Disturbance Ecology

Course Description

Nature is dynamic, and ecosystems across the globe are defined by their disturbance regimes. Disturbances can be caused by storms, floods, fire, and species interactions. Disturbances can reset an ecosystem and understanding resilience to disturbance is a cornerstone of contemporary ecology. Further, as climate change alters the frequency and severity of storms and other natural events, disturbance regimes are changing, and understanding these dynamics can help predict and mitigate future impacts. In this course students will learn the conceptual foundations of disturbance ecology, while having hands-on opportunities to study disturbance dynamics in the field. Training in field methods and data analysis will be provided. This course is taught at the Temple Ambler Field Station on the Ambler Campus, with natural areas that recently incurred damage from an EF2 tornado. Students should expect to be outdoors regularly, learning about ecological disturbance and recovery as it unfolds in these environments in real time. Students without the designated prerequisites may be considered for registration with instructor permission.

Code

BIOL 3115

Credits

3

Subject

BIOL

Programs That Include This Course

• Bachelor's Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity
• Bachelor's Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with Applied Ecology Concentration
• Bachelor's Bachelor of Science in Horticulture