Ecosystems is about the understanding of structure and function, and the evolutional controls on the structure and functions of ecosystems. It focuses on two main aspects of ecosystems. The first is an understanding of the types and distribution of particular ecosystems about the earth, and some of their basic characteristics. The second is the factors that generate the patterns we observe in ecosystems. In this, we focus principally on energy and energetics, and its relation to natural selection. We also focus quite strongly on nutrient cycles. Thirdly, we examine two ecosystem types - estuaries and tropical wet forests in some detail, trying to understand the characteristics of these particular ecosystems in greater detail. Finally, We apply the ecological principles we learned to industrial ecosystems and discuss their characteristics and problems from the characteristics of ecosystems in general.
The objectives of the course are to understand the mechanisms by which nature works at the level of ecosystems. At the end of the course, the students should be able to go out into an ecosystem and have some idea of what properties one might want to measure for particular objectives, and understand tools by which those measurements might be made.
This course is much different from a lot of conventional biology in that the focus is much less on species, behaviors, or populations. The focus is on what's going on per square meter or per hectare of many different parts of the earth surface.
Charles C.A.S. Hall
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