Description: This course will present a broad overview of the diverse interactions between plants and animals, including antagonistic and mutualistic interactions as well as interactions involving multiple species and across trophic levels. It will emphasize macro-level interactions in various ecosystems. We will consider both ecological and evolutionary aspects of the mechanisms and impacts of these interactions, incorporating basic knowledge with advanced and applied approaches. Students will improve their knowledge on how plant-animal interactions shape patterns of biological diversity and influence the functioning of ecosystems as a whole and be able to analyze and predict how current environmental changes affect these interactions.
Prerequisites: Biology 1B or consent of instructor.