Fundamentals of Fundamentals of EcologyEcology

Biology/Ecology/ENST 112Biology/Ecology/ENST 112

What?What?

Second course in ecology, follows 54Second course in ecology, follows 54 New course – work in progressNew course – work in progress Basic ideas and conceptsBasic ideas and concepts Skills and experiencesSkills and experiences

You have an opportunity to influence You have an opportunity to influence the content!the content!

Who?Who? Robert PeetRobert Peet

Lee Anne JacobsLee Anne Jacobs Brooke WheelerBrooke Wheeler

Advanced undergraduates and beginning Advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate studentsgraduate students

2 sophomores, 8 juniors, 16 seniors, 6 2 sophomores, 8 juniors, 16 seniors, 6 graduate studentsgraduate students

Why are you here?Why are you here?

Need a 100-level elective?Need a 100-level elective? The course is required?The course is required? Wish stronger background for Wish stronger background for

research?research? Interested in a career in ecology?Interested in a career in ecology? Wish to be an informed citizen?Wish to be an informed citizen?

A guided tour of the websiteA guided tour of the website http://www.bio.unc.edu/faculty/peet/lab/courses/Biol122http://www.bio.unc.edu/faculty/peet/lab/courses/Biol122

SyllabusSyllabus Lecture outlines, PowerPoints, readingsLecture outlines, PowerPoints, readings Laboratory materialsLaboratory materials ResourcesResources RosterRoster GradebookGradebook ExamsExams AnnouncementsAnnouncements

GradesGrades

20% 20% Exam 1Exam 1 20%20%Exam 2Exam 2 20%20%Final ExamFinal Exam 20%20%LaboratoryLaboratory 20%20%Two written assignmentsTwo written assignments

Lecture organizationLecture organization

Physical environment & physiological Physical environment & physiological ecologyecology

EcosystemsEcosystems PopulationsPopulations Population interactionsPopulation interactions CommunitiesCommunities MacroecologyMacroecology

Texts and ReadingsTexts and Readings

Begon, Townsend & Harper 2006Begon, Townsend & Harper 2006– Suggested chaptersSuggested chapters– Required sectionsRequired sections

Gotelli 2001Gotelli 2001 Original papers for Case StudiesOriginal papers for Case Studies Example papers – old and newExample papers – old and new

LaboratoryLaboratory

Field experienceField experience Skills & toolsSkills & tools Quantitative methodsQuantitative methods

Issues:Issues:

ComputersComputers

FieldtripsFieldtrips

What is EcologyWhat is Ecology

Haeckel 1863. "the study of all the Haeckel 1863. "the study of all the complex interrelationships referred to by complex interrelationships referred to by Darwin as the conditions of the struggle Darwin as the conditions of the struggle for existence, or the economy of nature." for existence, or the economy of nature."

Ecology is the scientific study of the Ecology is the scientific study of the interrelationships between organisms, and interrelationships between organisms, and between organisms and their environment between organisms and their environment

Ecology is the sociology and economics of Ecology is the sociology and economics of animals and plants animals and plants

Role of EcologyRole of Ecology

Understanding natureUnderstanding nature– "The ecological theater and the "The ecological theater and the

evolutionary play." evolutionary play." – "Nothing in biology makes sense except "Nothing in biology makes sense except

in the light of evolution.“in the light of evolution.“– very little about evolution makes sense very little about evolution makes sense

except in the light of ecology." except in the light of ecology." Managing natureManaging nature

Ecology as a scienceEcology as a science

“… “… ecology is a science of contingent ecology is a science of contingent generalizations, where future trends generalizations, where future trends depend (much more than in the depend (much more than in the physical sciences) on past history physical sciences) on past history and on the environmental and and on the environmental and biological setting.”biological setting.” Robert May – Robert May – 19861986

Ecology as a scienceEcology as a science

Biology is a study of diversityBiology is a study of diversity, be it at , be it at the level of species or of molecules the level of species or of molecules

There are There are endless special casesendless special cases Ecology and Evolution are more Ecology and Evolution are more

uncertain, and thus more challenginguncertain, and thus more challenging than many areas of science. than many areas of science.

you you cannot deduce biology from first cannot deduce biology from first principlesprinciples. .

What is noise to a physicist is music What is noise to a physicist is music to a biologist.to a biologist.

Scientific processScientific process

Observation and descriptionObservation and description Patterns and hypothesisPatterns and hypothesis Tests and revisionTests and revision Explanation and understandingExplanation and understanding Prediction and extrapolationPrediction and extrapolation ControlControl Complexity and case studiesComplexity and case studies

Levels of organizationLevels of organization

OrganismsOrganisms PopulationsPopulations CommunitiesCommunities LandscapesLandscapes The BiosphereThe Biosphere

Ecosystem perspectivesEcosystem perspectives Scale perspectivesScale perspectives