Ecology and Wildlife Conservation
Discover ecology and learn how we can protect wildlife and conserve the natural world in this free online conservation course from the University of Leeds.
Duration
2 weeks
Weekly study
2 hours
100% online
How it works
Unlimited subscription
Learn more
Do you worry about the effects of climate change on nature?
On this course, you’ll learn you how the work of conservation biologists and study of ecosystems can help with conserving the world’s biodiversity. You’ll explore the impact of wind farms on populations of seabirds, and understand how the use of advanced techniques can be used to study different populations.
In Week 2, you’ll learn about ecosystems and how they’re influenced by human activity. You’ll use case studies to explore the reasons behind the bee decline across the world, and examine fish species in tropical seas to see at first-hand how climate change damages coral reefs.
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This course has been ranked as one of the best online courses of all time by online course aggregator class central. |
Week 1
Biological aspects of conservation
Welcome
Take some time to introduce yourself and share your reasons for studying this course.
Conserving life on Earth
Explore some of the different reasons for conserving the natural world, and consider the continuum of life on Earth.
Case study: Seabirds and windfarms
Experiment with real data to analyse the impacts of offshore wind farms on seabirds.
Population biology and conservation
Investigate and describe how a population’s biology is a factor in its need for conservation.
Summary
Explore options for taking your studies further with the University of Leeds, and discover the topics covered next week.
Week 2
Ecosystem resilience
About Week 2
Explore how conservation biologists are working to preserve coral reef and pollinator communities.
What is an ecosystem?
Study the characteristics of ecosystems to predict the resistance and resilience of coral reefs.
How do ecosystems respond to change?
Experiment with a model ecosystem to discover how it responds to change and to the removal of different species.
Technology in conservation
Consider how new technology can be used to develop scientific knowledge about ecosystems.
Summary
Test your understanding, and consider some possible next steps in your learning.
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