Ecology is the study of the interaction between the living components of the earth with the environment. Ecologists study the distribution and abundance of plants and animals and more and more the impact of human activities on these distributions. Understanding the ecological foundation of a system enables the ecologist to predict how future changes may affect the system. Ecology, for example, is critical for understanding conservation, biodiversity issues, global climate change, human alterations of the environment, and the impact of pollutants on ecological systems. In this Introductory Ecology Module, we will begin by looking at the hierarchical structure of ecology—species, populations, communities, and ecosystems. Each lecture will focus on a key ecological principle then provide applied examples to further demonstrate the concept. These examples will be both classical ecological studies as well as topical current issues in ecology. Ultimately, students will be provided the tools to evaluate for themselves ecological issues they might encounter daily.
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