Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. have a basic scientific knowledge of the Natural History
2. understand general ecological subjects
3. obtain the necessary background for applied agricultural and environmental disciplines.
4. develop critical thinking skills to ecological issues.
Course Content (Syllabus)
Introduction to the Science of Ecology. Ecology and Evolution. Ecosystems and communities. Terrestrial biomes. Energy and productivity in ecosystems. Food relations, Food webs in ecosystems. Biogeochemical cycles. Greenhouse effect. Nutrient budgets in ecosystems. Adaptations of organisms to the environment. Growth and regulation of population. Demography. Intra-specific competition. Interspecific (biotic) interactions (competition, predation, mutuality, cooperation) - Homeostasis of the ecosystem. Development and evolution of the ecosystem (Succession).
Keywords
Ecology, Ecosystem, Population, Community, Energy, Productivity, Biochemical cycle, Glasshouse effect.