Doctorate
1. Mandatory Disciplines
Area of Concentration: Evolution
Teaching Internship (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The aim of the subject is to lead the graduate student to articulate theory and practice by approaching academic reality. Knowledge, diagnosis and analysis of the university context. Internship planning through the proposition and execution of the Teaching Internship Activity Plan. In this way, the internship will lead to a theoretical and practical integration through experiences and application of their knowledge. At the end of the subject, a Report on the Completion of the Teaching Internship should be presented, containing the lesson plans taught, evaluations of the students and the professor in charge of the graduation discipline.
Evolution (8 Credit Units, 120 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Theoretical concepts of Evolution (Micro and Macro) and their Integration with Systematics, Ecology and Biogeography will be presented. The course will consist of theoretical-practical classes covering the different aspects of biological evolution, being mandatory for all students of the Zoology Graduate Program.
Area of Concentration: Biodiversity and Conservation
Teaching Internship (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The aim of the subject is to lead the graduate student to articulate theory and practice by approaching academic reality. Knowledge, diagnosis and analysis of the university context. Internship planning through the proposition and execution of the Teaching Internship Activity Plan. In this way, the internship will lead to a theoretical and practical integration through experiences and application of their knowledge. At the end of the subject, a Report on the Completion of the Teaching Internship should be presented, containing the lesson plans taught, evaluations of the students and the professor in charge of the graduation discipline.
Evolution (8 Credit Units, 120 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Theoretical concepts of Evolution (Micro and Macro) and their Integration with Systematics, Ecology and Biogeography will be presented. The course will consist of theoretical-practical classes covering the different aspects of biological evolution, being mandatory for all students of the Zoology Graduate Program.
2. Elective Subjects
Area of Concentration: Evolution
Comparative Anatomy of Fish (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Provide the basis for a detailed anatomical knowledge of the recent basal vertebrate groups. To develop abilities of dissection, manipulation and observation of the specimens, the recognition of structures, the comparison between different taxa in order to understand variations, and familiarity with the vast literature accumulated over the years. The proposed discipline aims to facilitate this process, providing the training and development of the necessary skills and requirements, as well as developing an appreciation for the complexity of the vertebrates and the vast anatomical knowledge available.
Biogeography (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The course aims to give the students a view of what Biogeography is and its fundamental concepts, enabling them to seek the most appropriate methods and tools to studies in this line that they want to develop. Being a very broad and dynamic discipline, it is not intended to be a full Biogeography training, but to provide a basis for the students to delve deeper later if they are interested. The emphasis is on historical biogeography, although it is increasingly sought to integrate historical and ecological aspects in biogeographic reconstitution, which is shown in the course.
Diversity and Evolution of Invertebrates (8 Credit Units, 120 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The course aims to provide the most recent advances on the diversity, classification, systematics, and phylogeny of the celomate protostomates, with emphasis on terrestrial invertebrates. It intends to develop, in the student, the ability to analyze, critisize and synthesize scientific studies, and especially to provide an understanding of the general evolutionary patterns of these animals and methods and / or hypotheses for interpreting and reconstructing these patterns. In the practical part, demonstrations of the diversity and structures of the animals will be made, using exposed material and dissections. The techniques of collection, assembly, preparation and conservation of the animals will be commented.
Diversity and Evolution of Vertebrates (4 Credit Units, 90 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Diversity of Vertebrates in an evolutionary perspective, with emphasis on the evolution of the corporal structure. Plane of basic body of the vertebrates. The first fossil vertebrates: ostracoderm. The first fish with jaw. Cartilaginous fish and bony primitive and derived forms. Drawing of the body for terrestrial life. Amphibians, Reptiles - primitive forms; the great terrestrial forms; amphibian forms; the marine reptiles; flying forms. Mammals - origin, diversity and radiation.
Ecology and Ethnoconservation in the Kayapo Indigenous Land (8 Credit Units, 120 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: This is a field course made possible through a partnership between the Floresta Protegida Association (AFP, which is an indigenous organization representing eight Kayapo communities), the University of Maryland (UMD) and the Federal University of Pará (UFPA),which will select two students to attend. All UFPA students' expenses from Marabá will be funded by UMD. The subject provides the student with immersion in the Kayapo's way of life, including subsistence strategies, land management and protection. It also provides an overview of the reality of the southern region of Pará and factors that have historically influenced the processes leading to deforestation, but also the establishment of one of the largest blocks of protected areas in the world by the Kayapo Indians. The activities consist of participating in various routine activities developed in the Kayapó village of A'Ukre and in the Pinkaiti Reserve, Kayapó Indigenous Land, including guided follow-up on subsistence practices (agriculture, fishing, chestnut gathering, etc.), theoretical and practical classes with the Kayapó and the professors of the course, and exhibition of films. Students are required to have a reasonable knowledge of English as well as a willingness to assist the dialogues and present their research projects to American students and Kayapó students.
Phylogeography (6 Credit Units, 90 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: This course is intended for students who wish to start in phylogeographic analysis, a recent discipline focused on the processes of genetic differentiation of populations and speciation. Its applications range from conservation genetics to the study of the evolution of species and animal populations. The course will consist of theoretical classes alternated with practical classes of software packages used in phylogeographic analysis.
Fundamentals of Zoological Systematics and Nomenclature (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Historical and epistemological foundations of Systematics: concept of species; systematic, comparative biology; interpretation of diversity; concepts and functions of systematics, taxonomy, classification and nomenclature; main schools of systematics; Zoological Collections, nomenclature and taxonomic publications: Biological Collections (types of collections, sources of material, categories of information in Biological Collections); zoological nomenclature (historical, binomial nomenclature, introduction to the Zoological Nomenclature Code); taxonomic publications (types of publications, abstract, introduction, lists of taxonomic references, diagnoses, description of taxa, illustrations); taxonomic revision exercise; Phylogenetic Systematics and Classification: homology (criteria, serial homology); characters x structure; taxonomic groupings; exercise of phylogenetic systematics; Seminars addressing current issues of systematics and taxonomy (taxonomic impediment, cybertaxonomy, planetary inventories of biodiversity, quality of taxonomic production).
Introduction to the R Program (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The learning of a programming language in Ecology is fundamental to develop analytical skills and extend the possibilities of ecological and statistical modeling. The R program can become the standard software for data analysis in Ecology. The R platform is a programming language used for graphing and statistical analysis. The use of language is stimulated mainly by the fact that it is free, and for offering several methods of analysis and allowing new analyzes to be programmed by users.
Origin and Evolution of the Amazonian Biota (3 Credit Units, 45Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The subject aims to give the student knowledge about the main biogeographic hypotheses used to explain the origin of the Amazonian biodiversity, mainly fauna. It will also present the main historical factors that contributed to the formation of biota.
Special Topic in Zoology: Ornithology (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Origin and evolution of birds. Physiology, genetics and reproduction. Basic anatomy. History of the geological evolution of Brazil and the Amazon region and the biogeography of birds. Ranking. Ecological roles and diversity. Native birds as bioindicators of medical / economic importance. Birds introduced with and without economic importance. Practical work of recognition in the field and application of exercises of biometry of the birds in the collection of the Ornithological Collection of MPEG.
Special Topic in Zoology: Herpetology (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Discuss broad topics related to herpetology, based on scientific texts. The course is especially aimed at students who will develop their dissertation or thesis with amphibians or reptiles. The themes chosen for discussion will be linked to the work in progress by the students, addressing theoretical aspects related to each study or similar studies carried out with related groups in different regions. The objective is to broaden the student's knowledge about the broad themes related to the theme of their dissertation project or thesis.
Special Topic in Zoology: Ichthyology (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: General information on large groups of fish. Diversity. General anatomy and osteology. Swimming and floating. Circulation and exchange of gases. Osmoregulation and ionic balance. Alimentary strategies. Nutrition and growth. Perception and communication. Integration of the senses. Reproduction and life cycle. Ecology and special distribution. Evolution of the Fish. Phylogenetic relationships of fish. History of ichthyology, with emphasis on the study of Amazonian species. Ichthyology: Presentation of landscapes and environments of the Amazonian Aquatic System; Presentation of the various fish collection methods; Practice of fixing and preserving specimens for scientific collection; Fish collection and analysis practice for the study of: feeding, reproduction, circadian rhythm and community structure.
Thematic Seminars (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The course is structured around didactic-scientific activities that the enrolled students must take up during the classes. Professors in change of the subject should select themes of current interest according to the concentration areas of the course. The students, in turn, will be responsible for the organization of events, such as symposia, presentation of panels, conferences, minicourses, among others, on the selected themes. The professors will make the infrastructure feasible, while the students will be responsible for the articulation, logistics and execution of the event.
Phylogenetic Systematics (6 Credit Units, 90 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The subject aims to present, characterize, work and discuss the different topics related to the topic Philogenetic Systematics and its use in studies related to biodiversity studies.
Advanced Phylogenic Systematics (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The subject will present theoretical concepts and applications of phylogenetic methods, usually not treated or superficially treated in courses of introduction to phylogenetics. The course will discuss approaches to the use of phylogenies in systematics and evolution studies, but students interested in other uses are welcome (e.g.: biogeography, phylogeography).
Systematics, Biology and Functional Ecology of Ants (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Introduction to ant study (Mirmecology); Area history; Phylogenetic aspects; Collection techniques; Taxonomy and biogeography of the genera that occur in Brazil; Community structure and methods for classification into functional groups; Morphological diversity; Morphological space of the neotropical fauna of ants; Ants as bioindicators of diversity and environmental change.
Area of Concentration: Biodiversity and Conservation
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (5 Credit Units, 80 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Nature and human well-being - Natural Capital. The Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in global environmental policy. The importance of Biodiversity. Regulatory framework and strategies for biodiversity protection. Case studies in Carajás: Methods for compliance with legislation. The importance of ecosystem services. History of concepts and definitions of ecosystem services. Components of services. The role of species in ecosystems. Types of service and their importance. Valuation of services. Tools for organization and modeling of biodiversity data.
Consevation Biology (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Principles of conservation; viability of populations and conservation of genetic resources; community patterns (diversity, rarity and similarity); colonization, extinction, succession, and stability; dynamics and fragility of ecosystems); effects of pollution; insularization and fragmentation effects; monitoring and management of populations and communities; size and form of reservations; valuation of biodiversity and environmental education.
Conservation and Management of Fauna (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Preservation versus conservation; Objectives of fauna management; Threats to biological diversity; History of fauna exploration in the Amazon; Management of fauna in traditional communities and in indigenous lands in the Amazon; Assessment of ecological sustainability of wildlife use; Theoretical background and models for sustainable use; Breeding of wild animals; Hunting as a conservation tool; The value of popular knowledge and the involvement of local human populations; Local rules and cultural taboos; The importance of source-sink systems - models and examples; Genetics applied to conservation; The need for adaptation of the Brazilian laws for the extensive management of the fauna; The roles of the State, organized civil society, the press, professionals from non-biological areas and other stakeholders.
Experimental Outline (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Formulate hypotheses and predictions, collect biological and environmental data; introduce the student to statistical principles and enable him to interpret data. The course will cover (i) theories and planning in the collection of samples and experiments, (ii) types of variables and experiments, and (iii) statistical methods.
Functional Diversity (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The use of functional traits to study communities is now considered a powerful tool to test the processes responsible for structuring communities, as well as showing potential to reveal new standards and laws in ecology. The functional approach quantifies similarities and differences among species that coexist using their functional attributes in functional diversity analyzes. This approach has grown rapidly in recent years with the rapid development of methods to describe the functional components of communities. This subject will discuss the theoretical foundation of the functional approach, as well as the application of functional diversity analyzes from practical exercises, following step by step all the stages of analysis.
Behavioral Ecology (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The aim of the subject is to give the student knowledge of the basic contents of behavioral ecology, its differences with the purely descriptive models of behavior applied in other areas, such as ethology, and to give the student notions on how to apply their principles in understanding the ecology and evolution of diverse animal groups.
Ecology of the Amazon (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: (i) History of the Geology of the Amazon: Shield of the Guianas and Central Brazil, emergence of the Andes, etc. (ii) Climate: - Climates past and current, seasonal rainfall, wind and temperature, el niño and la niña, and carbon . (iii) Basins: Hydrography and hydrology, mean and seasonal flow, limnological characterization of water, etc. (iv) Pedology. (v) Vegetation and Phytophysiognomy: (vi) Ecosystems and Landscapes: IBGE and WWF classification. Presentation of the environments: I- Aquatic - wetlands (floodplain, igapó, fields, mangroves, restinga, rivers, lakes, headwaters, rapids and etc.); II - Terrestrial - meadow, campinarana, forests, cerrado, savannah.
Field Ecology (6 Credit Units, 90 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The Field Ecology course will be offered to ecology, zoology, botany and related areas graduate students. Students of the course will be guided by professors during short studies (oriented projects). In the last days of the course, each student will develop an individual project, which will include planning, collecting, analyzing the data and writing a scientific article. At the end of the course, students should be able to: 1) Discuss some sampling and experimental design techniques; 2) Collect data and test hypotheses; 3) Analyze data, interpret them and write scientific papers.
Community Ecology (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: What communities are and how they develop; concepts, standards and measures of biodiversity; the role of biological interactions, evolutionary history, chance, and limitation of dispersion in community formation; models of community organization: spatial dynamics of communities; diversity and the functioning of ecosystems; responses to climate change.
Ecology of Floodplain Ecosystems in the Amazon (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The subject aims to offer the student a specific knowledge about the Amazonian floodplain ecosystems and the opportunity to experience the study of these ecosystems in loco. The subject provides students with access to relevant classical and current literature on the ecology of these ecosystems and allows their contextualization in Ecosystem Theory.
Landscape Ecology (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Landscape ecology: conceptual and theoretical bases, factors that influence the establishment of landscape, structure, function, dynamics, exchanges and notions of management. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and their methodological importance in Landscape Ecology. Metrics and models in landscape ecology. Spatial landscape statistics: understanding and calculating landscape composition and configuration metrics.
Population Ecology (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The Population Ecology course addresses theoretical concepts and methods of direct application related to population growth, population structure and dynamics, demography, life table, migration / dispersion, competition / predation and stability / chaos. It is divided into: (i) theoretical concepts of models and population growth. a) Linear models of population growth: deterministic (Malthusian; Logistic); Stochastic (Process of birth and death; Yule-Furry process; Chances of extinction of a population). b) Population growth matrix model: life table. (ii) Theoretical concepts of individual growth models. Von Bertallanffy's Growth Model. (iii) Methods to estimate population parameters: abundance (marking and recapture; transect, quadrat); survival rates and mortality (life table); rates of growth.
Ecology and Ethnoconservation in the Kayapo Indigenous Land (8 Credit Units, 120 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: This is a field course made possible through a partnership between the Floresta Protegida Association (AFP, which is an indigenous organization representing eight Kayapo communities), the University of Maryland (UMD) and the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), which will select two students to attend. All UFPA students' expenses from Marabá will be funded by UMD. The subject provides the student with immersion in the Kayapo's way of life, including subsistence strategies, land management and protection. It also provides an overview of the reality of the southern region of Pará and factors that have historically influenced the processes leading to deforestation, but also the establishment of one of the largest blocks of protected areas in the world by the Kayapo Indians. The activities consist of participating in various routine activities developed in the Kayapó village of A'Ukre and in the Pinkaiti Reserve, Kayapó Indigenous Land, including guided follow-up on subsistence practices (agriculture, fishing, chestnut gathering, etc.), theoretical and practical classes with the Kayapó and the professors of the course, and exhibition of films. Students are required to have a reasonable knowledge of English as well as a willingness to assist the dialogues and present their research projects to American students and Kayapó students.
Phylogenetic Ecology of Communities (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Phylogenetic and functional approaches in ecology. Phylogenetic grouping and repulsion. Phylogenetic diversity. Phylobetadiversity. Phylogenetic composition. Phylogenetic patterns in metacommunities. The use of phylogenetic trees in ecology. Structure metrics and phylogenetic diversity. Phylogenetic structure of communities. Phylogenetic sign. Niche phylogenetic conservation.
Multivariate Statistics (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The subject aims at giving the student knowledge of multivariate statistical techniques for collecting, arranging and processing data (information), as well as how to integrate these techniques with problem solving methods. Working out the concept and differences between multivariate methods, when to apply them, how to read and interpret the results, practical examples of application and exercises following step by step all the stages necessary to perform each test.
Advanced Multivariate Statistics (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The subject aims to provide the student with knowledge of advanced and current multivariate statistical techniques for the analysis of data in ecology. Working out the concept and differences between methods, when to apply them, how to read and interpret the results, practical examples of application and exercises following step by step all the stages necessary to perform each test.
Univariate Statistics (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The subject aims to give the student knowledge of statistical techniques for collecting, arranging and processing data (information), as well as how to integrate these techniques with problem solving methods. This course aims to provide participants with the basics of univariate analysis, enabling them to choose the best analysis regarding the type of data and hypothesis in Research Lines in Zoology. At the end of the course, the participant will be able to (i) differentiate the univariate analyzes in relation to their applications, (ii) perform each analysis in a computer program; (iii) interpret and discuss the results obtained. To generate in the students a mastery of the analytical tool and the theoretical bases of statistics with applications in Zoology. To enable students to read critical scientific texts in the area and in the execution of tests in their research area.
Introduction to Basic Statistics (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Introduce basic concepts in statistics and data analysis, allowing the organization, management and description of data sets, planning and operationalization of statistical tests, and finally the interpretation of the results obtained.
Introduction to the R Program (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The learning of a programming language in Ecology is fundamental to develop analytical skills and extend the possibilities of ecological and statistical modeling. The R program can become the standard software for data analysis in Ecology. The R platform is a programming language used for graphing and statistical analysis. The use of language is stimulated mainly by the fact that it is free, and for offering several methods of analysis and allowing new analyzes to be programmed by users.
Thematic Seminars (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The course is structured around didactic-scientific activities that the enrolled students must take up during the classes. Professors in change of the subject should select themes of current interest according to the concentration areas of the course. The students, in turn, will be responsible for the organization of events, such as symposia, presentation of panels, conferences, minicourses, among others, on the selected themes. The professors will make the infrastructure feasible, while the students will be responsible for the articulation, logistics and execution of the event.
Master’s Degree
1. Mandatory Disciplines
Area of Concentration: Evolution
Fundamentals of Zoological Systematics and Nomenclature (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Historical and epistemological foundations of Systematics: concept of species; systematic, comparative biology; interpretation of diversity; concepts and functions of systematics, taxonomy, classification and nomenclature; main schools of systematics; Zoological Collections, nomenclature and taxonomic publications: Biological Collections (types of collections, sources of material, categories of information in Biological Collections); zoological nomenclature (historical, binomial nomenclature, introduction to the Zoological Nomenclature Code); taxonomic publications (types of publications, abstract, introduction, lists of taxonomic references, diagnoses, description of taxa, illustrations); taxonomic revision exercise; Phylogenetic Systematics and Classification: homology (criteria, serial homology); characters x structure; taxonomic groupings; exercise of phylogenetic systematics; Seminars addressing current issues of systematics and taxonomy (taxonomic impediment, cybertaxonomy, planetary inventories of biodiversity, quality of taxonomic production).
Evolution (8 Credit Units, 120 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Theoretical concepts of Evolution (Micro and Macro) and their Integration with Systematics, Ecology and Biogeography will be presented. The course will consist of theoretical-practical classes covering the different aspects of biological evolution, being mandatory for all students of the Zoology Graduate Program.
Area of Concentration: Biodiversity and Conservation
Experimental Outline (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Formulate hypotheses and predictions, collect biological and environmental data; introduce the student to statistical principles and enable him to interpret data. The course will cover (i) theories and planning in the collection of samples and experiments, (ii) types of variables and experiments, and (iii) statistical methods.
Evolution (8 Credit Units, 120 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Theoretical concepts of Evolution (Micro and Macro) and their Integration with Systematics, Ecology and Biogeography will be presented. The course will consist of theoretical-practical classes covering the different aspects of biological evolution, being mandatory for all students of the Zoology Graduate Program.
2. Elective Disciplines
Area of Concentration: Evolution
Comparative Anatomy of Fish (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Provide the basis for a detailed anatomical knowledge of the recent basal vertebrate groups. To develop abilities of dissection, manipulation and observation of the specimens, the recognition of structures, the comparison between different taxa in order to understand variations, and familiarity with the vast literature accumulated over the years. The proposed discipline aims to facilitate this process, providing the training and development of the necessary skills and requirements, as well as developing an appreciation for the complexity of the vertebrates and the vast anatomical knowledge available.
Biogeography (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The course aims to give the students a view of what Biogeography is and its fundamental concepts, enabling them to seek the most appropriate methods and tools to studies in this line that they want to develop. Being a very broad and dynamic discipline, it is not intended to be a full Biogeography training, but to provide a basis for the students to delve deeper later if they are interested. The emphasis is on historical biogeography, although it is increasingly sought to integrate historical and ecological aspects in biogeographic reconstitution, which is shown in the course.
Diversity and Evolution of Invertebrates (8 Credit Units, 120 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The course aims to provide the most recent advances on the diversity, classification, systematics, and phylogeny of the celomate protostomates, with emphasis on terrestrial invertebrates. It intends to develop, in the student, the ability to analyze, critisize and synthesize scientific studies, and especially to provide an understanding of the general evolutionary patterns of these animals and methods and / or hypotheses for interpreting and reconstructing these patterns. In the practical part, demonstrations of the diversity and structures of the animals will be made, using exposed material and dissections. The techniques of collection, assembly, preparation and conservation of the animals will be commented.
Diversity and Evolution of Vertebrates (4 Credit Units, 90 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Diversity of Vertebrates in an evolutionary perspective, with emphasis on the evolution of the corporal structure. Plane of basic body of the vertebrates. The first fossil vertebrates: ostracoderm. The first fish with jaw. Cartilaginous fish and bony primitive and derived forms. Drawing of the body for terrestrial life. Amphibians, Reptiles - primitive forms; the great terrestrial forms; amphibian forms; the marine reptiles; flying forms. Mammals - origin, diversity and radiation.
Phylogeography (6 Credit Units, 90 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: This course is intended for students who wish to start in phylogeographic analysis, a recent discipline focused on the processes of genetic differentiation of populations and speciation. Its applications range from conservation genetics to the study of the evolution of species and animal populations. The course will consist of theoretical classes alternated with practical classes of software packages used in phylogeographic analysis.
Introduction to the R Program (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The learning of a programming language in Ecology is fundamental to develop analytical skills and extend the possibilities of ecological and statistical modeling. The R program can become the standard software for data analysis in Ecology. The R platform is a programming language used for graphing and statistical analysis. The use of language is stimulated mainly by the fact that it is free, and for offering several methods of analysis and allowing new analyzes to be programmed by users.
Methodologies for Higher Education (2 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus:Teaching preparation and training is an integral part of postgraduate training. The subject is taught in the form of lectures with themes, reading texts and discussions about them. Then, students prepare lesson plans and deliver them to undergraduate classes in Biological Sciences at UFPA.
Origin and Evolution of the Amazonian Biota (3 Credit Units, 45Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The subject aims to give the student knowledge about the main biogeographic hypotheses used to explain the origin of the Amazonian biodiversity, mainly fauna. It will also present the main historical factors that contributed to the formation of biota.
Special Topic in Zoology: Ornithology (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Origin and evolution of birds. Physiology, genetics and reproduction. Basic anatomy. History of the geological evolution of Brazil and the Amazon region and the biogeography of birds. Ranking. Ecological roles and diversity. Native birds as bioindicators of medical / economic importance. Birds introduced with and without economic importance. Practical work of recognition in the field and application of exercises of biometry of the birds in the collection of the Ornithological Collection of MPEG.
Special Topic in Zoology: Herpetology (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Discuss broad topics related to herpetology, based on scientific texts. The course is especially aimed at students who will develop their dissertation or thesis with amphibians or reptiles. The themes chosen for discussion will be linked to the work in progress by the students, addressing theoretical aspects related to each study or similar studies carried out with related groups in different regions. The objective is to broaden the student's knowledge about the broad themes related to the theme of their dissertation project or thesis.
Special Topic in Zoology: Ichthyology (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: General information on large groups of fish. Diversity. General anatomy and osteology. Swimming and floating. Circulation and exchange of gases. Osmoregulation and ionic balance. Alimentary strategies. Nutrition and growth. Perception and communication. Integration of the senses. Reproduction and life cycle. Ecology and special distribution. Evolution of the Fish. Phylogenetic relationships of fish. History of ichthyology, with emphasis on the study of Amazonian species. Ichthyology: Presentation of landscapes and environments of the Amazonian Aquatic System; Presentation of the various fish collection methods; Practice of fixing and preserving specimens for scientific collection; Fish collection and analysis practice for the study of: feeding, reproduction, circadian rhythm and community structure.
Thematic Seminars (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The course is structured around didactic-scientific activities that the enrolled students must take up during the classes. Professors in change of the subject should select themes of current interest according to the concentration areas of the course. The students, in turn, will be responsible for the organization of events, such as symposia, presentation of panels, conferences, minicourses, among others, on the selected themes. The professors will make the infrastructure feasible, while the students will be responsible for the articulation, logistics and execution of the event.
Phylogenetic Systematics (6 Credit Units, 90 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The subject aims to present, characterize, work and discuss the different topics related to the topic Philogenetic Systematics and its use in studies related to biodiversity studies.
Advanced Phylogenic Systematics (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The subject will present theoretical concepts and applications of phylogenetic methods, usually not treated or superficially treated in courses of introduction to phylogenetics. The course will discuss approaches to the use of phylogenies in systematics and evolution studies, but students interested in other uses are welcome (e.g.: biogeography, phylogeography).
Systematics, Biology and Functional Ecology of Ants (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Introduction to ant study (Mirmecology); Area history; Phylogenetic aspects; Collection techniques; Taxonomy and biogeography of the genera that occur in Brazil; Community structure and methods for classification into functional groups; Morphological diversity; Morphological space of the neotropical fauna of ants; Ants as bioindicators of diversity and environmental change.
Area of Concentration: Biodiversity and Conservation
Methodologies for Higher Education (2 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Teaching preparation and training is an integral part of postgraduate training. The subject is taught in the form of lectures with themes, reading texts and discussions about them. Then, students prepare lesson plans and deliver them to undergraduate classes in Biological Sciences at UFPA.
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (5 Credit Units, 80 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Nature and human well-being - Natural Capital. The Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in global environmental policy. The importance of Biodiversity. Regulatory framework and strategies for biodiversity protection. Case studies in Carajás: Methods for compliance with legislation. The importance of ecosystem services. History of concepts and definitions of ecosystem services. Components of services. The role of species in ecosystems. Types of service and their importance. Valuation of services. Tools for organization and modeling of biodiversity data.
Conservation Biology (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Principles of conservation; viability of populations and conservation of genetic resources; community patterns (diversity, rarity and similarity); colonization, extinction, succession, and stability; dynamics and fragility of ecosystems); effects of pollution; insularization and fragmentation effects; monitoring and management of populations and communities; size and form of reservations; valuation of biodiversity and environmental education.
Conservation and Management of Fauna (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Preservation versus conservation; Objectives of fauna management; Threats to biological diversity; History of fauna exploration in the Amazon; Management of fauna in traditional communities and in indigenous lands in the Amazon; Assessment of ecological sustainability of wildlife use; Theoretical background and models for sustainable use; Breeding of wild animals; Hunting as a conservation tool; The value of popular knowledge and the involvement of local human populations; Local rules and cultural taboos; The importance of source-sink systems - models and examples; Genetics applied to conservation; The need for adaptation of the Brazilian laws for the extensive management of the fauna; The roles of the State, organized civil society, the press, professionals from non-biological areas and other stakeholders.
Functional Diversity (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The use of functional traits to study communities is now considered a powerful tool to test the processes responsible for structuring communities, as well as showing potential to reveal new standards and laws in ecology. The functional approach quantifies similarities and differences among species that coexist using their functional attributes in functional diversity analyzes. This approach has grown rapidly in recent years with the rapid development of methods to describe the functional components of communities. This subject will discuss the theoretical foundation of the functional approach, as well as the application of functional diversity analyzes from practical exercises, following step by step all the stages of analysis.
Behavioral Ecology (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The aim of the subject is to give the student knowledge of the basic contents of behavioral ecology, its differences with the purely descriptive models of behavior applied in other areas, such as ethology, and to give the student notions on how to apply their principles in understanding the ecology and evolution of diverse animal groups.
Ecology of the Amazon (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: (i) History of the Geology of the Amazon: Shield of the Guianas and Central Brazil, emergence of the Andes, etc. (ii) Climate: - Climates past and current, seasonal rainfall, wind and temperature, el niño and la niña, and carbon . (iii) Basins: Hydrography and hydrology, mean and seasonal flow, limnological characterization of water, etc. (iv) Pedology. (v) Vegetation and Phytophysiognomy: (vi) Ecosystems and Landscapes: IBGE and WWF classification. Presentation of the environments: I- Aquatic - wetlands (floodplain, igapó, fields, mangroves, restinga, rivers, lakes, headwaters, rapids and etc.); II - Terrestrial - meadow, campinarana, forests, cerrado, savannah.
Field Ecology (6 Credit Units, 90 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The Field Ecology course will be offered to ecology, zoology, botany and related areas graduate students. Students of the course will be guided by professors during short studies (oriented projects). In the last days of the course, each student will develop an individual project, which will include planning, collecting, analyzing the data and writing a scientific article. At the end of the course, students should be able to: 1) Discuss some sampling and experimental design techniques; 2) Collect data and test hypotheses; 3) Analyze data, interpret them and write scientific papers.
Community Ecology (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: What communities are and how they develop; concepts, standards and measures of biodiversity; the role of biological interactions, evolutionary history, chance, and limitation of dispersion in community formation; models of community organization: spatial dynamics of communities; diversity and the functioning of ecosystems; responses to climate change.
Ecology of Floodplain Ecosystems in the Amazon (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The subject aims to offer the student a specific knowledge about the Amazonian floodplain ecosystems and the opportunity to experience the study of these ecosystems in loco. The subject provides students with access to relevant classical and current literature on the ecology of these ecosystems and allows their contextualization in Ecosystem Theory.
Landscape Ecology (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Landscape ecology: conceptual and theoretical bases, factors that influence the establishment of landscape, structure, function, dynamics, exchanges and notions of management. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and their methodological importance in Landscape Ecology. Metrics and models in landscape ecology. Spatial landscape statistics: understanding and calculating landscape composition and configuration metrics.
Population Ecology (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The Population Ecology course addresses theoretical concepts and methods of direct application related to population growth, population structure and dynamics, demography, life table, migration / dispersion, competition / predation and stability / chaos. It is divided into: (i) theoretical concepts of models and population growth. a) Linear models of population growth: deterministic (Malthusian; Logistic); Stochastic (Process of birth and death; Yule-Furry process; Chances of extinction of a population). b) Population growth matrix model: life table. (ii) Theoretical concepts of individual growth models. Von Bertallanffy's Growth Model. (iii) Methods to estimate population parameters: abundance (marking and recapture; transect, quadrat); survival rates and mortality (life table); rates of growth.
Phylogenetic Ecology of Communities (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Phylogenetic and functional approaches in ecology. Phylogenetic grouping and repulsion. Phylogenetic diversity. Phylobetadiversity. Phylogenetic composition. Phylogenetic patterns in metacommunities. The use of phylogenetic trees in ecology. Structure metrics and phylogenetic diversity. Phylogenetic structure of communities. Phylogenetic sign. Niche phylogenetic conservation.
Multivariate Statistics (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The subject aims at giving the student knowledge of multivariate statistical techniques for collecting, arranging and processing data (information), as well as how to integrate these techniques with problem solving methods. Working out the concept and differences between multivariate methods, when to apply them, how to read and interpret the results, practical examples of application and exercises following step by step all the stages necessary to perform each test.
Advanced Multivariate Statistics (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The subject aims to provide the student with knowledge of advanced and current multivariate statistical techniques for the analysis of data in ecology. Working out the concept and differences between methods, when to apply them, how to read and interpret the results, practical examples of application and exercises following step by step all the stages necessary to perform each test.
Univariate Statistics (5 Credit Units, 75 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The subject aims to give the student knowledge of statistical techniques for collecting, arranging and processing data (information), as well as how to integrate these techniques with problem solving methods. This course aims to provide participants with the basics of univariate analysis, enabling them to choose the best analysis regarding the type of data and hypothesis in Research Lines in Zoology. At the end of the course, the participant will be able to (i) differentiate the univariate analyzes in relation to their applications, (ii) perform each analysis in a computer program; (iii) interpret and discuss the results obtained. To generate in the students a mastery of the analytical tool and the theoretical bases of statistics with applications in Zoology. To enable students to read critical scientific texts in the area and in the execution of tests in their research area.
Introduction to Basic Statistics (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Introduce basic concepts in statistics and data analysis, allowing the organization, management and description of data sets, planning and operationalization of statistical tests, and finally the interpretation of the results obtained.
Introduction to the R Program (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The learning of a programming language in Ecology is fundamental to develop analytical skills and extend the possibilities of ecological and statistical modeling. The R program can become the standard software for data analysis in Ecology. The R platform is a programming language used for graphing and statistical analysis. The use of language is stimulated mainly by the fact that it is free, and for offering several methods of analysis and allowing new analyzes to be programmed by users.
Thematic Seminars (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: The course is structured around didactic-scientific activities that the enrolled students must take up during the classes. Professors in change of the subject should select themes of current interest according to the concentration areas of the course. The students, in turn, will be responsible for the organization of events, such as symposia, presentation of panels, conferences, minicourses, among others, on the selected themes. The professors will make the infrastructure feasible, while students are in charge of articulation, logistics and execution of the event.