Ecology
2380206 (3 0)3

Catalogue Description

A course covering the interaction of organisms with their biotic and physical environment from an evolutionary perspective. Topics follow the organization of life through the levels of individual, population, community and ecosystem, emphasizing diversity at each level. Terrestrial and aquatic systems are equally represented throughout the course, and the relationship of ecological theory and practice with environmental problems are highlighted.

Text Book

• Ecology: concepts and applications
  1999
  Molles, M.C.
  McGraw Hill, IA.

The text book is available at the library and also at the bookstore where you can purchase.

Outline

1. Introduction ( 1 week) 4 hrs
   1. What is ecology?
   2. Natural History (Life on Land)
   3. Natural History (Life in Water)
2. Individuals (~2 weeks) 5 hrs
   1. Temperature relations
   2. Water relations
   3. Energy and Nutrient Relations
3. Populations (2.5 weeks) 8 hrs
   1. Population Distribution and Abundance
   2. Population Dynamics
   3. Population Growth
4. Interactions (1.5 week) 4 hrs
   1. Competition
   2. Exploitation: Predation, Herbivory,
5. Parasitism, and Disease
   1. Mutualism
6. Communities and Ecosystems (0.5 week) 2
   1. Species Abundance and Diversity
7. Communities and Ecosystems (2.5 weeks) 7
   1. Food Webs
   2. Primary Production and Energy Flow
   3. Nutrient Cycling and Retention
8. Communities and Ecosystems (0.5 week) 2
   1. Succession and Stability
9. Large-scale Ecology (1 week) 3 hrs
   1. Landscape Ecology
   2. Geographic Ecology
10. Large-scale Ecology ( 0.5 week) 2 hrs
    1. Global Ecology

the figures in parenthesis indicate the number of hours that the topics will be covered.