ENV09103 - Population and Community Ecology

Equilibrium and non-equilibrium models of population dynamics, life-history strategies and evolution, diversity and species interactions: competition, predation, parasitism and facilitation, spatial ecology: metapopulation dynamics and modelling, latitudinal gradients and species-area models, trophic cascades, population extinction: stochasticity and population viability analysis, ecosystem function and conservation, experimental design and data analysis.

LO1: Distinguish between the major models of population dynamics and their predictions
LO2: Critically analyse the drivers of, and constraints on, life-history evolution
LO3: Critically analyse the role of species interactions in determining local and global biodiversity trends
LO4: Appraise the role of ecological theories in supporting conservation of species and ecosystems
LO5: Critically evaluate experimental design and analysis in published ecological work
LO6: Summarise and synthesise scientific research and distil it into a form understandable by the informed layperson