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Resource Ecology
REG 20306
Milena Holmgren, Fred de Boer,
Arend Brunsting
Resource Ecology Group
Resource Ecology
Animal Ecology (deepening)
Ecological Methods (preparation MSc research)
MSc research projects (www.reg.wur.nl)
Resource Ecology: what is it?
The main subjects of study
are resources
Ecology: resources are
biological (or chemical or
physical) factors that can be
consumed or used (BHT,
1990)
Resources vary in
abundance and availability
through time and space
Resource Ecology: what is it?
Consequently, consumers vary in abundance
and availability through time and space
Resource Ecology thus combines population
ecology with trophic ecology
Resource Ecology thus studies:
• the processes by which the environment
influences the abundance and availability of
resources
• the processes by which consumers interact with
the variable resources
Since resources and consumers hardly ever form
one-to-one relationships, Resource Ecology aims to:
• study complex trophic
systems
• through models and
experiments
• at various temporal and
spatial levels
Practical applications of
Resource Ecology are:
• Sustainably harvesting
natural plant and animal
populations
• Conservation of ecological
systems
• Management of natural
resources
• Restoration of ecosystems
… often in a multi-disciplinary
setting.
Resource Ecology course:
Lectures + Reader on
• resource and consumer dynamics
• applications to population growth, cascades, biodiversity
• sustainable harvesting, conservation and management
PGO 1 on a Resource Ecological problem
• analyse the main ecological processes
• synthesise literature-based arguments
PGO 2 on modelling
• a simple resource – consumer system
• harvesting a consumer
Learning outcomes
•use ecological theories to critically evaluate statements
on the conservation and management of resources
•formulate key components of an ecological problem
through simple conceptual models
•build and analyse a simple model describing a resourceconsumer-harvesting system
•explain the importance of resilience and stable states in
system transitions
•comprehend the causal mechanisms behind differences
in species richness and to know different strategies aimed
at prioritizing areas for conservation
Resource Ecology
Exam:
PGO:
Lectures  C23
13.15/15.15
Reader + handouts+ ©:
WURshop
Compulsory attendance
Resource Ecology
Exam
50%
(min. 5)
PGO-1
25%
(min. 5)
PGO-2
25%
(min. 5)
Final Mark:
100%
(≥6)
Resource Ecology
Course components
0 Introduction
1 Resource-Consumer dynamics: space & time
2 Resource-Consumer: growth, bottom-up & top down
3 Resource-Consumer: cascades and facilitation
4 Resources and Biodiversity
5 Resource-Consumer coupling: Ecosystem structure
6 Conservation & management
Resource Ecology
Student assignment: conservation Biology
Tasks Ecologists:
•problem
•field work
•synthesis
•conclusions applied in conservation management
e.g. Eider decline
•Parasites
•Food resource (Fisheries!)
•Pollution
Objectives
• Search for, collect, and interpret appropriate
references for your problem
• Evaluate different opinions and arguments
• Learn to apply theories from resource ecology to a
conservation problem
• Synthesise different study results in a general
framework
• Summarise the findings in a cohesive report
Statement:
the decline of Eider Ducks in the Waddensea is
being caused by a decline in available food
resources as a consequence of overfishing
statement approved by supervisor
literature (pros and cons)
analysis (problem tree)
weigh different viewpoints
decide upon validity statement
recommendations for conservation management
report (see format)
Literature searches:
Biological Abstracts
Web of science
Statement: trophic interaction!
Groups of 4 students
40 hours
supervision during only 3 PGO1-sessions
+additional meetings outside course schedule
Presence required (checked)
contact supervisors: email, tel, meetings
Fox predation is the main cause of the decline of meadow birds
in the Netherlands; therefore, the fox population should be
regulated.
Predatory
mammals
Fox
Predatory birds
Mowing
Lowered water
tables
Decline in
meadow birds
Agriculture
Noise
Habitat loss
Grazing
•Mechanisms unclear
•Arrows should be explained
•+/- signs
•Different causes decline
•Phases breeding cycle
Traffic
Today 4 March:
statement approval
start literature search
plan group meetings +/- supervisor
attribute tasks members
Monday 17 March draft problem tree ready
outline report ready
literature ready
Wednesday 19 March
draft text (or part)
plan group meetings +/- supervisor
deciding upon final version
Tuesday 25 March Writing and finalizing
Wednesday 26 March Hand in before 13.15, start PGO2
Evaluation
•Application of ecological theories
•The quality of the scientific evaluation
•Quality of the synthesis of the arguments
•Structure of the paper
•General impression (layout, writing, etc.)
See:
http://www.reg.wur.nl.