ESM 201 Syllabus           Version Date 11/12/2007

Week

Topics

Readings

1. Scale and complexity in ecology
 

10/1 - 10/5

Introduction to Applied Ecology and Environmental Management;

Ecology Online Resources

Assignment 1: What do ecologists do anyway?

McPherson_Ch.1

Wu 1999

2. Autecology, energy balance and climate change

10/8-10/12

Photosynthesis, Primary Production, Biophysical Ecology, Species ranges, Species Responses to Climate Change

Assignment 2: Predicting species responses to climate change.

Gates Ch 2

Newman Ch. 2

Parmesan (2006)

3.  Population ecology and fisheries Management

(10/15-10/19)

Marine ecosystems, Population biology, Food webs, Harvest models, Sustainable yield, Aquaculture

Assignment 3: The relationship of marine reserves to biodiversity and fishery sustainability 

Newman Ch. 5

Pauley et al. 2002

Naylor and Burke 2005

4. Species interactions and pest management

(10/22-10/26)

Agroecosystems, Population genetics and adaptation, Species interactions, Invasive exotic species, Biological control agents

Assignment 4: Biological control of  pest species: benefits and risks

Newman Ch. 8

Ecological Society of America (2000)

Sakai et al. (2001)

5.   Community Ecology and Range Management

(10/29-11/2)

Grassland ecosystems, herbivory, disturbance theory, community diversity

Newman Ch. 6

Auguustine and Frank (1998)

6 Forest Management

(11/5-11/9)

Forest ecosystems, Controls on forest growth, Plant population dynamics, Disturbance theory

Assignment 5: Forest carbon sequestration; Fire management in fire-prone ecosystems

Newman Ch. 7

Ecological Society of America 2000

Perry (1998)

7  Species conservation

(11/13-11/16) 

Levels and measures of biodiversity, Island biogeography, Population Viability Analysis, Metapopulations, Reserve siting and design.

Assignment 6: Biodiversity and ecosystem services

Armsworth et al. (2004)

Soule (1991)

Margules and Pressey (2000)

8 Restoration of Communities

(11/19-11/21)

Ecological Succession, Dispersal and supply side ecology, community assembly theory

Issue paper 7: Wetland mitigation and restoration.

Newman Ch. 11

Zedler et al. 2001

9 Urban Ecosystems

(11/13-11/16)

Urban ecosystems, landscape ecology, road system ecology

Issue paper 8: Design and management of  urban ecosystems

Pickett et al. (2001)

Luck et al (2001)

10 Review and Synthesis

(12/3-12/5)

Frontiers in Applied Ecology

Socio-ecological scenarios

Wallington et al. 2005

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005

Sutherland (2006)