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The Open University

Introducing the environment: Ecology and ecosystems

The Open University via OpenLearn

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Overview

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What is ecology and why is it important to our understanding of the world around us? This free course, Introducing the environment: Ecology and ecosystems, looks at how we can study ecosystems to explore the effect that humans are having on the environment.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 The science of ecology
  • 1 The science of ecology
  • 2 Ecosystems
  • 2 Ecosystems
  • 2.1 Where to start?
  • 2.2 An example ecosystem: the rockpool
  • 2.3 Black smokers
  • 3 Making notes
  • 3 Making notes
  • 4 Identification and naming
  • 4 Identification and naming
  • 5 Interrelationships
  • 5 Interrelationships
  • 6 Mapping interrelationships
  • 6 Mapping interrelationships
  • 7 Ecological health
  • 7 Ecological health
  • Conclusion
  • References
  • Acknowledgements

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4.7 rating at OpenLearn based on 49 ratings

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