Advanced Ecological Processes

Abstract

This course presents a broad overview of the key processes structuring ecological populations and communities.

Objective

COURSE GOALS In this course, students will develop an integrated knowledge of ecological processes that enables them to interpret ecological patterns, formulate hypotheses about how those patterns are generated, and predict how population and community dynamics will respond to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Specifically, our goals are to: - Introduce students to the major ecological processes that together shape the composition and abundance of species within ecological communities. - Provide insight to students on the ecological impacts of anthropogenic change, and how an understanding of ecological processes can help us predict these ecological impacts and design conservation / restoration actions to mitigate their negative impacts. - Teach students to critically summarize and analyze primary ecological literature, understanding how ecological studies contribute to our knowledge, how to critically evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and practice designing follow up studies. - Allow students to assess different approaches to studying population and ecological community dynamics (e.g. mathematical models, field observations, experimental manipulations). LEARNING OBJECTIVES The learning objectives follow from the course goals. After attending this course, students should be able to: - Describe key processes affecting the size of populations and abundance of species within ecological communities. - Critically evaluate evidence and conclusions presented in primary ecological literature based on your understanding of these ecological processes. - Design (hypothetical) studies and experiments to test the role of different processes in structuring ecological communities. - Apply knowledge of ecological processes to make predictions about the major responses of ecological communities to anthropogenic perturbations.

Content

We will examine how population and community structure arises from a combination of deterministic processes like biotic interactions, spatial processes like dispersal, and neutral and stochastic processes. We will explore how these processes relate to central problems in ecology, both basic and applied, including the maintenance of biological diversity, the controls over species invasions, and ecological responses to environmental change (e.g. climate change). The course is taught in a flipped format. Generally (with the exception of a few weeks), there will be online materials for students to watch or read during the first hour of class (lecture videos, readings), and the class will meet in person for the second half of class where they will participate in activities designed to help students learn the content. This could include paper discussions, worksheets, and online modules. Students will also give an oral presentation (as a group) on a primary literature article.

Resources