Ecology
Ecology Track of the Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology Graduate Program
The research interests of the graduate track in Ecology encompass population and community ecology, behavioral ecology, evolutionary ecology, and ecosystem, landscape and conservation ecology. We are also concerned with the application of knowledge from these disciplines to problems in biological control.
Current research in ecology uses techniques from mathematics, statistics, computer science, and evolutionary biology to supplement field and laboratory studies. Ph.D. students are also expected to gain a broad understanding of the domain of ecology through a series of graduate courses that integrate the history of the field with current controversies and new discoveries. Accordingly, all Ph.D. students take a broad course in Ecology and courses from two of the three areas of Population and Community Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, and Ecosystem Ecology. Although Masters students are not required to take these graduate courses, most elect to take some of them.
Research projects of graduate students in Ecology at UCR include field studies, laboratory studies, and purely theoretical work. The proximity of Riverside to a variety of different habitats, plus the availability of the extensive UC Natural Reserve System, facilitates the study of a wide variety of natural populations and communities.
Research interests of the faculty in Ecology are quite diverse in terms of subject and taxon. Current research programs include population and community ecology, conservation biology, landscape ecology, conservation genetics, life history evolution, sexual selection, behavioral ecology, ecological interactions of hosts and parasites, ecological aspects of energy acquisition and utilization. We expect applicants to read carefully the research summaries of our faculty, and look at selected faculty publications, so that they have some insight into the research environment we can provide.