NRES 219

Credit: 3 hours.

The principles of ecosystem management are based in ecology, which is the branch of science that explores how organisms interact with their environment. In this course, students will learn about ecological principles that are the foundation for understanding biological systems on many different levels of organization. Topics include abiotic influences on organisms, energy acquisition, population ecology, species interactions, biological communities, and ecosystem ecology. Particular attention is given to integrating these basic principles into a better understanding of ecology in a world that is increasingly dominated by human activities. Completion of a prior course in biology, zoology, or botany is recommended.