BIOL2711 Ecology

This topic will provide an introduction to the fundamental ideas and practices of ecology, the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. The topic provides a background in the fundamental principles of ecological science across multiple levels of organization including the individual organism, the population, the community, and the ecosystem. Students will gain an appreciation of 1) how ecologists employ the scientific process in answering questions about ecological systems and 2) how ecologist apply this knowledge to the conservation and management of populations, communities and ecosystems, and the services they provide.

This topic aims to provide an introduction to the fundamental ideas and practices of the science of ecology.

1. Define and describe what ecology is, the breadth of the discipline and its relevance to many other disciplines of biology and conservation
2. Describe how organisms' interact with one another and their environment and how these interactions give rise to patterns in their abundance and distribution
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the important ecological principles that operate at the levels of the individual organism, the population, the community, and the ecosystem
4. Appreciate how an understanding of evolutionary processes informs the study of ecology
5. Apply ecological principles to interpret ecological processes
6. Apply ecological principles to environmental challenges and conservation concerns
7. Demonstrate an understanding of, and ability to use, the processes and methods of scientific inquiry to formulate research questions, hypotheses, and predictions
8. Formally communicate, through both oral and written means, the results of ecological studies
9. Have the practical skills to undertake basic ecological studies