ENVI 203
Ecology Fall 2020
Division III Quantative/Formal Reasoning
Cross-listed ENVI 203 / BIOL 203

This course combines lectures with field and indoor laboratory exercises to explore factors that determine the distribution and abundance of plants and animals in natural systems. The course begins with an overall view of global patterns and then builds from the population to the ecosystem level. An emphasis is given to basic ecological principles and relates them to current environmental issues. Selected topics include population dynamics (competition, predation, mutualism); community interactions (succession, food chains and diversity) and ecosystem function (biogeochemical cycles, energy flow). In Fall 2020, the course will use a hybrid model, with recorded lecture material available to all students. In person and remote class meetings will focus on problem sets and interactive case studies. Labs will be available in either in person or remote modalities. Remote participants will have the opportunity to collect their own data for some lab exercises, while in other cases will receive background information and media describing the data collection process. All students will be required to complete all data analyses and written lab reports.