Ecology I: The Earth System
MIT OpenCourseWare's introduction to ecology treats the planet as one integrated system. The course covers coevolution of the biosphere, geosphere, atmosphere and oceans, photosynthesis and respiration, and the hydrologic, carbon and nitrogen cycles. It moves into the flow of energy and materials through ecosystems, what regulates the distribution and abundance of organisms, and the structure and function of ecosystems including evolution, natural selection and metabolic diversity. Later sessions cover productivity, trophic dynamics, and mathematical models of population growth, competition, mutualism and predation. The course is designated communication-intensive, with built-in instruction and practice in oral and written scientific communication. Materials include lecture notes, assignments and readings from MIT's Civil and Environmental Engineering and Biology departments, freely downloadable with no certificate offered. Biology background is recommended before starting.