Course Description
The scientific study of the interactions of organisms in an agricultural ecosystem. Emphasis will be placed on how understanding these interactions can promote agricultural sustainability.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students are required to complete a critique of assigned readings.
Athena Title
AGRO-ECOLOGY
Prerequisite
BIOL 1107-1107L or CRSS 2010-2010L or permission of major
Corequisite
CRSS(HORT) 4400L/6400L
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. Obtain a balanced overview of the basic principles of ecology as they relate to agricultural ecosystems. 2. Apply critical thinking and conceptual approach of ecological principles to formulate hypotheses, design simple experiments, and evaluate results to sustain agroecological systems.
Topical Outline
Introduction - major concepts; energy allocation; reproduction, resource partitioning; niches; crop ecophysiology; biochemical cycles; age and size demographics, intra- and interspecific competition; sucession; limiting and regulatory factors; environmental factors affecting the composition, structure, and productivity of agroecosystems.