Michal Polak Associate Professor Ph.D., Arizona State University Evolutionary ecology
Address: Michal Polak Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0006 USA	Telephone: (513) 556-9736 FAX: (513) 556-5299 Email: polakm@email.uc.edu Polak Lab: http://www.biology.uc.edu/faculty/polak/home.html

BIOL 550 – Animal Behavior
This upper-division, 3 credit, undergraduate course, open also to graduate students, is designed to help students understand the logic of science and how science works in the context of learning about the wonderful diversity of animal behaviors.

The course provides a rigorous scientific framework in which to understand behavior from mechanistic, ecological and evolutionary perspectives.  To do so, we will examine a variety of topics including the genetic, physiological, neural and developmental bases of behavior, animal learning, foraging, habitat selection, predator-prey interaction, communication, reproduction and mating systems, parental care and social behavior.

A major theme of the course is the adaptive value of animal behavior – how behavior contributes to survival and reproductive success in the context of the animal’s ecology. The course discusses the evolution of behavior under various phylogenetic, developmental and environmental constraints.

This course is heavily literature- and discussion-based, and teaches critical thinking.

BIOL 577 – Evolutionary Biology
This is a 3 credit undergraduate course, open also to graduate students, aimed at providing a comprehensive introduction to modern evolutionary biology, an exciting, dynamic and important field of scientific investigation.

It will teach you why evolution is the central theme unifying all of biology. The course emphasizes both the development of a scientific way of thinking about biological diversity as well as the learning of key concepts in the field. Its underlying philosophy is to encourage critical thinking and knowledge of the scientific method. 

The course covers research into the origin of life, paleontological and macroevolutionary trends, a review of basic genetics, population genetics, genetic drift, natural selection, concepts of fitness and adaptation, sexual selection, species and speciation.  The course will teach you how to apply evolutionary thinking to problems in animal behavior and ecology. As this list indicates, you will be exposed to major modern topics and areas of active research in the field of evolutionary biology.

The class format consists of lecture and group discussion.

BIOL 729 – Advanced Topics in Ecology
This course is an in-depth treatment of major ecological concepts for graduate students and advanced undergraduates.  Each week, a theme is explored historically through lecture followed by  the discussion of a series of contemporary articles that extend historical efforts using new approaches and techniques. The goal is to obtain a deeper appreciation for theory and concepts, and to develop the student's ability to test predictions so that results can be used to extend theory. Students are required to lead discussions and produce a final paper.

BIOL 985 – EEB Discussion Group
This class is offered periodically and meets once per week for one hour to discuss papers from the recent literature. Each quarter has a central theme and discussion papers will be chosen by students with the approval of the instructor. Grading will be pass/fail and will be based on attendance, participation and effective leadership of discussions.  Other students and faculty, including those from outside departments, are encouraged to participate in discussions. Past offerings have included topical themes such as island biogeography and behavior genetics