Introduction

Molecular ecology is a rapidly evolving field of biology that integrates molecular biology and ecology to understand how evolutionary and ecological processes shape biodiversity. By examining genetic variation within and among populations, molecular ecology provides insights into a wide range of biological phenomena, including species adaptation, population structure, and ecological interactions. The primary goal of molecular ecology is to understand how genetic factors influence ecological and evolutionary dynamics. The field encompasses various subdisciplines, such as population genetics, phylogeography, and ecological genomics. These areas help scientists address questions about species’ responses to environmental changes, patterns of gene flow, and the origins of genetic diversity. In this course, we will be drawing on principal concepts that you may have learned from other courses such as genetics, evolution, ecology, and bioinformatics.