Lectures and tutorials on the following topics:
1. Intoduction, temperature, humidity, soil
2. Global vegetation zones and ecosystems
3. Conditions: general concepts. Temperature.
4. Temperature regulation mechanisms
5. Endotherm metabolism and energy balance.
6. Metabolic rate and body size.
7. Effect of temperature at the populations and species distribution level. Impact of climate change.
8. Humidity, snow, pH and other conditions.
9. Temperature and light as stimuli.
10. Photosynthesis, compensation points. Photosynthetic energy balance and productivity.
11. Resources: introduction. Defense mechanisms of plants and animals.
12. Grazing: effects on organisms, species and ecosystems.
13. Social systems in animals – space as a resource: territories and social systems.

Field trip: forest ecosystems

Written examination (90%)

•  Molles, M.C. Jr.  2021.  Ecology Concepts and Applications. [1st Greek edition]
• Begon, M., J.L. Harper & C.R. Townsend.  2015.  Ecology:  individuals, populations and communities. [1st Greek edition]