Overall objectives:

1 - OA1-3 Acquisition of a solid knowledge of the interrelations between organisms and the environment as well as other organisms at the levels of (1) individuals, (2) populations, and (3) communities.
2 - OA4-Capacity of understanding and measuring basic ecological variables (specifically abundance) in field situations.
3 - OA5-Capacity to transfer theoretical knowledge to the evaluation of specific local conditions and setups.
4 - Skills: Ability of students to express themselves in a suitable language for the specific area of the course; Capacity of analysis and synthesis; Critical thinking and organization of ideas.

Syllabus:

1 - Individuals: Evolution and ecology.
2 - Organismal interrelations & the environment. 
3 - Fitness & ecological success.
4 - Distribution of organisms.
5 - Factors affecting distribution & abundance: dispersion, habitat selection, interrelations, competition, predation, abiotic effects.
6 - Populations: Abundance and population growth.
7 - Factors affecting abundance: natality, mortality, e/immigration.
8 - Population composition: sex, age, others.
9 - Demographic techniques.
10 - Competition and predation models: LotkaVolterra. Ecological niche, r­/K selection.
11 - Predator­prey systems, herbivory.
12 - Population regulation, density dependence, intrinsic and external factors.
13 - Communities: ecological diversity measures, dominance, key factors.
14 - Community stability, ecological succession.
15 - Trophic chains: relations energy, producers & consumers, community metabolism.
16 - Stability; Islands & biogeography; Conservation ecology; Habitats and fitosociology.

Literature/Sources:

Krebs, C.J. , 2014 , Ecology: the experimental analysis of distribution and abundance.  , Pearson, Harlow
Krebs, C.J. , 1998 , Ecological Methodology (2nd ed.). , Addison­Wesley Publishing Company
Sutherland, W.J. , 2006 , Ecological census techniques: a handbook (2nd ed.). , Cambridge University Press
Townsend, C.R., Begon, M. & Harper, J.L. , 2008 ,  Essentials of ecology (3rd ed.). , Malden
Krebs, C.J. , 2008 , The ecological world view , CSIRO
Levin, S.A. & Carpenter, S.R., , 2009 , The Princeton guide to ecology. , Princeton
Townsend, C.R. , 2008 , Ecological applications: toward a sustainable world , Oxford
Begon, M., Townsend, C.R. & Harper, J.L. , 2006 , Ecology: from individuals to ecosystems (4th ed.) , Blackwell
Begon, M. & Townsend, C.R. , 2020 , Ecology: from individuals to ecosystems (5th ed.) , Wiley
Townsend, C.R., Begon, M. & Harper, J.L. , 2008 , Fundamentos em ecologia (3ª ed.) , Artmed

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
The course includes theoretical lessons (lectures) (T), theoretical­practicals (TP) and fieldwork (TC). Lectures: Lectures are predominantly expository, following the organization outlined before. Theoretical­practical classes: Students are initiated the search for relevant peer­reviewed literature. Furthermore, these classes serve to analyse and discuss data obtained during fieldwork. Fieldwork: As the measurement of density/abundance is basically important for ecology, classes centre on the variability of methods as a function of the type of organism/habitat to be studied. Student assessment: 2 written tests (30% each) and 2­3 group reports (40% total).