GGR227H5 Ecosystems and Environmental Change

Course Desciption

Course Description

This course introduces the rapidly advancing fields of ecosystem science through the exploration of how ecosystems respond to climate change, pollution and intensive natural resource management. The impacts from anthropogenic stressors on ecosystem functioning are often complex, with interactions occurring among plants, microorganisms and physical and chemical environments. Empirical and modelling approaches are explored as they allow us to understand and predict ecosystem functioning and the linkages and feedbacks with changing environments. Lecture topics and case studies focus primarily on important representative Canadian ecosystems that also play vital roles in the resource sector including forests, agricultural land, wetlands and aquatic ecosystems.

Distribution Requirement: Science

Lecture hours: 24

Practicum hours: 12

Prerequisite: 4.0 credits including GGR112H5 or ENV100Y5

I found it very stimulating to be in this course as EVERY week was about a new ecosystem or part of the world. Practicals were awesome and fun! (made a lot of new friends).

Core Skills Developed

  • fundamentals of ecosystem science and how humans are impacting Canada’s ecosystems
  • field and lab-based experiential learning
  • data collection, analysis and graphing