Special Topics in Applied Ecology

(Course Code: -)

Semester:  A Teaching Credits:  – ECTS Credits: 10 Type:

Compulsory

Prerequisite Courses:  – Direction: Instructor:  P. Dimitrakopoulos, A. Troumbis, T. Akriotis, K. Theodorou, N Fyllas

This course aims to introduce students to advanced issues in ecological research

Topics per Week: Lectures on special ecological issues will be given each week. Topics will include inter alia:

  • Animal biodiversity – conservation outside protected areas
  • Mentoring course on coupled biodiversity-ecosystem function issues
  • Serpentine ecology: community and ecosystem approaches
  • Agent and Individual based models in ecology
Theory – Lectures
(hours / week)
:
 2
Exercises – Laboratories
(hours / week)
:
 –
Other Activities:  –
Grading:  Written Essays
Notes: Lecture slides in PowerPoint format
Basic Textbook:
Bibliography:
  • Carroll, S. P., et al. (2014). “Applying evolutionary biology to address global challenges.” Science 346(6207): 313-+.
  • Faith B., Jorgensen, S.E. 2011. Fundamentals of Ecological Modelling, 4th Edition. Elsevier
  • Fortunel, C. et al. 2009. Leaf traits capture the effects of land use changes and climate on litter decomposability of grasslands across Europe. Ecology 90(3):598-611. DOI: 10.1890/08-0418.1
  • Frankham, R. (2010). “Challenges and opportunities of genetic approaches to biological conservation.” Biological Conservation 143(9): 1919-1927.
  • Hautier et al. 2014. Eutrophication weakens stabilizing effects of diversity in natural grasslands. Nature, 508, 521–525, doi:10.1038/nature13014
  • Mace, G. M. and A. Purvis (2008). “Evolutionary biology and practical conservation: bridging a widening gap.” Molecular Ecology 17(1): 9-19.
  • Odum, E., Barrett G.W. 2004. Fundamentals of Ecology. 5th edition. Cengage Learning.
  • Pe’er, G., Matsinos, Y.G., Johst, K., Franz, K.W., Turlure, C., Radchuk, V. et al. (2013) A protocol for better design, application, and communication of population viability analyses. Conservation Biology, 27, 644–656.
  • Pérez-Harguindeguy N. et al. 2014. New handbook for standardised measurement of plant functional traits worldwide. Australian Journal of Botany 61(3):167-234.
  • Stevens, M. H. H. (2009). A Primer of Ecology with R. Oxford, Springer.
  • Stockwell, C. A., et al. (2003). “Contemporary evolution meets conservation biology.” Trends in Ecology & Evolution 18(2): 94-101.
  • Travis, J.M.J., Harris, C.M., Park, K.J. & Bullock, J.M. (2011) Improving prediction and management of range expansions by combining analytical and individual-based modelling approaches. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 2, 477–488.
  • Williams, S. E. and E. A. Hoffman (2009). “Minimizing genetic adaptation in captive breeding programs: A review.” Biological Conservation 142(11): 2388-2400.
  • Zuppinger-Dingley, D., Bernhard Schmid, Jana S. Petermann, Varuna Yadav, Gerlinde B. De Deyn, Dan F. B. Flynn. 2014. Selection for niche differentiation in plant communities increases biodiversity effects. Nature 515, 108–111, doi: 10.1038/nature13869
  • Harrison SP, Rajakaruna N. (eds.). 2011. Serpentine: the evolution and ecology of a model system. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Language:

The course is taught in English

Internet Links: