Biology
Community Ecology
Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Biology
Prof. Dr. Petras Kurlavicius
Studentu 39, Vilnius LT-08106, room 221, tel. +370 85
32652, petras.kurlavicius@leu.lt
English
Language of Instruction
General Ecology
Required Prerequisites
Suggested Academic Cycle Bachelor degree studies (from 2nd year of studies)
or Year of Studies
Autumn/Spring
Semester
3
ECTS Credits
4
Contact Hours per Week
Elective
Compulsory/ Elective
Lectures, seminars and individual consultations
Methods of Teaching
Form of Assessment
2 papers (20+30), individual essay 30, final test 20
Title of the Study Program
Title of the Module
Faculty, Department
Instructor
Address
Course Description
The course is a detail and thorough investigation of theory and empirical studies of biological
communities (mostly of plant, animal and microbial) including methodology, community
structure, diversity, succession, and links to ecosystem function.
The main objective of the course is to provide the framework for understanding the main
concepts and theories of biological community ecology, while familiarizing students with the
important theoretical and empirical research in the field.
Most attention would be paid to (the course topics): interspecific competition, predation,
parasitism, food webs and indirect effects, regional patterns in species diversity and
abundance, species area relationship, island biogeography, habitat selection in animal,
community assembly theory, ecological succession, community stability, patchiness and
disturbance.
Readings
1. Robert E. Ricklefs & Gary L. Miller. Ecology (fourth edition).
2. Tilman, D. 1988. Plant Strategies and the Dynamics and Structure of Plant
Communities. Monographs in Population Biology, Princeton University Press.
3. Tilman, D. and P. Kareiva, Eds. 1997. Spatial Ecology: The Role of Space in
Population Dynamics and Interspecific Interactions. Monographs in Population
Biology, Princeton University Press.