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.
Students learn about the building blocks of ecological communities, how energy flows through food webs, and how humans benefit from and can work to restore healthy ecosystems.
About this paper
| Paper title | Community Ecology |
|---|---|
| Subject | Ecology |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,318.20 |
| 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
Bowman WD, Hacker SD. 2024. Ecology. Sixth edition. ed. Sunderland, MA: Oxford University Press.
- 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)
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.
Students learn about the building blocks of ecological communities, how energy flows through food webs and how humans benefit from and can work to restore healthy ecosystems.
About this paper
| Paper title | Community Ecology |
|---|---|
| Subject | Ecology |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set |
| 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 Co-ordinators:
- Dr Katja Schweikert
- Associate Professor Travis Ingram
- Dr Rebecca James
- Dr Lucy Greenfield
- Paper Structure
This paper focuses on:
- How species interact and how these interactions shape ecological communities
- How ecosystems function and provide services used by humans
- How an understanding of community and ecosystem-level processes in concert with other knowledge sources with can aid the conservation and restoration of natural areas
The practical aspect of the paper will examine the structure and function of natural ecological communities, as well as the scientific and social considerations involved in restoring impacted ecosystems.
- Textbooks
Bowman WD, Hacker SD. 2024. Ecology. Sixth edition. Sunderland, MA: Oxford University Press.
- 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)