Fundamental ecology: concepts and methods

This course is an introduction to the general concepts of scientific ecology: levels of organization, biodiversity measurement and conservation, biogeography, biotic and abiotic factors affecting biodiversity distribution and dynamics. It also provides an understanding of the methods used in scientific ecology: the value of experimentation, reflection on protocol development, data analysis, and oral and written reports on experiments.

- Understand the mechanisms and processes that drive biodiversity

- Know and be able to implement the various approaches and tools used in evolutionary biology and ecology: observation, sampling, experimentation, and statistical analysis.

- Understand the different levels of organization of organisms in the biosphere and their interactions

- Understanding the tools used to describe biodiversity, from genes to the biosphere

- Understand the applications of organismal biology, evolutionary biology, and ecology (health, agronomy, conservation, restoration)

- Understand the biodemographic and adaptive strategies of organisms in relation to their resources, interactions, and the characteristics of their living environment.

- Know how to use concepts and tools from different disciplines to analyze a document, an observation, or the results of an experiment.

Cross-functional skills

- Be able to propose a problem, propose and implement an observation approach, a sampling plan, or an experimental approach, and analyze the resulting data using computer tools for data entry, analysis, and storage.

- Ability to successfully complete a project within a group

- Ability to work independently, adapt to new situations, and take appropriate initiative

- Knowing how to position oneself within a group for the purpose of implementing the project, knowing how to listen and exchange ideas