BIOLOGY 234 PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGY

 

 

TEXTBOOK: Ecology: Concepts and Applications by Molles.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: A study of the interactions between plants and animals and their environments. The effects of environmental factors on living systems are considered at the individual, population, and community levels.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Students will

1. explore the diversity of ecosystems on earth.

2. analyse relationships between environments and organisms.

3. examine relationships between organisms within a community.

4. interpret population parameters.

5. examine energy flow through ecosystems.

6. examine nutrient cycles within ecosystems.

7. explore various levels of ecological organization.

8. identify ecological issues at the global level.

 

TOPICS COVERED:

• Experimental Design
• Biomes
• Climate
• Temperature and Water
• Energy
• Primary Production and Nutrient Cycles
• Population Growth
• Population Distribution and Dynamics
• Life Histories
• Competition
• Exploitation
• Mutualism - Symbiotic relationships
• Social Interactions
• Diversity
• Community Structure
• Succession and Stability
• Landscape Ecology
• Geographic Ecology
• Location and imaging
• Global Ecology