedule as last semester, then we will meet at 1230 at the grad house upstairs on WEDNESDAY, January 18. If anyone would like to change the time, leave a comment and we can see what works for most people. ALSO: we would be very happy to have NEW MEMBERS!! So if you are new to EGG, or new to UNB, please feel free to come! (leave a comment if another time works for you).

EGG special edition!

2005-12-12T11:08:00.000-04:00

This week we have Steve Heard and Arne Mooers (Assistant Professor, SFU) presenting. Here is a blurb from Steve.

"Arne Mooers and I began work Sunday on a book chapter to review recent progress and unsolved questions about phylogenetic tree shape. Slightly less vaguely, we consider what we know and don't know about tree shape expected under reasonable models of the macroevolutionary process, and why tree shape matters for analyses in, and outside of, macroevolution and systematics.
In some form yet to be determined, one or both of us will present a summary of our unpolished thoughts."

Here is a link to the article that should be skimmed more than anything else.

See you all there!
Wednesday, 1230, Grad House upstairs

Mimivirus steam...

2005-12-05T11:41:00.000-04:00

I feel like I have run out of steam or excitement about this Mimivirus stuff.... Likely because I have so much on my plate right now that I can't devote the time it would require.
How do you feel? Anyone else feel in the same boat? Please leave your comments!!
If yes, I propose that we move on to new topics...
eg. Linley, did you have something you wanted to talk about?

Post your comments!
Hana

Meeting Postponed 'till next week

2005-11-22T16:46:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone,
we will postpone this weeks meeting, and meet next week at the regular time and place.
This will allow a bit more time to read up and summarize what we have learned so far about Mimiviurs.
Cheers,
Hana

Mimivirus information

2005-11-11T10:06:00.000-04:00

From Vanessa:
Mimivirus and the emerging concept of a giant virus (you can download the PDF here ), or
if it doesn't work type "acanthamoeba and girus" into google scholar:
http://xxx.sf.nchc.gov.tw/abs/q-bio.PE/0506007

www.giantvirus.org (There's some great TEMs and other info that may be of interest)

The Science library has the journal with the Amoeba phagocytosis article we discussed.
I'll photocopy it and you can drop by and pick it up either late this afternoon or
Monday (we've moved in with Coombs now, Room 252).

Cheers,
Vanessa

Next Week: Hypotheses of Mimivirus evolution

2005-11-02T15:28:00.000-04:00

On Nov. 9, 1230, at the Grad House we will discuss our ideas on the evolution of the giant virus (or girus) called Mimivirus.
To prepare, there are three or four papers to read. If you would like the papers, please send me an email.
We discussed the possibility of turning our ideas into a short paper. If you would like to be part of the action, pick up the readings and join us!

Mimivirus: virus or girus?

2005-11-01T09:59:00.000-04:00

The paper I have chosen is a brief review of Mimivirus; a giant virus whose genome size crosses previous boundary between viruses and cells. I'd like to generally discuss the virus and see what people think about its possible evolutionary origins.

Click here for the Paper.

(I'm sure there's shorter link, but at least I know this one works - if it doesn't, I have some extra copies in Rm 203).

Vanessa

Change in Start time:1230

2005-10-25T15:57:00.000-03:00

Beginning Oct 26 we will be meeting at 1230 instead of 1200.
This will facilitate the attendance of students in the seminar course.

Jay and Flies

2005-10-24T17:25:00.000-03:00

This week Jay Penney will discuss his work on transgenic flies.
1230, Grad house Wednesday Oct 26

later start time-1230

2005-10-19T09:29:00.000-03:00

Today we will start at 1230, not noon.
Bridgette, the presenter, has a course until then.
See you at 1230

Bridgette's Seminar Practice

2005-10-17T12:02:00.000-03:00

This week, Wednesday Oct. 19th at NOON, Bridgette will give a practice of her seminar on invasive species.
From Bridgette:
"I will be talking about the general effectiveness of a biological control on the
invasive plant Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). I will give a brief introduction
on what an invasive species is and why we (humans) feel the need to control them. My
focus will be on effects Purple loosestrife has had on the diversity of the wetland
ecosystem in North America for the past approx. 150 years, the failure of conventional
erradication methods, and the decision to implement a biological control in the form of
herbivorous insects.

If you read the paper attached, I would focus mainly on the introduction because the
methods are fairly involved and are relevant to only that study, which I will not be
focusing on specifically in my talk. I just wanted to provide a brief overview of my
topic."

Click here to link to the paper
Just in case the link doesn't work:, you can download it yourself from UNB's ejournal database.
The reference is Landis et. al 2003. Establishment and impact of Galerucella calmariensis L.
(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Lythrum salicaria L.
and associated plant communities in Michigan. Biological Control, 28(1), pgs 78-91.

Wed Oct12 Units and Levels of Selection Cont.

2005-10-11T10:04:00.000-03:00

This week we will continue our discussion of units and levels of selection.
Try to come with a real world example of how selection acts at the different levels.
Also, if any of you have some readings, please post them.
Thanks!
See you NOON, Grad house, upstairs, Wed. Oct. 12

Wednesday Oct 5: Units of Selection

2005-10-04T11:42:00.000-03:00

This week we will be meeting at 12noon Wednesday in the Alden Nowlan House.

Click Here for some readings and information on the debate in the biological and philosophical arenas on units and levels of selection.

See you there.

Meeting for september 28th, complexity continued

2005-09-26T15:18:00.000-03:00

Hi all,
Continuing on last week, in addition to our brief updates on how our summer went, we will be looking at Orr's paper on complexity. Read it if you have the time. Sorry for the late post but this was a last minute decision. Here is the link. http://links.jstor.org/
If it doens't work check JSTOR for the article via UNB's website. The reference is: H.A. Orr. 2000. Adaptation and the cost of complexity. Evolution 54(1): 12-20.

Cheers,
Dennis

Meeting Sept 28

2005-09-22T13:27:00.000-03:00

During this meeting we will each take about 5-10 minutes to update the group about what we did over the summer, how research is going, or what our research is about.
Come one, come all, but do come ready to tell us something :-)

First meeting of fall 2005. CoMpLExitY

2005-09-15T11:47:00.000-03:00

Hi, for the first talk of the new semester we will be discussing whether increasing complexity, a long held notion that has always been associated with evolution is dead. We will be meeting at the gradhouse at 12:00 on the 21st of September. There is no electronic source for the paper. The source is; McShea. Biology and Philosophy, 6 (1991): 303-24. I will have photocopies available. Pop by my lab, Bailey 137.

Readings for Tiffany's Talk: Forest criteria predictive of ruffed grouse use

2005-04-15T17:06:00.000-03:00

Hey guys!

Unfortunately, these two journals are not available on-line, so you'll have to find them and photocopy them. Or just borrow mine to photocopy.

Guthery, F.S. 1997. A philosophy of habitat management for northern bobwhites. J. Wildl. Manage. 61(2): 291-301.

Morrison, M.L. 2001. A proposed research emphasis to overcome the limits of wildlife-habitat relationship studies. J. Wildl. Manage. 65(4): 613-623.

For Guthery's (1997) paper, please focus on the Usable Space Hypothesis. I'm having some trouble integrating this into my research, but I like the idea. Morrison's (2001) paper is a good review of key ecological concepts as well as current problems in the field and has greatly influenced the approach I have taken to my problem of interest.

My talk on Wednesday will basically be my proposal as it currently stands.

Hana's proposal prep this week

2005-04-11T13:42:00.000-03:00

Hi Everyone,
this week I will be presenting my ideas for my proposal presentation. I have to give the presentation at the end of April. Recommended reading:
Serrao et al. 1999. Journal of Phycology 35, 382-394.
Click here for the article

-- please focus just on the Fucus stuff, and the monoecy/dioecy stuff
If anyone would like to read my written proposal, please contact me and I can send it to you... to contact me, send me an email, and if you dont have my email address just leave a comment here, and I will check the comments and send you an email.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
PS. This week's seminar speaker, Dr. Poulin, from New Zealand, will be attending the meeting, so there are bound to be interesting and exciting discussions - hope to see you all there ;)
Thanks!
Hana

Coevolution, cospeciation and coadaptation: the very old, yet enigmatic, cestode-elasmobranch relationship

2005-03-29T06:01:00.000-04:00

My research focuses on the mechanisms involved in host specificity of a group of cestodes (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda:Tetraphyllidea: Phyllobothriidae) to their elasmobranch hosts (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii: Rajoidea: Rajidae) from the North Atlantic Ocean. On Wednesday, March 30th 2005, I will be discussing coevolution of 2 cestode genera to their elasmobranch hosts (to be Chapter #3 of my thesis) and look forward to some comments, suggestions and discussion. Recommended readings include: (1) Evolutionary Theory, 1973, 1: 1-30; (2) International Journal for Parasitology, 2001, 31: 960-975; and (3) International Journal for Parasitology, 2001, 31: 1012-1022.

Simulations and modelling... what do they do, exactly?

2005-03-22T13:44:00.000-04:00

This friday morning we'll be discussing what models are and the role of simulations in science, specifically biology. That said, I hope you will better understand what my thesis is trying to address. I'll have a brief powerpoint and some examples to show you. The paper can be found here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2004.07.019

Schedule Changes

2005-03-21T15:18:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone,
As discussed on Friday, we are considering change the time of the meetings to Wednesdays at noon. If there are no objections to this change (post as comments to this post), we will go ahead with the schedule change starting NEXT week. That is, Dennis will present this Friday, and then the following Wednesday we will have Haseeb, and will meet on Wednesdays from then on.
Please post your comments!
Thanks
Hana

Friday's presentation

2005-03-16T10:01:00.000-04:00

I plan to go through my research proposal presentation at this week's meeting. I'm just looking for comments/major changes/suggestions to make it more presentable for Tuesday (3:00 room 22). Most of you have seen it (minus a few changes) so I hope you can sit through it again.

No required readings or anything.

Meeting March 11

2005-03-09T10:36:00.000-04:00

Graham will be presenting March 11. The Gradhouse is closed so I will find another place to hold the meeting.
I will be giving a short presentation on my project and the focus of my concerns around sympatric speciation/host-race formation. Here is a few papers that will give you some insight into what I am doing. You do not have to read them all but the general idea about sympatric speciation would be good to have.

Sympatric Speciation in Animals: the ugly duckling grows up
--Actually, this whole issue of TREE is good for a review of sympatric speciation and ecological speciation

Speciation in the Apple Maggot Fly: A blend of vintages
--This is what has raised some concerns about my research in particular. This is the focus paper.

March 4th: Jonathan's Proposal

2005-02-28T15:31:00.000-04:00

Hey, I'm not sure if Graham wants to present as well, but I will be presenting my proposal on Friday, March 4th (you can find a copy below, under 'Cancelled--Meeting on Friday, Feb. 11').
The presentation will be pretty basic, just to go over the main points of the proposal, and so far it isn't very pretty, but I would like to get some feedback from the group regarding the hypotheses. As before, don't worry about reading the methodology (ie. the point form, which takes up the bulk of the proposal), just scan through the main text.
Thanks
JJL

Meeting: Friday Feb. 18 10:30am at the GradHouse

2005-02-15T09:51:00.000-04:00

The meeting will be this Friday (Feb 18) at 10:30am in the Grad-House. The meeting will be a GSA Conference practice. Anyone who wants to practice their talk and get feedback please email UNB EvoGroup with the topic. This is so the time slot can be arranged.

Cancelled--Meeting on Friday, Feb. 11--Cancelled

2005-02-08T14:58:00.000-04:00

Cancelled till next week
--We will be meeting Friday, Feb. 11 at 10:30am in the second floor conference room in the gradhouse (Windsor Castle Bar). Coffee will be available... and maybe snacks.

This weeks topic will be Jonathan's MSc Proposal to be found here -> Jonathan's Proposal for download as a PDF.

Don't worry about reading all of the methodology, just scan through the main text information (up to about SubHypothesis 1).

See you there!

Paper for Dennis' presentation (Feb 4th): Phylogenetics and speciation

2005-01-28T14:49:00.000-04:00

The meeting will be held at 10:30am on Feb 4 in rm27 of the Bailey Building.

TREE vol16, issue7
Understanding all of the paper isn't all that critical, I'll be going through most of it in my presentation. Good primer for understanding my research. Try to get through everything up until "Causes of Speciation" pg 395.

Paper for Jan. 28

2005-01-24T13:23:00.000-04:00

This week's time is Friday at 10am, in Rm 27 of the Bailey Building (coffee will be provided). See you there:
Trends in Microbiology 11 12. 543-546

Hybrid Articles

2005-01-21T14:56:00.000-04:00

For your interest:

Ecology 1999 vol. 80 (2) talks more about hybridization.

Paper Focus Suggestion

2005-01-19T12:30:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to add something. For the meeting I will want to focus on the first part of the paper, and boxes 1, 2 and maybe 4. It is not my intention to get into the adaptive radiation and "syngameon" stuff, unless others are interested in that. I want to stick to basics of what is hybridization, how to detect it and what general effects it may have on species and evolution.
Thanks!
Hana

First Meeting

2005-01-18T12:46:00.000-04:00

We will be meeting in room 27 of the Bailey Building
Friday, January 21 at 10am

Hana will be presenting.

Discussion paper is (click link):
Trends in Ecology and Evolution 19 (4) April 2004 198