This course will provide a foundation in ecology. The course will examine the complex interrelationships between organisms and the abiotic environment, and attempts to show patterns and explain mechanisms behind the patterns. It will cover organisms, populations, and communities, and also discuss ecological limits caused by the physical environment, ecosystem ecology and flows of energy and nutrients. Population ecology including how to determine populations of organisms will also be treated. The last component will cover the impact of human interactions on the environment. The course also examines the maintenance of genetic variability, the role of chance in evolution, the origins of species and theories of evolution. In addition to providing an overview of evolutionary analysis, the course will also examine current questions in evolution and the application of evolutionary theory in other fields of biology.
- Teacher: Imran Ejotre