Fundamentals in ecology

In this class, students will explore the fundamentals of ecology, aiming to understand the environment beyond its physical and chemical characteristics. They will gain a broad overview of the different disciplines of ecology, spanning scales from individual organisms to the entire globe. Beginning with core concepts, students will develop a mechanistic understanding of how individuals adapt to their environment, the structure and function of populations and communities, the role of ecosystems in global carbon, water, and nutrient cycles, the drivers of biodiversity patterns, and the impacts of global change. This course will combine both theoretical and practical parts.

Keywords: Ecology, ecosystems, theory and concepts, environment, populations, communities, biodiversity, global change

Evaluation:

• Theoretical part: 60% of the final grade: Final written exam - Individual
  
• Practical part: 40 % of final grade - Group of 5 students

Date of the final exam: 16.06.2025 in GC B3 31, GC C3 30

Schedule of the lectures:

19/2/2025          The nature of ecology (introduction)                 

26/2/2025          The physical environment      

5/3/2025            Adaptations to the environment/Physiological ecology     

12/3/2025          Population structure, dynamics, and regulation      

19/3/2025          Community Ecology I                 

26/3/2025          Community Ecology II                

2/4/2025            Ecosystem ecology I                    

9/4/2025            Ecosystem ecology II                  

16/4/2025          Biodiversity and conservation ecology                                                                                   

7/5/2025            Climate Change impacts on terrestrial ecosystems              

14/5/2025          Climate Change impacts on aquatic ecosystems

21/5/2025          Restoration ecology. Principles of ecosystem restoration, case studies

Deadline submission of the final report: 06.06.2025 at 23:59