Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Research at UCLA
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) stands as a prominent institution for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) research, offering a multifaceted and engaging environment for students and faculty alike. The graduate program within EEB is designed to cultivate creative, interactive, and intellectual growth, preparing students for successful careers in academia, industry, and governmental or non-governmental organizations. UCLA's EEB department provides various avenues for research exploration, ranging from specialized research quarters in marine and field biology to contract courses where students can conduct independent research under faculty supervisors.
Acknowledgment of Traditional Land Caretakers
The UCLA Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar, encompassing the Los Angeles basin and Southern Channel Islands. This acknowledgment reflects a commitment to recognizing the historical and cultural significance of the land on which the university operates.
Graduate Program Overview
The graduate program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCLA offers a creative and highly interactive, intellectual environment that prepares students to excel in positions in academia, industry, and governmental / non-governmental organizations. Students regularly engage with individuals from across academic disciplines at UCLA. The program provides a common set of requirements for all graduate students, after which they focus their research in specific specializations.
Research Opportunities for Students
UCLA offers diverse research opportunities for students at both lower and upper division levels. These include structured programs and independent study courses, such as the Student Research Program (SRP) 99 for lower-division students and various EE BIOL courses (190, 191, 196, 198A-D, 199) and PHYSCI courses (191, 195, 196, 198ABC, 199) for upper-division students.
Student Research Program (SRP) 99
The Student Research Program (SRP) 99 is administered by the URC. If a student has prior laboratory research experience, their faculty mentor may require that they enroll in at least one quarter of SRP 99. The number of quarters of SRP 99 a student enrolls in is at the discretion of their faculty mentor. Contracts for SRP 99 must be submitted to the URC office by Friday of Week Two. Each department has different policies and different submission deadlines for research contracts, and students are responsible for being aware of these deadlines. All students who participate in a research contract course MUST complete the Laboratory Safety Fundamentals workshop before being allowed to enroll in a research course. Students need only obtain their Faculty Mentor’s (PI’s) signature on the contract form, as the EEB Undergraduate Office will obtain the Department Chair’s signature after submission.
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Faculty Research Interests
UCLA's EEB faculty conduct research across a broad spectrum of topics, providing students with opportunities to engage in diverse and cutting-edge projects.
Speciation Processes
One faculty member is an evolutionary biologist and ornithologist, interested in understanding how and why new species form in nature ("the speciation process"). Their lab uses an interdisciplinary approach that integrates genomic sequencing techniques, field collections, museum specimens, and laboratory experiments. They leverage hybrid zones as natural experiments that test the boundaries between closely related species. Because hybridizing species are not yet completely reproductively isolated, they can help uncover the mechanisms underlying the evolution of reproductive isolation and ultimately the process of speciation itself.
Plant Ecology and Ecohydrology
Another area of focus involves the ecology and physiology of plant species coexistence, hydraulics of plant water transport, evolution and functional consequences of diversity in leaf size, shape and venation, forest dynamics and ecohydrology.
Ecological and Evolutionary Trajectories in Novel Environments
Another lab is interested in measuring, understanding, and predicting the ecological and evolutionary trajectories of populations when they encounter novel environments, particularly environments with multiple disturbances or stressors. They are especially interested in how the stressors interact, and how these interactions ultimately affect populations. They incorporate field, lab, and theoretical tools in their work. They work on two systems, one lab-based, and one field-based. In the lab, they work on microbial evolution and how bacteria respond to multiple stressors, using antibiotics as stressors.
Student Experiences in Field Research
UCLA's EEB program provides students with opportunities to conduct research in diverse locations, including Africa, South and Central America, and French Polynesia, allowing them to experience life as a field or marine biologist.
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Field Biology Quarter
The Field Biology Quarter provides an immersive experience where students apply their knowledge in novel settings. As one former participant noted, "The Field Biology Quarter has not only allowed me to obtain my dream job, but it is also a testament to my success in the field. I now work with a collection of over 76 species of animals, including canids, felids, primates, raptors, rodents and reptiles. As a manager I am in charge of not only the all staff biologist/educators but also of all aspects of the animals' care."
During field research, students often work in small groups to pursue independent projects. For example, one group monitored tinamous’ reaction to noises such as other bird calls or human conversation, while another group studied the hoatzin bird, observing its reactions to predator cues.
Field Research in Peru
Students have participated in field research in Manú National Park, Peru, living alongside wildlife. This experience involved working alongside local communities, allowing students to better appreciate the site. Students also learned to build personal schedules within a new environment, incorporating activities like reading and yoga into their routine.
Upon returning to campus, students undergo a crash course on statistics, learning the tools needed to analyze the data they collected. For example, one group found that tinamou bird calls’ frequency increased when responding to other bird call recordings, while another discovered that the hoatzin bird eavesdrops on its neighbors, reacting to the alarm call of another bird species playing nearby.
These reports are shared with the Cocha Cashu research station and Manú National Park, providing building blocks for experts to delve further into. For example, one student group’s study revealed that some butterflies avoided areas that had been disturbed by human logging, even when humans were not physically present.
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Support and Resources
EEB provides comprehensive support to students in finding faculty mentors and getting connected with on-campus resources and opportunities. Further, the department hosts an annual spring research symposium - as assembly of minds where innovation takes center stage and research interests are shared.
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