MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
Section I:
a.
b.
COURSE OUTLINE
WAP103: PRINCIPLES AND PROCESSES OF ECOSYSTEMS
Part I
_______________________________________________________________
Course Aim
The aim of the course is to introduce the basic concepts of ecology, processes
and functioning thereof. The course will also highlight the impact of humans
on the biosphere and the protection of such.
c.
d.
e.
Objectives
The major objectives of this course are: a.
To introduce the basic ecological concepts as they relate to the nature
of ecosystems and their structure.
b.
To define the structure of animal and plant populations as well as the
structure of communities
f.
c.
To develop within students, an appreciation of the major processes and
functions in natural populations and communities.
d.
To distinguish the various biomes of the world and the determinants of
these.
e.
To highlight the need to balance the availability of resources and
human population.
c.
d.
1
8 hrs
Weeks 1 & 2
The components of ecosystems
Structure of ecosystems
i.
Primary productivity
ii.
Secondary productivity
iii.
Trophic levels
iv.
Food chains and food webs
v.
Pyramids of biomass and energy
The ecological niche
i.
Hutchison’s concept
ii.
Fundamental niche
iii.
Realized niche
Ecological hierachies
Biogeochemical cycles
i.
Nitrogen cycle
ii.
Carbon cycle
iii.
Phosphorus cycle
iv.
Hydrological cycle
v.
Human intervention in biogeochemical cycles
Predicting the impact of change in ecosystems
Section II:
a.
b.
The ecosystem
Population Ecology
8 hrs
Weeks 3 & 4
Definition of key terms.
Features of populations
i.
Population density
ii.
Temporal and spartial distribution
iii.
Age structure
Population growth
i.
Birth and death rate
ii.
Immigration and emigration
iii.
Exponential vs logistic growth of population
iv.
Doubling time
Estimation of plant and animal population
e.
f.
Regulation of population growth
i.
Density dependent regulation
ii.
Density independent regulation
iii.
Key factor analysis
Population interactions
i.
Competition
- Gause’s competitive exclusion principle
- Co-existence of competitors
- Resource partitioning
ii.
Predation
- Classification of predators
- Selection of prey
- Predator-prey relationships
- Co-existence of predators and prey
iii.
Mutualism
iv.
Commensalism
Section III:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
4 hrs
Carrying capacity concept
2 hrs
Section V:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Weeks 5
Definition of communities
General features of communities
Classification of communities
i.
Based on physical habitat
ii.
Based on structural basis
Community composition
Non-equilibrium and equilibrium community theories
i.
Classical competition theory
ii.
Succession
iii.
Island biogeography model
iv.
The intermediate disturbance hypothesis
Community stability
Section IV
a.
Community Ecology
b.
c.
ii.
Economic carrying capacity
iii.
Maximum sustainable yield (MSY)
Limitation of the carrying capacity concept
Estimation of carrying capacity
Weeks 5
Definitions
i.
Ecological carrying capacity
2
2 hrs
Week 6
Global vegetation systems
Vegetation systems in Zimbabwe
i.
Major types of woodlands in Zimbabwe
ii.
Current status of communal woodlands
Vegetation dynamics
i.
Water and nutrient availability
ii.
Competition between species
iii.
Effects of fire and herbivory
Vegetation assessment methods
i.
Line transects
ii.
Total counts
iii.
Visual assessment
iv.
Frame quadrats
v.
Point quadrats
Section Vl:
a.
b.
Vegetation ecology
The world biomes
2 hrs
Weeks 6
Biogeographic distribution
Characteristics of the major biomes
i.
Savannas
ii.
Deserts
iii.
Temperate grasslands and forests
iv.
Tropical rainforests
v.
Taiga
vi.
Tundra
vii.
Coniferous forests
viii.
Dry shrubland, dry woodland and grasslands
Section VII:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
b.
c.
d.
e.
4 hrs
Week 7
Definition of terms
Issues in environmental degradation
Deforestation
Evidence of: i.
Deforestation
ii.
Soil erosion
iii.
Siltation
Effects of deforestation
Section IIX:
a.
Land degradation
Humans and the biosphere
Teaching Methodology
The course will be conducted through lectures, practicals, tutorials and field visits.
Time allocation per semester will be as follows: -
6 hrs
Week 8 & 9
Air pollution
i.
Smog
ii.
Acid deposition
iii.
Ozone thinning
Desertification
Water pollution
Energy sources
Alternative energy sources
i.
Solar
ii.
Wind
iii.
Fusion power
Lectures:
week.
A minimum total of 36 hrs per semester at not less than 4 hrs per
Tutorials:
A minimum total of 6 hrs per semester at not less than 2 hrs per
session.
Practicals:
A minimum total of 10 hrs per semester will be devoted to
practicals/field visit per semester.
Tests and assignments
At least 1 test and 2 assignments will be administered per semester for the purpose of
continuous assessment.
Final Examination
This shall comprise of one compulsory question and two other questions form a
selection four questions.
Course Assessment
Section IX:
Tutorials
6 hrs
Weeks 9 & 10
10 hrs
Weeks 10
Continuous Assessment:
Final Examination
30%
70%
Two sessions of tutorials will be conducted.
References
Section X:
Practical/Field visit
1.
1.
2.
One practical will be carried out on veld assessment using any one of
the methods outlined in Section V.
One visit will be made to the Mukuvisi Woodlands Association in
Harare.
3
Begon M., Harper, J.L. and Townsend, C.R. (1990) Ecology: Individuals,
Populations and communities. Second Edition. Blackwell Scientific
Publications
2.
Smith, R.L and Smith, T. M. (2001) Ecology and field Biology. Sixth
Edition. Benjamin Cummins
3.
Chapman, J.L and Reiss, M.J. (1999) Ecology: Principles and
Applications. Second edition. Cambridge University Press.
4.
Bell, R.H.V. (1971) A grazing system in the Serengeti. Scientific
American 225 (1) 86-89
4