The world is becoming more and more urbanized, with over 80% of
the United States population and 50% of the world’s population
living in cities. This course will use a socio-ecological
framework to study how urbanization influences biodiversity,
ecosystem function, and the provisioning of ecosystem services
to human populations.
Athena Title
Urban Ecology
Pre or Corequisite
ECOL 3500-3500L or ECOL 3505H-3505L or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will understand and discuss how built environments and man-made surfaces affects physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of ecosystems.
Students will understand and discuss the influence of human social systems on urban ecology.
Students will learn about oneself, with regards to your current state of professional skills and knowledge, as well as your place in the social structure of Athens, GA
Students will develop new and substantial relationships with community members, through service-learning projects.
Students will develop the skills necessary to independently create effective educational materials, through primary literature readings, critical reflection, and study of education ‘best-practices’
Topical Outline
Intro; UGA + Athens History and Awareness Training
Urban Spatial Patterns & Habitat Connectedness
Urban Climate: Air Pollution and Urban Heat Island
Urban Water: Stormwater Management
Urban Soils: Compaction, Aeration and Soil Microbes, Urban Plants: Species Composition and Characteristics
Urban Invasive Plants, Urban Wildlife Species Composition and Characteristics
Urban Invasive Wildlife, Urban Mutualisms and Competition
Urban Species Interactions: Parasites & Pathogens, Predation & Herbivory
Urban Energy Flows and Biogeochemistry
Social + Ecological 1, Social + Ecological Case Study Reading
Urban Noise Pollution: Impacts on Animal Communication, Physiology, and Behavior
Urban Light Pollution, Wildlife Collisions with Structures & Hazards
Urban watersheds and global issues with water infrastructure
