BS32720 - POPULATION AND COMMUNITY ECOLOGY

Module Identifier	BS32720
Module Title	POPULATION AND COMMUNITY ECOLOGY
Academic Year	2001/2002
Co-ordinator	Dr Robert Wootton
Semester	Semester 1
Other staff	Dr John Gee, Dr Simon Creasey
Pre-Requisite	BS22720
Course delivery	Lecture	30 Hours
	Practical	5 Hours 6 x 3 hours
Assessment	Practical exercise	Continuous assessment of practicals Submitted in 6th week of semester	30%
	Exam	3 Hours One 3-hour theory paper	70%
	Resit assessment	3 Hours One 3-hour theory paper (plus resubmission of failed courswork or an alternative)

Aims and objectives

The course introduces at an elementary level, theoretical developments in population and community ecology, with theory related, where possible, to empirical studies. The need to assess the underlying assumptions of the models developed is emphasised throughout.

Content

The subject addresses three main problems. What factors determine population abundance and changes in that abundance? What factors cause changes in the genetic composition of populations? What factors determine the number of species that can co-exist in a given area?

The population ecology component covers the following topics: estimation of population abundance, the construction and use of life tables, the concept of density dependence, life history theory, and population growth models emphasising the logistic model. The population dynamics of species with overlapping and non-overlapping generations are compared. The behavioural ecology of foraging, predation and social behaviour is discussed in relation to the consequences for population abundance.

The use of genetic markers to define populations and to follow the dynamics of change in the genetic structure of populations is described.

The community ecology components discusses two-species models for predator-prey and competitive interactions, species diversity, food webs, and island biogeography. The relevance of community ecology for conservation is considered.

Learning outcomes

On competion of the course the student should

be able to use the primary literature, including both theoretical and empirical studies, to expand knowledge of and interests in population and community biology
be able to comment critically on the major concepts in the subject area.

Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
Begon, M. Townsend, C. & Harper, J. (1996) Ecology. Backwell.
Krebs, C.J.. (1994) Ecology. Harper Collins.
Cook, L.M.. (1991) Genetics & Ecological diversity. Chapman & Hall.