Invasion Ecology

Catalog description

Prerequisites: BIO 202 AND a 300 level BIO/ EVS course, or permission of instructor. This course focuses on one of the major changes ecosystems currently face: invasive species. We will focus on what invasions can teach us about fundamental ecological processes, as well as how to approach real-world invasion problems from an applied perspective. Basic and applied topics will be covered, with an emphasis on plant invasions. Topics covered include: characteristics of invasive species, mechanisms of invasion, the population biology of invasives, interactions between invaders and other species, evolution of invasive species, impacts of invasives on ecosystem functioning and the management of invasions. Students will develop skills in critical thinking, application of ecological concepts, reading the primary literature, and experimental design.