Biology/Environment 281. General Ecology.
The course introduces the basic concepts and principles of ecology as applied to the study of individuals, populations, and communities of both plants and animals. Course topics include:
- Connections between evolution and ecology
- Patterns of biodiversity
- Ecologically-relevant aspects of physical environment
- Physiological ecology of plants and animals: trade-offs and adaptations
- Life history and demography
- Population growth and regulation
- Life history evolution
- Spatial ecology: dispersion, dispersal, and metapopulation dynamics
- Ecological competition: theory & evidence
- Ecological exploitation: theory & evidence
- Ecology & evolution of host-parasite interactions
- Mutualism
- Density- and trait-mediated indirect interactions
- Coexistence of species
- Stability and complexity in ecological communities
- Ecological succession, community dynamics
- Ecosystem ecology: ecosystem productivity, energy and nutrient cycles
- Global climate change