ABOUT THE COURSE:Ecology is the foundation of understanding patterns and processes in the natural world. This course aims to provide a comprehensive foundation in ecology. It covers a wide range of topics from individuals to ecosystems, including resource use and life history, population ecology, community ecology, biogeography and macroecology, ecosystems and biogeochemistry, and ecology in the anthropocene. Undergraduate and post-graduate students of any discipline will benefit from this exposure to the science of ecology. Faculty can take this as a professional development course.INTENDED AUDIENCE: This is an academic course intended for senior undergraduate and post-graduate students in any discipline; and faculty. However, it is also open to interested members of the public.PREREQUISITES: Participants should have completed at least the first year of an undergraduate degree.INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Industries that will value this course include:1. Agriculture2. Forestry3. Wildlife and biodiversity conservation4. Sustainability divisions of any industry
Overview
Syllabus
Week 1: Introduction to ecology; Resource use and life history Week 2:Movement and social behaviourWeek 3:Population growth & dynamicsWeek 4:Population dynamics & spatial structure Week 5:Study design and quantitative thinkingWeek 6:Introduction to biodiversity and community ecologyWeek 7:Species interactions - competition, trophic interactions and mutualismsWeek 8:Quantifying and comparing communitiesWeek 9:Invasive species and other anthropogenic changesWeek 10:Biogeography & macroecologyWeek 11:Energy and material flow in ecosystems, and bio-geochemical cyclesWeek 12:Climate change impacts in the Anthropocene & synthesis of the course
Taught by
Prof.Vishwesha Guttal, Prof.Kavita Isvaran, Prof.Kartik Shanker, Dr. Umesh Srinivasan, Prof.Maria Thaker, Prof.Saskya van Nouhuys
