Ecology I: The Earth System

Satellite image of the Earth.

Ecology is the study of the structure and function of living systems. (Photograph courtesy of www.PDImages.com.)

Instructor(s)

MIT Course Number

1.018J / 7.30J

As Taught In

Fall 2009

Level

Undergraduate

Translated Versions

Türkçe

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Course Description

Course Features

Course Description

We will cover fundamentals of ecology, considering Earth as an integrated dynamic system. Topics include coevolution of the biosphere, geosphere, atmosphere and oceans; photosynthesis and respiration; the hydrologic, carbon and nitrogen cycles. We will examine the flow of energy and materials through ecosystems; regulation of the distribution and abundance of organisms; structure and function of ecosystems, including evolution and natural selection; metabolic diversity; productivity; trophic dynamics; models of population growth, competition, mutualism and predation. This course is designated as Communication-Intensive; instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Biology is a recommended prerequisite.

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Other OCW Versions

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Related Content

Edward DeLong, and Penny Chisholm. 1.018J Ecology I: The Earth System. Fall 2009. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare, https://ocw.mit.edu. License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA.


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