654-214 Animal Ecology (Lectures)

Note

Credit cannot be granted for both 654-204 and 654-214.

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Biology 600-141 and 600-142 (Before 1996: 600-101).

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

By the end of this subject, students should have an appreciation of:

• the way in which components of environment affect individual organisms' ability to survive and reproduce;
• the way in which populations grow;
• the consequences of environmental effects on individuals and on the distribution and abundance of populations;
• the nature of interactions between species in communities, and how these interactions affect individuals and populations;
• the effect of natural selection on individuals on the dynamics of populations and communities.

The subject provides an introduction to ecological questions that can be addressed at the levels of individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems. Aquatic and terrestrial examples. Organisms and the physical environment. Life histories, population growth and regulation. Managing populations. Theoretical models. Species interactions, especially competition and predation.

Assessment

A 2-hour end-of-semester written examination.

Prescribed Texts

• Begon M et al., Ecology: Individuals, Populations and Communities. 3rd ed. 1996 Blackwell.