Course Information
Course title
理論生態學導論
Basics in Theoretical Ecology 
Semester
101-1 
Designated for
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE  GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY, MARINE BIOLOGY & FISHERIES DIVISION  
Instructor
三木健 
Curriculum Number
Ocean5054 
Curriculum Identity Number
241EU1940 
Class
 
Credits
Full/Half
Yr.
Half 
Required/
Elective
Elective 
Time
Thursday 2,3,4(9:10~12:10) 
Room
海研231 
Remarks
本課程以英語授課。
The upper limit of the number of students: 25. 
Ceiba Web Server
http://ceiba.ntu.edu.tw/1011theorecol 
Course introduction video
 
Table of Core Capabilities and Curriculum Planning
Association has not been established
Course Syllabus
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Course Description

This is a basic course intended for senior undergraduate and graduate students with knowledge of basic biology. Students who are interested in any fields in ecosystem sciences (e.g. ecology, microbial biology, oceanography, and conservation biology) are all welcome. The background for advanced mathematics is not presumed. We will learn basic mathematical methods for analyzing ecological systems with one-species, two-species, and more species. Statistics and computer programming are beyond our focus. The course is designed for hand-on work. We just need “paper-and-pencil” for learning how to think quantitatively about populations and communities. If necessary, we will also use well-developed software but we do not need skills in computer programming. There will be dedicated time every week for students to do “paper-and-pencil” exercise. The topics may include:
1. Introduction to theoretical ecology
2. Exponential and logistic population growth
3. Competitive interaction
4. Resource-consumer dynamics
5. Community dynamics and material fluxes
6. Population dynamics in space
7. Community dynamics in space
8. Matrix models for populations and communities
9. Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
10. Introduction to numerical calculations
11. Practice for developing a new model
 

Course Objective
The objectives is to provide students with mathematical skills for dynamical modeling of populations and communities, which are necessary for mechanistic and quantitative understanding of complexity in ecological systems 
Course Requirement
 
Student Workload (expected study time outside of class per week)
 
Office Hours
 
Designated reading
 
References
We will not use textbook and handouts will be provided, but the following is also recommended for sub-reading:
A primer of ecology by Nicholas J. Gotelli. Sinauer Associates, Inc.
 
Grading
   
Progress
Week
Date
Topic
Week 01
2012/09/13  Course Guidance and Introduction of Mathematical modeling 
Week 01
2013/09/12  Course Guidance and Introduction of Mathematical modeling 
Week 02
2012/09/20  Exponential growth 
Week 03
2012/09/27  Exponential growth with demographic stochasticity 
Week 04
2012/10/04  Exercise time 
Week 05
2012/10/11  Stage-structured model 
Week 06
2012/10/18  Density-dependence and local stability 
Week 07
2012/10/25  Interspecific Competition (1) 
Week 08
2012/11/01  Mid term!! 
Week 09
2012/11/08  Interspecific competition (1) continued 
Week 10
2O12/11/15  NTU birthday 
Week 11
2012/11/22  Local stability analysis 
Week 12
2012/11/29  Cancelled 
Week 13
2012/12/06  Functional response: basis of resource-consumer dynamics