10/9/2020 Ecology and Environment Learning Path | Alison

16-18 Hours 300 Points

Ecology and the Environment

4 stars based on 120 votes

Ecology and the Environment Learning Path

An understanding of the ecological principles which underpin both natural and managed
ecosystems is vital for a full understanding of the countryside as a recreational and teaching
resource. Awareness of the potential impact of outdoor recreational and educational activities is also
important for those of you who work in the countryside. This Learning Path provides an
understanding of the principles of ecosystem ecology, and explores the systems and resources,
including renewable energy resources, of planet earth.

Courses in this Learning Path

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Introduction to Ecology

Learn about the different types of ecosystems, terrestrial and aquatic biomes, and the effects of climate change on
biodiversity by studying the course Introduction to Ecology.

The course first introduces you to the scope of ecology and biogeography with a focus on the distribution of plant
and animal species and their impact on the terrestrial environment. You will learn how to differentiate between
ecological patterns and processes at different scales and levels of biological organisation (population, community
and ecosystem). Next, you will learn to identify and recognize the distinguishing characteristics of terrestrial and
aquatic biomes. You will gain an understanding of what controls animal and plant distribution, abundance and
biodiversity. You will learn how plants and animals absorb energy and nutrients from the ecosystem around them as
well as how species interact with each other. You will learn about the biology of various habitats from marine and
freshwater to terrestrial habitats and the soil. Finally, you are introduced to climate and the effects of global climate
change where you will learn about the interaction between humans, animals and the environment with specific
reference to the effects of modern technological advances. You will gain an understanding of the role ecology plays
in conservation, wetland and natural resource management, forestry, agriculture and fisheries, as well as the
climatological challenges faced by society.

The course will be ideal for professionals working in the area of biology, ecology or environmental science, for
students who wish to pursue a career in the sciences, or for those who simply want to learn more about building a
sustainable existence on this planet. This course will also be of great interest to anyone who would like to learn
more about ecological diversity and the distribution of organisms in the global ecosystem around them or those
who are concerned about their impact on the environment.

1.5-3 Hour 50 Points

Course completed

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Ecology Studies - Population and Community Ecology

Study the course Ecology Studies – Population and Community Ecology iand learn about the patterns of population
distribution, population growth and species relationships and behaviours.

You will learn about species populations, how life patterns evolve through natural selection, and how species
behaviours are influenced by the environment. The course begins by introducing you to the tools that ecologists
use to measure the characteristics of populations such as size, density, dispersion pattern and age structure. You
will also learn how life tables are used to calculate population life expectancy. You will learn to identify the
environmental limits to population growth, how populations with unlimited resources grow exponentially and, when
resources become limited why populations then follow a logistic growth curve. You will gain an understanding of
population dynamics and regulation based on density-dependent and density-independent factors and learn how
the age structure of a population allows us to predict population growth. You will also learn about the characteristics
used to categorize species. Finally, you are introduced to community ecology where you will learn the features of
community structure and keystone species, and how some species can form symbiotic relationships within an
ecological community. You will be introduced to behavioural biology and learn about behaviours such as imprinting
and habituation, conditioning, and cognitive learning and methods of communication.

The course will be of great interest to professionals working in the areas of ecology or environmental science, and
who would like to learn more about the social and environmental consequences of population growth, and the
different characteristics of species behaviour.

1.5-3 Hour 50 Points

Course completed

Ecology Studies - Ecosystem Ecology

The course Ecology Studies – Ecosystem Ecology provides detailed information on the modelling of ecosystems,
energy transfer and biogeochemical cycles.

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The course begins by introducing you to the three broad categories of ecosystems based on their general
environment: freshwater, ocean water, and terrestrial ecosystems. You will learn more about the resources within
these ecosystems which organisms compete for such as organic material, sunlight, and mineral nutrients. You will
learn to identify the various critical factors influencing community dynamics such as the components of its physical
and geographic environment. The course then introduces you to how organisms acquire energy and how that
energy is passed from one organism to another through food webs and their constituent food chains. You will gain
an understanding of the different trophic levels, such as producers, consumers and decomposers, and how energy
transfers affect ecosystem structures and dynamics. You will also learn about how the structure of ecosystems can
be visualized and modelled with ecological pyramids to show the relative amounts of various parameters (such as
number of organisms, energy, and biomass) across trophic levels. Finally, you will be introduced to the
biogeochemical cycle, which is the process of recycling inorganic matter between living organisms and their
environment. The six most common elements associated with organic molecules are covered explaining how
mineral nutrients are cycled from one living organism to another, and between the biotic and abiotic world. You will
also gain an understanding of how human activities have impacted these biogeochemical cycles and the potential
consequences for society.

The course will be ideal for students or professionals who want to develop a career in ecosystem research or for
those who simply want to learn more about ecosystem structures, how energy is transferred between trophic levels,
and how human activities have caused major disturbances to these cycles. This course will be of great interest to
anyone who would like to learn more about ecosystem types and categories, the transfer of energy between trophic
levels, through food webs and food chains, and how mineral nutrients are cycled through ecosystems.

1.5-3 Hour 50 Points

Course completed

Ecology Studies - Conservation Biology and Biodiversity

Ecology Studies – Conservation Biology and Biodiversity is a course that provides detailed information on the
current biodiversity crisis, the importance of biodiversity to human life and the use of conservation preserves and
legislative frameworks for biodiversity protection.

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The course begins by introducing you to biodiversity and how it exists at multiple levels of organization and is
measured in different ways. These measurements include numbers of species, genetic diversity, chemical diversity,
and ecosystem diversity. The five mass extinctions of prehistory are explained along with the most recent
extinctions recorded in written history and how they are the basis for one method of estimating contemporary
extinction rates. Next, you will learn how humans use many compounds as medicines that were first discovered or
derived from living organisms. You will learn how the loss of biodiversity threatens ecosystem services that support
human agriculture such as: pollination, nutrient cycling, pest control, and soil development and maintenance. You
will also learn about the core threats to biodiversity including human population growth and unsustainable resource
use, and how habitat loss occurs through deforestation, damming of rivers, and other human activities. Finally, you
are introduced to the methods of biodiversity conservation, such as the optimal design of preserves and the
limitations imposed by political and economic forces. You will also gain an understanding of how legislation within
individual countries protects species and how agreements on global warming have had limited success.

The course will be of great interest to students or professionals who want to develop a career in various aspects of
biodiversity and ecosystem conservation or for those who simply want to learn more about the biodiversity crisis,
how to preserve and conserve current biodiversity levels and how human activities are the core threat to the
planet's ecosystems.

1.5-3 Hour 50 Points

Course completed

Introduction to Environmental Sustainability

This course will first discuss the importance of different types of resources. You will look into the problems caused
by a lack of these resources and learn the impact that humans have on the planet. You will also study the different
sectors of the economy, learn about the benefits of energy efficiency and re-use, and examine the differences
between recycling and compost.

You will then study the impact transport has on the planet. The course will discuss food miles and the
environmental problems caused by transporting goods long distances. You will also look into sustainable methods
of transport, the things that make up a sustainable community, and examples of globalization. You will then learn

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about global trades and look into the problems global trade has for the developing world such as child labor.

There are now 7.5 billion people living on earth and by 2050, there will be an estimated nine billion. It is therefore
important that we live in a more sustainable way so that the earth can accommodate its future generations. Upon
the completion of this course, you will be able to identify the difference between sustainable and non-sustainable
materials, know the meaning of eco-footprints and carbon footprints, and understand the ways we impact the
environment. So, check out the course today, and start learning more about environmental sustainability.

1.5-3 Hour 50 Points

Course completed

Exploring Planet Earth - Its Systems and Resources

This course was sourced from OpenLearn under the Creative Commons licence conditions BY NC SA. The
adapted version of the course on Alison.com is also published under the Creative Commons licence conditions BY
NC SA.
Planet Earth is unique in the Solar System as it has just the right systems and resources to give rise to life.

This course will review the systems and resources found on Earth such as the flow of energy around the planet, the
cycling of matter, the geology of the planet, the Earth's atmosphere and biosphere, groundwater and surface water,
and mineral, soil and biological resources. The course reviews the impact humans are having on these systems
and resources and will look at air, soil and water pollutants, and how humans manage the land.

This course will be of great interest to professionals working in areas related to the environmental sciences or earth
sciences, to all teachers of geography and science, and to students who are thinking of a career in the
environmental sciences or earth sciences. It should also be of interest to anyone who simply wants to understand
better our physical place in the universe which is constantly evolving around us.

1.5-3 Hour 50 Points

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Course completed

Renewable Energy Sources

Many of the world's energy systems have been built around fossil fuels, and we now depend overwhelmingly upon
them. This course will first introduce you to energy use and sustainability. You will then look into global climate
change and study the three main types of fossil fuels which are coal, oil, and natural gas. You will learn that most
developed nations are dependent on these non-renewable fossil fuels and nuclear power.

Renewable energy sources are considered alternative sources because most industrialized countries do not rely on
them as their main energy source. This course will broadly discuss renewable energy sources including wind and
solar power. You will learn that wind energy was the fastest-growing power source at the start of the 21st century
and that the immense global energy flux from the sun makes it the prime candidate for future sustainable energy
production.

Many greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, occur naturally. However, during the
past two centuries, human activities have also added significantly to the level of these naturally occurring gases.
This course will guide you through how renewable energy sources can combat this process. So, check out the
course today, and start learning how renewable sources of energy will be of vital importance for a sustainable future
for us all.

4-5 Hours 50 Points

Course completed

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Complete!

Successfully complete all of these courses to receive a Ecology and the Environment Learning Path Award.

All your learning will be reflected in your Learner Record, which you can download for free at any time.

You also have the option of purchasing an Alison Certificate for each of the above courses you successfully
complete.

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