Animal Ecology
- Sciences
- 300 level
- 2 credit units
- 156 pages
- 15 units
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of animal ecology. It explores the historical development of the field, basic ecological concepts, and the interactions between animals within their environments. Topics include population dynamics, competition, predator-prey relationships, and the ecology of aquatic and terrestrial animals. The course also covers life tables, K-factor analysis, and behavioral ecology, providing a comprehensive understanding of animal-environment interactions.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 65 hours
- Maths
- Intermediate
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- In text questions
- Self assessment exercises
- Tutor marked assignments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of BIO313, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
BIO313 · Unit 1: Historical Background of Animal Ecology
Module Introduction In Module One, unit one deals with the history and current understanding of Animal Ecology and how organisms and its environment relate and influence one another in their various ecosystems. You are taught about the fundamentals of ecology; interaction in animals and ecology of aquatic and terrestrial animals.
What you should be able to do
- Explain the historical development and key concepts of animal ecology
- Analyze the interactions between animals and their environment
- Apply population dynamics principles to understand population growth and regulation
- Evaluate the impact of competition and predation on animal populations
- Construct and interpret life tables and K-factor analysis
- Understand the ecological and evolutionary basis of animal behavior
What it prepares you for
- Wildlife Biologist
- Conservation Ecologist
- Environmental Consultant
- Zoologist
- Ecological Researcher
- Environmental Conservation
- Wildlife Management
- Ecological Consulting
- Research Institutions
- Government Agencies
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2: Ecology of Animal Population
Unit 4: Life tables and K-values
Life tables and K-values require a strong understanding of statistical methods and demographic analysis, making it challenging for students without a quantitative background.
- Module 3: Population Cycle in Animal Ecology
Unit 3: Population Cycles in a Predator-Prey System
The Lotka-Volterra models involve complex mathematical equations and require a solid understanding of population dynamics and predator-prey relationships.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 75 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Introduction to Animal Ecology
Unit 1: Historical Background of Animal Ecology · 5 hours
Read Unit 1: Historical Background of Animal Ecology. Understand the contributions of scientists to the development of animal ecology. Review the key concepts and definitions related to the history of ecology.
- Week 2Module 1: Introduction to Animal Ecology
Unit 2: Fundamentals of Ecology · 5 hours
Read Unit 2: Fundamentals of Ecology. Explain the basic fundamentals of ecology and its components. Understand the various relationships influencing the ecological community.
- Week 3Module 1: Introduction to Animal Ecology
Unit 3: Interactions in Animals · 5 hours
Read Unit 3: Interactions in Animals. Explain the different types of interaction in animals. Analyze the relationships influencing the ecological community.
- Week 4Module 1: Introduction to Animal Ecology
Unit 4: Ecology of Aquatic Animals · 5 hours
Read Unit 4: Ecology of Aquatic Animals. Explain the ecology of different fish species. Study the biology and ecology of Clupeidae, Carangidae, and other aquatic species.
- Week 5Module 1: Introduction to Animal Ecology
Unit 5: Ecology of Terrestrial Animals · 5 hours
Read Unit 5: Ecology of Terrestrial Animals. Explain the ecology of different terrestrial species. Study the biology and ecology of Lions, Dogs, Monkeys and other terrestrial species.
- Week 6Module 2: Ecology of Animal Population
Unit 1: Growth rate and Age structure of animal population · 5 hours
Read Unit 1: Growth rate and Age structure of animal population. Explain the term population growth, age distribution and population size. Describe the growth pattern in animal population.
- Week 7Module 2: Ecology of Animal Population
Unit 2: Factors affecting Animal Population · 5 hours
Read Unit 2: Factors affecting Animal Population. State and explain the different factors affecting animal population. Understand the impact of birth rate, death rate, and migration on population size.
- Week 8Module 2: Ecology of Animal Population
Unit 3: Measurement of Population dynamics · 5 hours
Read Unit 3: Measurement of Population dynamics. Explain the measurement of population dynamics and the survival ship curve. Learn about dynamic life tables and survivorship curves.
- Week 9Module 2: Ecology of Animal Population
Unit 4: Life tables and K-values · 5 hours
Read Unit 4: Life tables and K-values. Explain with examples the different type of life tables and life expectancy in hypothetical population. Understand the use of life tables in ecological studies.
- Week 10Module 2: Ecology of Animal Population
Unit 5: Key-Factor Analysis · 5 hours
Read Unit 5: Key-Factor Analysis. Explain with examples the different type of Factor Analysis and criteria for determining of number of factors. Understand the application of key-factor analysis in population studies.
- Week 11Module 3: Population Cycle in Animal Ecology
Unit 1: Competition in Animal Ecology · 5 hours
Read Unit 1: Competition in Animal Ecology. Define competition and list factors/resources that contribute to competition among organisms. Explain evolution strategies and state the formula selection theory.
Unit 2: Population Cycle · 5 hours
Read Unit 2: Population Cycle. Define population cycle and List factors that causes or contribute to population cycle. Understand the dynamics of population cycles in different species.
- Week 12Module 3: Population Cycle in Animal Ecology
Unit 3: Population Cycles in a Predator-Prey System · 5 hours
Read Unit 3: Population Cycles in a Predator-Prey System. Explain Population cycles in animal and predator-prey interaction using Lotka-Volterra models with Vole-fox system. Analyze the predator-prey dynamics and their impact on population cycles.
Unit 4: Ecology of African Bat · 5 hours
Read Unit 4: Ecology of African Bat. Explain the classification and evolution of bat and its general characteristics. Study the unique ecological role of bats in African ecosystems.
- Week 13Module 3: Population Cycle in Animal Ecology
Unit 5: Behavioural Ecology · 5 hours
Read Unit 5: Behavioural Ecology. Understand behavioural ecology and the importance of the Tinbergen's Four Questions. Explain optimization theory and evolutionarily stable strategies (ESS).
Preparing for the exam
- Review historical background and key scientists in Unit 1 to understand the evolution of animal ecology.
- Create concept maps linking Units 2-3 to illustrate relationships between ecological components and animal interactions.
- Practice calculating population growth rates and interpreting life tables from Units 7-9 weekly.
- Focus on understanding the Lotka-Volterra model and its applications in predator-prey dynamics (Unit 15).
- Relate behavioral ecology concepts (Unit 16) to real-world examples of animal behavior and adaptation.
- Review all TMAs and self-assessment questions to identify areas needing further study.
Questions students ask about this course
What is BIO313 about?
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of animal ecology. It explores the historical development of the field, basic ecological concepts, and the interactions between animals within their environments. Topics include population dynamics, competition, predator-prey relationships, and the ecology of aquatic and terrestrial animals. The course also covers life tables, K-factor analysis, and behavioral ecology, providing a comprehensive understanding of animal-environment interactions.
How many units does BIO313 have?
BIO313, Animal Ecology, has 15 units across 3 modules, over 156 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is BIO313?
BIO313 carries 2 credit units, at 300 level in Sciences.
Is BIO313 hard?
BIO313 is rated intermediate level, with intermediate mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does BIO313 take to study?
About 65 hours of study, spread across its 15 units.
How is BIO313 assessed?
BIO313 is assessed by in text questions, self assessment exercises, tutor marked assignments and final examination.
What can I do with BIO313?
Wildlife Biologist, Conservation Ecologist, Environmental Consultant, Zoologist and Ecological Researcher.