CHOICE 3

A course designed to link theoretical ecology, its practical application, and regional challenges as perceived by stakeholders in society. Built around a format that combines theoretical lectures covering the fundamentals necessary for understanding on-the-ground issues (ecosystem dynamics, anthropogenic impacts, socio-ecosystem resilience, in situ conservation, etc.), this course unit includes several field components (each consisting of a preparatory tutorial and an “active” field trip). Visits to these areas will provide opportunities to meet stakeholders (managers, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, shepherds, etc.) whose perspectives help students understand how ecological issues shape their actions and, in turn, how those actions impact biodiversity, its dynamics, and its distribution.

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How is biodiversity distributed across the Earth? What ecological, evolutionary, and historical factors determine these patterns of biodiversity distribution? What changes have human activities brought about in the global distribution of biodiversity? In this course unit, we will study the role of spatiotemporal variations in the environment on a global scale on the dynamics of biodiversity. In particular, we will examine the influence of long-term climate cycles on both past and present organism diversity. We will also address the impact of human activities and global changes on biodiversity on a global scale.

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