BIOL5019 Introduction to Terrestrial Science and Ecology (Level 5) (15 credits)
Get ready to explore one of the most unique and diverse ecosystems on the planet. Isolated for over 80 million years, New Zealand has evolved an extraordinary array of endemic species, from the iconic flightless kiwi and ancient tuatara to unique ecosystems like kauri forests and braided river systems.
The aim of this course is to understand the scientific principles that govern the interactions between organisms and their environments. We will explore the foundational concepts of ecology, including animal behaviour, population dynamics, community structure, and ecosystem processes.
You'll learn how animals & plants adapt to their environment, how species interact through competition, predation, and symbiosis, and how ecosystems respond to natural and human-induced changes.
We will then consider critical global challenges such as biodiversity loss and habitat degradation, exploring the role of ecological science in addressing these issues. Ecology is one of the core subjects on which to build your knowledge of how to manage the environment throughout the rest of your studies.
- Content includes:
- Species distributions and biomes
- Behavioural Ecology
- Population, Community and Landscape Ecology
- Conservation priorities