Requisite(s): 91101 Cells, Genetics and Evolution OR 91102 Animal Function and Diversity
Management and remediation of the vast array of environmental problems facing the globe require a rigorous, scientific understanding of how ecosystems work. In this second-year subject students are introduced to fundamental ecological principles underpinning the structure and function of ecosystems.
Topics covered include variation in the abundance and distribution of organisms across a range of spatial and temporal scales, the flow of energy and matter through ecosystems (with an emphasis on global variation in primary productivity), species interactions, life-history variation, ecological modelling, and the application of ecological knowledge to the conservation and management of biodiversity.
Theoretical and empirical examples are provided using a broad cross-section of organisms (e.g. invertebrates and vertebrates) and ecosystems (e.g. aquatic and terrestrial). Field work in several different systems (e.g. woodland vegetation, rocky shore habitat) during practical classes is compulsory. This subject is an important link to a range of third-year subjects that require a deep understanding of ecological concepts.
Autumn semester, City campus