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Marcel Holyoak Professor,
Department of Environmental Science and Policy
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Shortcut to: Research pages Teaching pages ESP001 "Environmental Applications" ECL200A "Ecological Principles" Personal
information Other |
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Fax: (530) 752-3350 Email:
maholyoak AT ucdavis.edu Department of Environmental Science and
Policy, Office:
3154 Wickson Hall. Lab:
1219 Education: Introduction to research My
research program focuses on questions about the importance of spatial
dynamics to populations and communities. It addresses theories that are
central to conservation and the maintenance of biodiversity, and combines
field, laboratory and theoretical components. Many of these projects are
collaborative, as described on the pages for each topic area. My work
focuses on three major topics: (1) I am
very interested in the role of spatial
dynamics in ecological communities (metacommunity ecology). Ongoing
research investigates the factors that maintain species diversity in both
laboratory and field systems. This work also re-evaluates and challenges existing
community theory that was developed for closed local communities. (2) Conservation of a
threatened insect species, the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle. This
project aims to better understand regional population survival using
knowledge of local and regional dynamics. It includes consideration of both
habitat restoration efforts and landscape-scale factors. (3) A
long-held interest of mine is developing and testing theory about predator and
prey metapopulations. This work uses microorganisms (protozoa and
bacteria) in laboratory microcosms and theoretical models as tools for
testing and improving ecological theory about mechanisms of
persistence. Curriculum
Vitae as a PDF
file I am an
associate editor for The
American Naturalist and Ecology/Ecological Monographs. I am a
member of the Faculty
of 1000 in biology, an online research tool that highlights the most
interesting papers in biology, based on the recommendations of over 1000
scientists worldwide. |
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Teaching I accept students through the Graduate Group in Ecology,
although my lab is currently full. Information for prospective graduate students is given at
this link. I
currently teach two courses. I am also the master advisor for students
in the Environmental Biology and Management major. ESP001
"Environmental Applications" is an introductory undergraduate
course in environmental science and policy. It is a lecture and discussion
course that aims to provide students with: (1) Knowledge of the scientific
basis of the current understanding of environmental issues. (2) An
appreciation of the technical, political and legal issues associated with
getting better scientific information for the purpose of environmental
policy. (3) An understanding of the public policy process. (4) Awareness of
the principle debates in current public policy regarding the environment,
especially water policy, land use and habitat/biodiversity. The course is
co-taught with a policy instructor, currently Jeff Loux of University
Extension and Landscape Architecture. ECL200A
"Ecological Principles and Applications" forms the first part
of the core course for the Graduate Group in Ecology. The main aim of Ecology
200A is to provide students with a broad background in the principles,
theoretical underpinnings, and applications of ecology. This serves as
preparation for more specialized courses in the ecology program and gives
students a general grounding in ecology. The course has a lecture and
discussion format. Lectures aim to give the necessary background to
understand ongoing debates in ecology and to synthesize the
current state of empirical and theoretical knowledge of a broad range of
areas in ecology. |
Last modified 08/12/2008,
M. Holyoak index.htm