This syllabus is valid: 2011-11-07
and until further notice
Course code: 5BI135
Credit points: 15
Education level: Second cycle
Grading scale: Three-grade scale
Responsible department: Department of Ecology and Environmental Science
Contents
The course focus on how current ecological theory describes the interplay among organisms and their environment and how this knowledge can be applied to analyzing and solving ecological problems such as conservation of ecological communities, sustainable harvesting of populations and regulation of ecosystem processes. The main emphasis is on the dynamics of consumer-resource interactions and spatial processes and their influence on ecological, as well as evolutionary, processes at the population, community and ecosystem levels. The course consists of lectures, computer exercises, independent projects and literature seminars. The theory is applied in computer exercises and projects where the goals are to understand how environmental factors and biological interactions influence ecological processes and to analyse and solve ecological problems.
The course includes the following parts:
Part 1, Basic population and community ecology; 7,5 credit points
This part gives a solid background in population and community theory from a process oriented, dynamic perspective. The focus is on how interactions between organisms drive the dynamics of ecological systems through feedbacks among various processes often with unexpected results.
Part 1 includes the following sections:
Section 1, Models in population ecology technique and philosophy (1,5 credit points)
This section discusses the role of models in ecology and gives and introduction to how models are constructed, analysed and tested. Graphical, analytical and numerical methods are used and a modelling software is introduced.
Section 2, Interactions among populations and the environment (4,5 poäng)
The focus of this section is on the dynamics of interspecific interactions such as predation and competition and on how these interactions influence the coexistence of species, the size and stability of populations, as well as the flows of energy and matter through ecosystems. Examples of direct and indirect interactions that will be treated include resource competition, apparent competition, predation and competition in size structured populations, intraguild predation, trophic cascades, and recycling of nutrients.
Section 3, Interplay between ecological and evolutionary processes (1,5 credit points)
This section focus on how interactions among populations and evolutionary adaptation within specific habitats, as well as migration between habitats, influences the coexistence and eco-evolutionary dynamics of different species and phenotypes. In addition to theoretical knowledge this section provides skills in oral presentation and in discussion of scientific literature.
Part 2; Exercises, computer labs and seminars; 4 credit points
Parts of the theoretical knowledge will be applied in group exercises and computer labs and be discussed in literature seminars. This may include e.g. choice, construction and analysis of population and ecosystem models, model selection and parameter fitting to data, evaluation of different harvesting strategies based on model predictions, analyses of the possibilities for coexistence between different species, and performance of a viability analysis of a threatened species. This part of the course deepens theoretical insight through the application of theory to specific problems and provides skills in the construction and analysis of models, data analysis, and the discussion of scientific literature.
Part 3, Independent project; 3,5 credit points
In an extended project different natural systems will be modeled in order to address questions of practical and theoretical importance. This work is of research-like character, because answers to the questions may be unknown or disputed. The project includes the formulation of a question, literature search, model formulation and analysis, critical evaluation of results, and the writing of a formal essay. The work is also presented orally.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the students are expected to be able to
- explain important ecological processes, principles and concepts, as well as evaluate and critically report on theories and scientific results in population, community and ecosystem ecology;
- construct and analyse population and ecosystem models with graphical and numerical methods;
- apply ecological theory to analyse and address practical and theoretical ecological problems;
- independently address ecological questions with literature and modelling studies and report the obtained knowledge in written and oral form.
Required Knowledge
90 ECTS Biology, including 30 ECTS Ecology. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English A (IELTS (Academic) with a minimum overall score of 5.5 and no individual score below 5.0. TOEFL PBT (Paper-based Test) with a minimum total score of 530 and a minimum TWE score of 4. TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test) with a minimum total score of 72 and a minimum score of 17 on the Writing Section).
Where the language of instruction is Swedish, applicants must prove proficiency in Swedish to the level required for basic eligibility for higher studies.
Form of instruction
The course consists of lectures, exercises, computer labs, independent projects, and literature seminars. Group exercises, computer labs and literature seminars are mandatory. The teaching adopts frequently a problem oriented approach.
Examination modes
Part 1 is concluded with a written examen. Group exercises and computer labs require active participation and turning in of results. Seminars are examined by oral presentation and participation in discussions. The independent project is examined through a written essay which is also orally reported.
Literature
Valid from:
2014 week 4
Course literature
Much of the content of this course is not yet found in textbooks and there is not in a single textbook that covers enough of the course material that we would recommend buying it. You will receive some original research papers and teachers usually give out handouts of their lectures. The latter are normally not prepared in a way to stand alone without having attended the lecture. It is therefore greatly recommended that you attend all the lectures regularly.
