General Introduction to Ecology

This course is an introduction to the major concepts of ecology as a science and to the methods that ecologists use study natural systems. Topics covered include how plant and animal species are distributed and how they interact, the factors limiting populations at the community level, and larger scale aspects such as nutrient cycles at the ecosystem level. A basic ecology text and research papers will support our lectures, discussions, and fieldwork. We will visit nearby forest habitats and agricultural systems, and we will design and carry out field and/or laboratory projects, focusing on the ecology of local plants and animals active during the winter and early spring.