Ecological Applications

THE COURSE IS CANCELED AUTUMN 2011!

Over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005). In this context, ecological science has become a central tool in the management and conservation of natural resources. This course applies ecological theory, methodology and empirical findings to understand how the state and dynamics of ecosystems are influenced by anthropogenic pressures. The course focus on two major human drivers: exploitation and habitat degradation. We investigate how harvesting affect the dynamics, viability and evolution of species and populations, and how harvesting can initiate trophic cascades and fundamental shifts in ecosystems. We investigate how habitat degradation and fragmentation affect biodiversity, and the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Practical examples with computer labs introduce central methodology such as models and analyses of population viability, monitoring methods, experimental design and adaptive management. The course draws on examples and central literature from aquatic as well as terrestrial ecosystems.