Jake Alexander: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2024

Name Prof. Dr. Jake Alexander
Address
Institut für Integrative Biologie
ETH Zürich, CHN H 66
Universitätstrasse 16
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 632 86 93
E-mailjake.alexander@usys.ethz.ch
URLhttps://plantecology-alexander.ethz.ch
DepartmentEnvironmental Systems Science
RelationshipAdjunct Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
701-0243-AALBiology III: Essentials of Ecology
Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement.

Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit.
3 credits6RJ. Alexander
AbstractThis course assigns reading for students needing further background for understanding ecological processes. Central problems in ecology, including population growth and regulation, the dynamics of species interactions, the influence of spatial structure, the controls over species invasions, and community responses to environmental change will be explored from basic and applied perspectives.
Learning objectiveStudents will understand how ecological processes operate in natural communities. They will appreciate how mathematical theory, field experimentation, and observational studies combine to generate a predictive science of ecological processes.

Upon completing the course, students will be able to:

Understand the factors determining the outcome of species interactions in communities, and how this information informs management.

Apply theoretical knowledge on species interactions to predict the potential outcomes of novel species introductions.

Understanding the role of spatial structure in mediating population dynamics and persistence, species interactions, and patterns of species diversity.

Use population and community models to predict the stability of interactions between predators and prey and between different competitors.

Understand the conceptual basis of predictions concerning how ecological communities will respond to climate change.
ContentReadings from a text book will focus on understanding central processes in community ecology. Topics will include demographic and spatial structure, consumer resource interactions, food webs, competition, invasion, and the maintenance of species diversity. Each of these more conceptual topics will be discussed in concert with their applications to the conservation and management of species and communities in a changing world.
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesassessed
Techniques and Technologiesfostered
Method-specific CompetenciesAnalytical Competenciesassessed
Decision-makingfostered
Problem-solvingassessed
Personal CompetenciesIntegrity and Work Ethicsassessed
Self-direction and Self-management assessed
701-0243-01LBiology III: Essentials of Ecology3 credits2VJ. Alexander
AbstractThis introductory lecture in ecology covers basic ecological concepts and the most important levels of complexity in ecological research. Ecological concepts are exemplified by using aquatic and terrestrial systems; corresponding methodological approaches are demonstrated. Threats to biodiversity and the appropriate management are discussed.
Learning objectiveThe objective of this lecture is to teach basic ecological concepts and the different levels of complexity in ecological research.
The students should learn ecological concepts at these different levels in the context of concrete examples from terrestrial and aquatic ecology. Corresponding methods for studying the systems will be presented.
A further aim of the lecture is that students achieve an understanding of biodiversity, why it is threatened and how it can be managed.
Content- Biodiversity: variation, threats and conservation
- Influence of environmental factors on organisms; adaptation to environmental conditions
- Population dynamics: causes, description, prediction and regulation
- Interactions between species (competition, coexistence, predation, parasitism, food webs)
- Ecological communities: structure, stability, succession
- Ecosystems: compartments, material and energy flows
Lecture notesDocuments, lecture slides, exercises and relevant literature are available in Moodle. The documents for the next lecture will be available on Friday morning at the latest.
LiteratureRequired reading: Begon, M.E., Howarth, R.W., Townsend, C.R. (2017): Ökologie. 3. Aufl. Springer Verlag, Berlin.
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesassessed
Techniques and Technologiesfostered
Method-specific CompetenciesAnalytical Competenciesassessed
Decision-makingfostered
Problem-solvingfostered
Social CompetenciesCommunicationfostered
Cooperation and Teamworkfostered
Sensitivity to Diversityfostered
Personal CompetenciesAdaptability and Flexibilityfostered
Creative Thinkingfostered
Critical Thinkingfostered
Self-awareness and Self-reflection fostered
Self-direction and Self-management fostered