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Darwin, Evolution, and Galápagos
Instructor(s): William
Durham
Prerequisites: None required, but previous coursework in evolution and/or conservation is a plus.
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| The tiny, remote islands of Galápagos have played a large and central role in the study of evolution and onservation. The relevance of the Galápagos is particularly poignant in this year of the bicentennial of Darwin’s birth. This seminar explores the paradox of the islands’ centrality with regard to these studies and the current threats to their own environment, focusing on the lessons learned from the study of flora and fauna in Galápagos from Darwin’s time to the present. Using case-study material on finches, iguanas, tortoises, and more, we will explore current theory and debate about adaptation, sexual selection, speciation, and adaptive radiation. We will also consider the special challenges the Galápagos Islands pose today for conservation, both because
of their unusual biota and because of increasing human impact on their fragile ecosystems. This course includes an intensive eleven-day expedition to Galápagos to observe firsthand the evolutionary phenomena and conservation issues discussed in class. A chartered ship will serve as our floating classroom, dormitory, and dining hall, as we work our way around the archipelago to visit ten islands. For this portion of the class, undergraduates will be joined by a group of Stanford alumni and friends. Because our class-time on campus
is limited to one week before travel, students will be required to complete all course readings over the summer.
Both on campus and in South America, the course emphasizes student contributions and presentations. Students will be asked to lead discussions and carry out literature research on theevolutionary and conservation biology of particular Galápagos species. The final assignment for the seminar is to complete a seven- to ten-page paper on the evolutionary biology and conservation challenges of a particular organism or adaptation, and to present the main findings of that paper in a joint seminar of undergrads and alumni as we travel in Galápagos. Note: Students will arrive on campus and will be housed atStanford until we leave for Galápagos. Travel to Galápagos will be provided and paid by Sophomore College (except incidentals) and is made possible by the support of the Stanford Alumni Association Travel/Study Program and generous donors. Students will return to campus late afternoon or evening on Sunday, September 20, before the fall term begins.
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| http://www.stanford.edu/class/anthsci10sc
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| William Durham received his Ph.D. in ecology and volutionary biology from the University of Michigan before joining the Stanford faculty in human biology and anthropology. His current research focuses on conservation and development issues in Latin America, especially in the Amazon and Galápagos, and on connections between environmental
change and emerging infectious diseases. Winner of the MacArthur Prize and several awards for research and teaching, Durham is author of Scarcity and Survival in Central America and Coevolution: Genes, Culture, and Human Diversity. He has led seventeen previous expeditions to Galápagos. |
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