Bases of biodiversity: origin, measure and patterns

To develop the concept of Biodiversity, its quantification, its spatial and temporal patterns, its evolutionary origin, and the processes that regulate it.

Theory:
1. Biodiversity concept
2. Methodological approaches for the characterization and modelling of biodiversity
3. Richness patterns
4. Biotic dissimilarity patterns: beta diversity
5. Genetic and phylogenetic richness
6. Processes underlying biological diversity: selection, drift, speciation and dispersal

Other activities (practices, seminars, tutorials, etc.)
1. Basic R commands and scripts in biodiversity studies.
2. Data exploration and richness models
3. Beta diversity: description
4. Beta diversity: analysis
5. Phylogenetic inference
6. Critical analysis of selected scientific articles that make use of the studied concepts and methodologies.

Borcard D, Gillet F, Legendre P (2018). Numerical Ecology with R. Springer, 452 pp.
Cayuela L, De la Cruz M (2022). Análisis de datos ecológicos en R. Mundi-Prensa, Ediciones Paraninfo, 336 pp.
Cox CB, Moore PD, Ladle RJ (2016) Biogeography. An ecological and evolutionary approach. Wiley Blackwell, Oxford, 482 pp.
Crawley MJ (2014) Statistics: An Introduction with R. Wiley, 345 pp.
Gaston KJ, Blackburn TM (2000) Pattern and process in macroecology. Blackwell Science Ltd., Oxford, 377 pp.
Magurran AE (2004) Measuring biological diversity. Blackwell Publishing, Massachusets, 256 pp.
Magurran AE, McGill B (2011) Biological diversity. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 345 pp.
Paradis E (2011) Analysis of Phylogenetics and Evolution with R. Springer, 400 pp
Swenson NG (2014) Functional and Phylogenetic Ecology with R. Springer, 224 pp.

BASIC AND GENERAL
CG01 - Acquisition of the capacity to analyze the current and future situation of terrestrial biodiversity
CG02 - Using of the appropriate terminology for the field of terrestrial biodiversity
CG03 – Using sources of information and databases necessary for the analysis and generation of information specific to the field of terrestrial biodiversity
CB6 - Possessing and understanding knowledge that provides a basis or opportunity to be original in the development and / or application of ideas, often in a research context
CB7 - Knowing how to apply the knowledge acquired and their ability to solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their area of study
CB8 - Integrating knowledge and problems to the complexity of formulating judgments of information that, being incomplete or limited, reflections on the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments

TRANSVERSAL
CT1 - Analysis and synthesis capacity
CT2 - Capacity for reasoning, argumentation and decision making
CT4 - Ability to obtain adequate, diverse and updated information in other languages

SPECIFIC
CE3 - Ability to design and perform appropriate sampling and experiments, and correctly interpret the results.

Lesson-explanation: teaching procedure by which the teacher presents concepts and / or procedures, providing basic information necessary to understand a theoretical perspective or a practical procedure, promoting the participation of students.
Practical class: developed in the computer classroom. Its purpose is to analyse aspects of the biological systems, or the learning and application of computer software, with the support and supervision of the teaching staff.
Collaborative learning: the students, with the advice of the teacher, work in small groups, so that the work of each of the members is aimed at achieving a common goal; the process enriches and improves the learning of the remaining members of the group.

Continuous evaluation (30% of the final grade)
Exam (70% of the final grade)

PRESENTIAL WORK: 45 hours
Expository classes: 17 hours
Interactive classes: 25 hours
Tutorials: 1 hour
Exam: 2 hours
AUTONOMOUS WORK, PERSONAL STUDY OF THE PUPIL: 105 hours

To attend and participate in the class, to read and think about the material provided by the teaching staff, to write their own R scripts for the analysis of biodiversity data.