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    Overview

    Focuses on how species interact, how these interactions build communities, how natural and human induced disturbances affect the integrity and sustainability of communities, and how an understanding of community and ecosystem-level processes can aid the restoration and management of natural areas for conservation.

    About this paper

    Paper title Ecology of Communities and Ecosystems
    Subject Ecology
    EFTS 0.15
    Points 18 points
    Teaching period Semester 1 (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,173.30
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Prerequisite
    ECOL 111
    Schedule C
    Science
    Notes
    ECOL111 may be taken as a corequisite by students who have already passed 72 points from Science Schedule C.
    Contact
    ecology@otago.ac.nz
    Teaching staff

    Course coordinators: Dr Katja Schweikert and Dr Travis Ingram

    Paper Structure

    This paper focuses on:

    • How species interact
    • How these interactions build communities
    • How natural and human-induced disturbances affect the structure and functioning of communities
    • How an understanding of community and ecosystem-level processes can aid the conservation, restoration and management of natural areas

    The practical aspect of the paper will examine how communities respond to disturbance and examine how real communities and ecosystems are managed and rebuilt through visits to some local examples.

    Textbooks

    William D. Bowman, Sally D. Hacker, and Michael L. Cain (2017) Ecology. Fourth edition. Sunderland, Massachusetts: Sinauer Associates, Inc. Publishers.

    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes

    Students who successfully complete this paper will:

    • Understand how the activities of species affect other individuals and species
    • Understand how groups of interacting individuals and species persist
    • Explain the processes involved that enable complex groups of individuals and species to persist
    • Develop skills in experimental design, group work, critical thinking and scientific communication (including report writing and oral communication)

    Timetable

    Semester 1

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    A1 Tuesday 11:00-11:50 9-13, 15-22
    Thursday 11:00-11:50 9-13, 15-16, 18-22

    Practical

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend one stream from
    A1 Friday 09:00-12:50 9-12, 15-22
    A2 Friday 14:00-17:50 9-12, 15-22
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