Welcome to ecology

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Welcome to ecology

• Instructor Dr. Allison Welch
• Office 218 Science Building
• Office hours 1130-1230 T, Th
• 400 - 430 T, Th
• or by appointment
• Contact info welcha_at_unc.edu

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What is ecology?
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What is ecology?
Ecology is the study of
interactions between organisms and between
organisms and their environment.
the distribution and abundance of organisms in
the natural world.
how interactions between organisms and their
environment shape the natural world.
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What is ecology?
Ecology is not
a set of values, a political agenda, or a
belief system although your understanding of
ecological concepts may affect your
values.
the study of how to save the environment
although ecological concepts can be applied
to environmental issues.
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What is this course about?

• Ecology
• how organisms interact with each other and
  environment.
• how these interactions influence patterns of
  distribution and abundance. 
• structure of and changes in populations,
  communities and ecosystems.

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What is this course about?

• Thinking like an ecologist
• apply ecological concepts to real-life issues.
• read journal articles critically.
• synthesize information to give oral
  presentations.
• develop questions and hypotheses about ecology.
• collect and analyze data to evaluate hypotheses.

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Mosquito-borne diseases An ecological case study

• Malaria
• Dengue fever
• West Nile encephalitis

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What are the ecological requirements of the
malaria parasite?
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Transmission of West Nile Virus
mosquito vector
incidental infections
bird reservoir hosts
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