12-203 Special Topics: Ecology

9 units, Carnegie Mellon University

Ecology is the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms and the biotic and abiotic factors that affect ecosystems and their organisms. These factors include the traits of individual organisms that determine their performance within an ecosystem, interactions with other organisms of the same or different species, and their physical and chemical environment. Moreover, interactions of organisms including humans and their environments strongly influence large ecosystem patterns of energy flow and material cycling, transfer, transformation, and storage over the face of the Earth. The course presents the basic principles of ecology and their application to populations, communities, and ecosystems. Ecological processes in terrestrial and freshwater habitats are examined. An introduction to methods employed by ecologists to study natural systems is provided.

Prerequisites: none listed

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