This course is an introduction to ecology and ecosystem dynamics using a systems thinking lens. Through a case study on Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park, learners will explore how scientists study ecosystems, and investigate the complex array of factors that inform management efforts. At the end of the course, learners will be able to grapple with real-world conservation questions, such as whether an ecosystem can recover from anthropogenic disruption and what role humans can, and should, play in that recovery.
Offered By
American Museum of Natural History
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Ecology: Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation
American Museum of Natural History
About this Course
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Learner Career Outcomes
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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
12 hours to complete
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.
3 videos (Total 26 min), 7 readings, 1 quiz
7 readings
Syllabus5m
Classroom Resources10m
Course Credits1m
Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park: Can an Ecosystem Recover?10m
Introduction to Ecology10m
Introduction to Biodiversity10m
Introduction to Systems--and Systems Thinking10m
1 practice exercise
Module One: What have you learned?20m
Week
21 hour to complete
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.
3 videos (Total 38 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
3 videos
Modeling Population and Species Interactions Holiday Lecture29m
Surveying Ant Diversity in Gorongosa National Park7m
2 readings
How do we Study a Population--and Why? Part I: Population Dynamics10m
How do we Study a Population--and Why? Part II: Modeling Population Growth10m
1 practice exercise
Module Two: What have you learned?20m
Week
32 hours to complete
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?
4 videos (Total 86 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
4 videos
How Species Coexist26m
Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others: Keystone Species and Trophic Cascades19m
Communities as Ecological Networks39m
2 readings
Communities and the Interaction Between Species10m
Community Structure and Dynamics10m
1 practice exercise
Module Three: What have you learned?20m
Week
42 hours to complete
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.
3 videos (Total 52 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
3 videos
Climate Stress and Coastal Food Webs43m
Analyzing Patterns in a Savanna Landscape7m
2 readings
Flow of Energy and Matter in an Ecosystem10m
Ecosystem Services, Functioning, and Resilience10m
1 practice exercise
Module Four: What have you learned?20m
4.8
83 ReviewsTop reviews from Ecology: Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation
This was particularly in-depth on the sciences of ecology, and having it based around a particular conservation project made it easier to follow each progressive lecture and concept that was explored.
A very in depth and informative look into the field of ecology and conservation, particularly with regards to the fieldwork and mathematical modelling. The lectures were also excellent.
Instructor
Ana Luz Porzecanski
DirectorCenter for Biodiversity and Conservation
About American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s preeminent scientific, educational and cultural institutions. Since its founding in 1869, the Museum has advanced its global mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education, and exhibition.
About Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance biomedical research and science education. The HHMI BioInteractive website provides free multimedia resources to science educators and students. They include multimedia interactive resources, such as apps, animations, videos, click and learns, and virtual labs.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
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Is financial aid available?
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