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Fundamentals of Ecology

This document outlines a course on fundamentals of ecology taught at the University of Nairobi. The course is intended to help students understand ecology and acquire relevant skills for teaching or further study in biological sciences. The course will cover topics like the structure of ecosystems, energy and nutrient flows, biological populations, ecological succession, and conservation. It will be taught through lectures, assignments, and practical work during a residential training period. The objectives of the course are for students to be able to describe ecosystem structures and functions, population characteristics, succession processes, and the significance of conservation.

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219 views3 pages

Fundamentals of Ecology

This document outlines a course on fundamentals of ecology taught at the University of Nairobi. The course is intended to help students understand ecology and acquire relevant skills for teaching or further study in biological sciences. The course will cover topics like the structure of ecosystems, energy and nutrient flows, biological populations, ecological succession, and conservation. It will be taught through lectures, assignments, and practical work during a residential training period. The objectives of the course are for students to be able to describe ecosystem structures and functions, population characteristics, succession processes, and the significance of conservation.

Uploaded by

fmenji9
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

COLLEGE OF BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES

FACULTY OF EXTERNAL STUDIES

BACHELOR OF EDUCATION (SCIENCE)

FUNDAMENTALS OF ECOLOGY
(SZL 103)

Written by

Dr. Nathan Gichuki and Dr. John Githaiga


Lecturers
Department of Zoology

Published by Published by
University of Nairobi College of Education and
P.O. Box 30197 External Studies
Nairobi. P.O. Box 30197
Nairobi.

1
FUNDAMENTALS OF ECOLOGY
(SZL 103)
Introduction
The purpose of this unit is to enable you acquire knowledge in ecology and appropriate skills for
teaching and undertaking research or further study in biological sciences. During the course you
will be exposed to a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities, which are intended to help you
understand better the subject matter.

Ecology is the sub-discipline of biology that deals with the interactions of animals and plants in
their natural surroundings. These surroundings are called the environment of the plant or the
animal. That environment comprises the other living organisms (biotic environment) and the
non-living or physical environment.

Human beings are animals and hence interact with the physical environment, other animals as
well as plants. These interactions are important for survival and successful reproduction of all
living things, including ourselves. It is therefore important for us to understand how organisms
coexist and how their interactions affect us or are affected by our own activities.

In this unit, you will learn how to identify and describe different ecosystems of the world. You
will also learn how land and water ecosystems function, especially how energy and matter are
transferred from plants to animals, and how nutrients are recycled. You will also have an
opportunity to learn about biological populations, their characteristics and interactions as well as
factors that influence their distribution and abundance.

In addition, you will study the process of ecological succession and how it is influenced by biotic
factors, environment and soil characteristics. Before the end of the unit, you will learn wetlands,
forests and rangelands contribute to conservation of wild species of plants and animals, and their
significance to human welfare.

The course will be learned from lectures provided in this coursework book, weekly assignments
and practical work. The materials provided in this text are sufficient but you are advised to do
further reading of the recommended textbooks for this course. During your residential training,
you will have an opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification of any aspects of this unit
that you did not understand while studying on your own.

Objectives
At the end of this unit, you should be able to correctly:
1. describe the structure of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
2. discuss how energy flows and material is transferred in ecosystems
3. describe and draw the cycles of water and major nutrients
4. state the characteristics of biological populations
5. describe the process of ecological succession and explain how it is
influenced by soil characteristics
6. explain the significance of biological conservation
7. acquire essential skills, attitudes, values and techniques that are relevant to the study
of ecology and the broader field of biology

2
COURSE OUTLINE

Lecture 1: What is ecology? Nature of ecology 4


Lecture 2: Natural selection and diversity of life histories 7
Lecture 3: Sexual selection and speciation 10
Lecture 4: Evolution of life histories 14
Lecture 5: Basic structure and types of ecosystems 18
Lecture 6: Bio-geochemical cycles 23
Lecture 7: Basic terminology and characteristics of biological populations 33
Lecture 8: Theories of population growth and interactions 40
Lecture 9: Populations of humans, domestic animals and pests 51
Lecture 10: Community structure and energetics 59
Lecture 11: Structure and function of aquatic ecosystems 70
Lecture 12: Conservation of ecosystems and species 84

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