Ecology: Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Can an Ecosystem Recover?

We begin in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, and pose the question: Can this ecosystem recover after a 15-year civil war? To answer this question, learners must first consider what they need to know—what are the parts that make up this ecosystem, and how do they interact and work together? How do ecosystems react to disruption? How do we know? We will begin to explore the ecosystem as a dynamic whole rather than as a collection of parts, considering how changes might affect the system in a variety of ways. This application of a systems thinking lens to understanding ecosystems will be a common theme throughout the course.

How Do We Study Populations?

This week, we narrow the focus to populations within ecosystems. Who or what populates an ecosystem, and what are their roles? How do these roles change over time? What happens when a species is removed from a system? How do scientists study the populations within an ecosystem, from its largest to its smallest inhabitants? You will explore the important roles different species can play—such as ecosystem engineers, keystone species, and indicator species—and how they shape their ecosystems.

How Do Species Coexist?

This week we focus on community ecology and further explore the interactions between species in an ecosystem. For instance, how does the decline in a population from an ecosystem (as was the case in Gorongosa) affect the other players? How does adding a population -- such as an invasive species or translocated herds -- affect an ecosystem?

How is an Ecosystem a System?

This week, we will further their understanding about what makes an ecosystem a system by examining the flow of energy and matter through different parts of the environment. This includes understanding the interactions of biotic and abiotic factors within an ecosystem and the services each component provides. We will introduce the complicated effects of both abiotic (climate change) and biotic (herbivory) interactions within a coastal salt marsh system, touching on ecological concepts of thresholds in a system and ecosystem resistance and resilience.

This week we conclude by focusing on the role of humans in ecosystems: how humans interact with and are shaped by their environments. We explore the meaning of the “anthropocene” (the title given to the current geological age in recognition of significant impact of human activities) and investigate management approaches that balance human needs and biodiversity. We also return to Gorongosa National Park to wrap up the course, shifting the conversation from "Can an ecosystem recover?" to "Should it recover?" and "What does a successful recovery look like?" We explore how conservation might have to adjust to future challenges such as climate change, extinctions, and human population growth. We also introduce the idea that a spectrum of conservation approaches is necessary, from the preservation of land and species, to the integration of biodiversity into market economies, to the creation and management of “novel” ecosystems.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops a systems thinking approach to ecology and ecosystem dynamics, which is highly relevant in environmental science

Illustrates ecological concepts through a real-world case study of Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park, making the subject matter relatable and engaging

Examines the role of humans in ecosystems and explores approaches to balance human needs with biodiversity, addressing a crucial aspect of environmental management

Covers a comprehensive range of topics, from population ecology to ecosystem services and climate change, providing a solid foundation in ecosystem dynamics

Emphasizes the importance of understanding ecosystem recovery, which is critical knowledge in the face of environmental challenges

Provides a solid foundation for students pursuing further studies in ecology or related fields, as it builds a strong conceptual understanding of ecosystems

Reviews summary

Ecosystems: the living puzzle

learners say Ecology: Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation is largely positive and recommended for intermediates. They say it's well-received and engaging because it combines lectures, readings, exams, quizzes, homework assignments, and certificates with a case study of the Gorongosa National Park. The 671 out of 755 reviews give it a 5-star rating.

learners say the instructors of Ecology: Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation are knowledgeable and engaging.

"The lecturers were great and knowledgeable."

"The video/audio content was also of good quality."

"Overall I had fun and was able to understand everything perfectly"

"Amazing course for someone who's into ecology and wildlife biology."

"Great course! I've learned a lot about ecology and it's importance nowadays, also how nature works and how human activities can change everything and have a great impact in biodiversity."

learners say Ecology: Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation is well-structured and the readings are informative. However, some learners felt that the readings were long.

"The course material is well organised."

"I enjoyed all the videos."

"The course materials include contemporary ecological studies, and research data that really help understanding the current scenario and related concepts."

"The readings and lectures were very interesting and thought-provoking."

"Wow, this is an amazing course, well organized, starting big and broad and zooming in progressively from there to build a very comprehensive introduction to ecology."

learners say Ecology: Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation's use of a case study was effective in helping them understand the material. The case study was Gorongosa National Park.

"Following the case study of Gorongosa National Park made it easy to understand the concepts being taught because they were illustrated in such concrete ways."

"This is a good course on Ecology: Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation."

"It was a great course! I learned a lot about the multiple factors that participate inside an ecosystem and how they all need to be considered when thinking about conservation of an ecosystem"

"I've taken several courses on this site and this one is my favorite!"

"This course is great and very educative about ecology, ecosystem and conservation."

learners say Ecology: Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation explains systems thinking clearly. Many learners were unfamiliar with systems thinking before taking the course and appreciated its inclusion.

"Overarching theme of this course was "systems thinking.""

"This was a very well developed and presented course."

"I am really glad in aquire all knowledge of this course, specially in ecology."

"Extremely well thought out and well explained topics."

"It was a course that took me to the very soul of ecology."

learners say Ecology: Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation teaches ecology and ecosystems well. They specifically mention concepts like conservationism, biodiversity, degradation, restoration, and preservation.

"This course showed different ways to work in nature restoration."

"Following the case study of Gorongosa National Park made it easy to understand the concepts being taught because they were illustrated in such concrete ways."

"This course is really great. It gives clear overview of components and key concepts about ecosystems and relevant challenges."

"The course is totally so rich in content and so charmingly executed."

"Makes your perspective go on a larger scale due to the intertwined effects of humans to our natural habitat and what we can do to actually live with all organisms on Earth harmoniously."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Ecology: Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation with these activities:

Read "Ecology: The Economy of Nature"

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Supplement your learning of the basic concepts that underlie ecology, including the interactions between organisms and their environment.

View Ecology: From Individuals To Ecosystems on Amazon

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Read one chapter of the book each week.
Create a summary of each chapter you read.

Create a concept map of ecosystem dynamics

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Enhance your understanding of the interconnections and relationships within an ecosystem by creating a visual representation.

Browse courses on Ecosystem Dynamics

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Identify the key concepts and processes involved in ecosystem dynamics.
Create a visual representation of the concepts and their relationships.

Monitor and analyze a local wildlife population

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Extend your understanding of population dynamics by actively engaging in data collection and analysis.

Browse courses on Population Ecology

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Choose a local wildlife population to monitor.
Develop a monitoring plan.
Collect data on the population.
Analyze the data and track changes in the population over time.

Four other activities

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Host a study group on population ecology

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Reinforce your understanding of course concepts by actively teaching and explaining them to your peers.

Browse courses on Population Ecology

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Gather a group of classmates or colleagues.
Choose a topic in population ecology to discuss.
Prepare a presentation on the topic.
Facilitate the discussion and answer questions.

Practice using the Gorongosa National Park dataset

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Gain hands-on experience working with real data to validate the concepts of ecosystem dynamics.

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Access the data from the Gorongosa National Park website.
Clean and prepare the data for analysis.

Attend a workshop on ecosystem modeling

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Learn advanced techniques for simulating and predicting ecosystem behavior to supplement the theory covered in the course.

Browse courses on Ecosystem Modeling

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Research workshops on ecosystem modeling.
Register for a workshop and attend the sessions.

Design a plan for restoring a local ecosystem

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Synthesize the knowledge you gained in this course to propose a real-world solution to an environmental problem.

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Choose a local ecosystem.
Research the ecosystem and identify the threats it faces.
Develop a plan to restore the ecosystem.

Career center

Learners who complete Ecology: Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Ecologist

Ecologists study the distribution, abundance, and behavior of organisms in their environments. They may work in the field, studying animal populations and ecosystems, or in the laboratory, analyzing data and developing models. This course provides a strong foundation in the science of ecology and can help Ecologists understand the complex interactions between organisms and their environments. The course's focus on ecosystem dynamics and conservation will be particularly relevant to Ecologists who work in applied fields such as conservation biology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Ecologist

Wildlife Biologist

Wildlife Biologists study the biology, ecology, and management of wildlife populations. They may work in the field, collecting and analyzing data, or in the laboratory, conducting experiments and developing models. This course provides a strong foundation in ecology and ecosystem dynamics, which are essential for Wildlife Biologists to understand. Additionally, the course's focus on conservation will be helpful for Wildlife Biologists who work in the field of wildlife management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Wildlife Biologist

Fish and Wildlife Biologist

Fish and Wildlife Biologists study the biology, ecology, and management of fish and wildlife populations. They may work in the field, collecting and analyzing data, or in the laboratory, conducting experiments and developing models. This course provides a strong foundation in ecology and ecosystem dynamics, which are essential for Fish and Wildlife Biologists to understand. Additionally, the course's focus on conservation will be helpful for Fish and Wildlife Biologists who work in the field of wildlife management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fish and Wildlife Biologist

Zoologist

Zoologists study the biology, ecology, and behavior of animals. They may work in the field, studying animal populations and ecosystems, or in the laboratory, analyzing data and developing models. This course provides a strong foundation in ecology and ecosystem dynamics, which are essential for Zoologists to understand. Additionally, the course's focus on conservation will be helpful for Zoologists who work in the field of wildlife management.

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Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists study the environment and its components, including air, water, land, and living organisms. They may work in the field, collecting and analyzing data, or in the laboratory, conducting experiments and developing models. This course provides a strong foundation in ecology and ecosystem dynamics, which are essential for Environmental Scientists to understand. Additionally, the course's focus on conservation will be helpful for Environmental Scientists who work in the field of environmental protection.

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Environmental Consultant

Environmental Consultants help businesses and organizations comply with environmental regulations and reduce their impact on the environment. They may also develop and implement environmental management plans, conduct environmental impact assessments, and provide expert testimony in legal proceedings. This course provides a strong foundation in ecology and ecosystem dynamics, which are essential for Environmental Consultants to understand. Additionally, the course's focus on conservation will be helpful for Environmental Consultants who work in the field of environmental protection.

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Park Ranger

Park Rangers protect and manage natural resources in parks and other protected areas. They may also provide educational programs for visitors. This course provides a strong foundation in ecology and ecosystem dynamics, which are essential for Park Rangers to understand. Additionally, the course's focus on conservation will be helpful for Park Rangers who work in the field of natural resource management.

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Natural Resources Manager

Natural Resources Managers plan and manage the use of natural resources such as forests, water, and minerals. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or businesses. This course provides a strong foundation in ecology and ecosystem dynamics, which are essential for Natural Resources Managers to understand. Additionally, the course's focus on conservation will be helpful for Natural Resources Managers who work in the field of natural resource management.

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Teacher

Teachers develop and implement educational programs for students of all ages. They may work in schools, museums, nature centers, or other settings. This course provides a strong foundation in ecology and ecosystem dynamics, which are essential for Teachers to understand. Additionally, the course's focus on conservation will be helpful for Teachers who want to teach about the importance of protecting the environment.

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Forester

Foresters manage forests and other natural resources. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or businesses. This course provides a strong foundation in ecology and ecosystem dynamics, which are essential for Foresters to understand. Additionally, the course's focus on conservation will be helpful for Foresters who work in the field of forest management.

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Environmental Policy Analyst

Environmental Policy Analysts develop and analyze policies that protect the environment. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or businesses. This course provides a strong foundation in ecology and ecosystem dynamics, which are essential for Environmental Policy Analysts to understand. Additionally, the course's focus on conservation will be helpful for Environmental Policy Analysts who work in the field of environmental protection.

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Environmental Educator

Environmental Educators develop and implement educational programs that teach people about the environment. They may work in schools, museums, nature centers, or other settings. This course provides a strong foundation in ecology and ecosystem dynamics, which are essential for Environmental Educators to understand. Additionally, the course's focus on conservation will be helpful for Environmental Educators who want to teach about the importance of protecting the environment.

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Water Resource Manager

Water Resource Managers plan and manage the use of water resources. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or businesses. This course provides a strong foundation in ecology and ecosystem dynamics, which are essential for Water Resource Managers to understand. Additionally, the course's focus on conservation will be helpful for Water Resource Managers who work in the field of water resource management.

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Conservation Scientist

Conservation Scientists develop policies, guidelines, and restoration plans that protect or restore habitats, ecosystems, plant and animal species, and natural resources. This course may be useful in developing an understanding of the complex array of factors that inform management efforts. Additionally, this course's focus on studying ecosystem dynamics, species coexistence, and the flow of energy and matter through different parts of the environment, will be useful to anyone working in this field.

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Science Writer

Science Writers communicate complex scientific information to the public. They may write for magazines, newspapers, websites, or other media outlets. This course may be useful in developing an understanding of the complex array of factors that inform management efforts. Additionally, this course's focus on studying ecosystem dynamics, species coexistence, and the flow of energy and matter through different parts of the environment, will be useful to anyone working in this field.

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