NTRES 3100 - Applied Population Ecology

Fall. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: completion of calculus (MATH 1106, MATH 1110, or equivalent). Highly recommended prerequisite: background in biology or ecology. Limited to 75 students; preference will given to NTRES and SNES majors.

E. Cooch.

In-depth analysis of the ecological factors influencing the natural fluctuation and regulation of animal population numbers. Develops models of single- and multi-species population dynamics, with emphasis on understanding the relationship between ecological processes operating at the individual level and subsequent dynamics at the population level. Significant emphasis is placed on application to conservation and management. Computer exercises are used to reinforce concepts presented in lecture.

Outcome 1: Students will be able to analyze ecological systems in terms of proximate and ultimate causation, and be able to work with multi-level systems interactions.

Outcome 2: Students will be able to use basic conceptual and analytical tools for describing and quantifying ecological relationships.

Outcome 3: Students will be able to quantify mechanisms of resource acquisition, environmental tolerance, and system resilience and stability.

Outcome 4: Students will be able to understand and use fundamental analytical methods to describe structure and dynamics of populations and communities.

Outcome 5: Students will be able to make predictions about population and community dynamics based on their knowledge about biotic and abiotic factors influencing species interactions.

Outcome 6: Students will be able to integrate their knowledge about species interactions to explain higher level ecosystem processes.

Outcome 7: students will be able to integrate conceptual and theoretical understanding in application to reach specified conservation management objectives.