Introduction in Animal Ecology, REG-21306

The course provides an introduction to animal ecology. The knowledge of this course is the basis for managing healthy population of animals in the wild as well as of animals living in captivity for production, companion and recreation.

The focus of this course is on the interactions between animals and their abiotic and biotic environment. We will discuss theory and demonstrate cases on evolution, ecophysiology, migration, social organisation, communication, population dynamics, food webs, communities and adaptations of animals to the (sometimes extreme) environment. Attention will be given to the distribution of the resources for animals and the landscape in which animals find their home range. The focus of the course will be on terrestrial and marine vertebrate species.