BIOEE 4780

Ecosystem Biology and Global Change

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2020-2021.

Examines ecosystem structure, carbon and energy flow, and nutrient cycles, and how these processes respond to environmental variations. Reviews classic ecosystem experiments, and considers effects on ecosystems from human-driven environmental changes, such as climate change, air pollution, excess nitrogen use, and land-use change.

When Offered Spring.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: BIOEE 1610 or equivalent.

Distribution Category (PBS-AS, BIO-AS)
Course Attribute (CU-SBY)

• Understand the theory and measurement of central processes in ecosystem ecology, across a range of ecosystems.
• Predict the response of these processes to variation in biotic and abiotic factors, such as light, water, nutrient supply, community structure, and disturbance.
• Apply understanding of ecosystem processes to predict the impacts of human-accelerated environmental change on ecosystem processes and function.
• Apply a quantitative approach to ecosystem biology.
• Critically evaluate literature on ecosystem ecology through regular reading assignments throughout the term.
• Synthesize information from the primary literature to address a central question of interest in ecosystem ecology.

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