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  5. Zoology
  6. ZO5304: Population and Community Ecology

ZO5304: POPULATION AND COMMUNITY ECOLOGY (2014-2015)

Last modified: 28 Jun 2018 10:27


Course Overview

This course introduces key concepts in population ecology and ecological modelling. Teaching is through a mix of lectures and computing practicals. Topics covered include population dynamics, dispersal, density dependence, stochasticity and population viability. Each topic is introduced during a lecture and then students have the opportunity to put the ideas into practise during computer practicals during which models are implemented using R as a programming language. Students should exit the course with a solid grounding in the fundamentals of population ecology, understanding of what ecological models are for and a basic knowledge of how to develop dynamic models using R. 

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term First Term Credit Points 7.5 credits (3.75 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Justin Travis

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

None.

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course will explore current understanding based on theoretical and empirical studies of processes operating in populations of organisms. It will start by developing an understanding of the dynamics of simple non-spatial and discrete-generation populations. This will include concepts related to density and environment dependence and will consider cyclic and chaotic population dynamics. The course will then progress by introducing different forms of realism and complexity. Stage and sex-structured population dynamics will be considered. The role of spatial structure with local populations linked by the movement of individuals will be addressed. Finally, we will also introduce some trophic interactions, including predator prey, parasite host and plant herbivores as well as species embedded in more complex set of trophic interactions, including apparent competition. Throughout the course, we will focus on relatively simple discrete time models and students will be taught how to develop these using R and to use them to explore and describe emergent behaviours. We will also introduce a state-of-the-art population modelling software (called RangeShifter), recently developed at Aberdeen, and the students will be provided the opportunity to use this software to simulate how species are likely to change their biogeographic distributions under climate and/or land use change.

Associated Costs

None

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Continuous assessment by means of a conference style presentation and a proposal for a modelling project.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Feedback

None.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.
 

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