The crucial role of plant ecology in shaping major habitats, including those in the local area of British Columbia, will be examined. Local field trips will highlight the population dynamics and interrelationships of plant communities in natural habitats, agricultural and horticultural crops and managed forests. Critical assessment of planetary stewardship will form a common theme across various issues in plant ecology. Plants, animals, and physical factors of a fringing coral reef are examined through snorkeling excursions and laboratory studies. One species will be chosen for a detailed research project.
All coursework takes place on Maui, Hawaii.
Advanced standing in Biology and permission of the instructor. Consideration of plant and animal populations in relation to physical, chemical, and biological factors affecting their interaction and productivity. Considerable laboratory time will be devoted to the study of local ecosystems, field sampling techniques, and field trips to ecological research stations. A study of the ecological relationships of marine life in several major habitat types. Emphasis is on productivity, food webs, nutrient cycling, and community ecology.