JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

Reset Password

Enter the email address you used to create your account. We will email you instructions on how to reset your password.

Forgot Your Email Address? Contact Us

Reset Your Password

SHOW

01: An Ecological Diagnosis of the Living Earth

What is ecology? This introductory lecture considers key topics and concepts you'll encounter as you study the complex interactions of Earth's biosphere—and raises the question of humankind's place within this great network of relationships.

35 min

02: Humanity and the Tragedy of the Commons

Although human beings are a relatively young species, we have had a huge impact on the planet we inhabit. Here, consider some of the ramifications of this effect, focusing on a fundamental principle of ecology, the Tragedy of the Commons, and see this principle at work in the fishing industry.

31 min

03: Ecology-Natural History to Holistic Science

In the last century, ecology emerged as a new area of study that draws from diverse disciplines, including natural history, biology, botany, and zoology, to forge a holistic understanding of life on earth. Chart the history of this burgeoning field and the great minds that shaped its development.

33 min

04: Ecology as a System-Presses and Pulses

All ecosystems are constantly in flux. Begin to explore the biological, geological, and physical forces that drive change in the Earth's ecosystems, and develop an appreciation of the important role played in ecology by social factors, including public policy and shifts in human demography.

30 min

05: Climate and Habitat-Twin Ecological Crises

Apply what you learned in the last lecture about the forces of change within the Earth's ecological system to understand two crucial aspects in today's world: climate change and habitat destruction.

29 min

06: Human Society as Ecological Driver

Human power structures, social organization, information flow, and cultural practices can profoundly change the shape of ecosystems. Examine the role of humans as "ecosystem engineers" as you look more closely at some of the social forces and practices that affect the ecology of our planet.

30 min

07: Movement of Energy through Living Systems

Begin your consideration of specific forces that cause ecosystem change by examining the flow of energy. You trace how energy moves through ecosystems, from sunlight through the transitions of food production, consumption, and decomposition.

29 min

08: Humans as Energy Consumers

Humans are the most voracious consumers of energy on the planet, and our appetite for energy produces enormous short- and long-term challenges to ecological sustainability. Investigate human energy consumption habits and examine alternatives to traditional ways of accessing energy.

30 min

09: Nutrient Cycling in Ecosystems

While energy moves from the sun through organisms and is ultimately lost to the atmosphere, crucial organic molecules are recycled endlessly. Learn how two of these essential building blocks of life—carbon and nitrogen—move through the ecosystem.

32 min

10: The Challenges of Waste and Disposal

Just as organic nutrients remain in the environment, so, too, do the byproducts of human life. Consider the impact of human trash on the environment and examine alternatives to the current strategies of waste disposal.

29 min

11: The Water Cycle and Climate

Water, like all other molecules in ecosystems, is recycled endlessly. Investigate the process by which water circulates through the ecosystem and examine the role water plays as a living system in pollution abatement and long-term sustainability.

30 min

12: Human Water Use and Climate Change

Human water consumption is growing at an astounding rate. The depletion of water resources threatens ecosystems, contributes to changes in climate, and renders human communities more vulnerable to disaster and disease. Examine how human behavior is affecting water reserves and explore strategies for conserving this precious resource.

31 min

13: Rain and Heat-Forces That Shape Climate

Why do some regions develop desert climates, while others become rainforests? What adaptations must organisms make to survive in these habitats? Examine the role of water and weather in determining the characteristics of different ecosystems, and learn how organisms develop mechanisms to thrive in extreme environments.

29 min

14: The Ecology of Global Climate Change

Most experts in climatology agree: The Earth is rapidly warming, and while the causes are complex, human technology is most likely contributing to this trend. Investigate the role of climate change on shifting animal migratory patterns, life-cycle fluctuations in plants, and the disappearance of marine habitats, and consider ways to reduce the impact of climate change on the Earth's ecosystems.

31 min

15: How Living Organisms Acquire Food

Return to the topic of energy flow within ecosystems to consider the interaction between producers and consumers within a complex pattern called the food web. Examine how this relationship shapes plant distribution and animal behavior, and consider what happens when these systems experience stress due to ecosystem fragmentation and species extirpation.

31 min

16: The Ecological Consequences of Agriculture

The current model for food production and distribution in developed countries creates a large and growing burden on the Earth's biosphere. Explore the role of modern large-scale agriculture in the dynamics of ecosystems, and consider alternative models for food production and delivery.

31 min

17: Food, Energy Flows, Biomagnification

One effect of the food web is that nutrients and chemicals become concentrated in organisms at the top of the food chain. In this lecture, learn how this process, called biomagnification, both benefits living organisms and leads to the concentration of toxic substances, including DDT and PCBs.

31 min

18: The Human Ecology of Biomagnification

Take a closer look at some of the negative effects of biomagnification that can be traced to human activity. Examine several examples of human-influenced biomagnification, including the appearance of organic pollutants in human breast milk and the notorious case of mercury poisoning in the human and animal populations of Minamata Bay, Japan.

29 min

19: The Ecological Community as a Living Mosaic

Local ecological communities are complex aggregations of living and nonliving forces. Take a look at these living mosaics by exploring predator and prey relationships, interactions of competition and cooperation, and the effect of large-scale disturbances such as fires and flood.

30 min

20: Wildlife Adaptation to Human Landscapes

Following World War II, suburban living spread in human populations, fragmenting wildlife habitats and disrupting ecosystems near urban landscapes. Examine the effects of increasing urbanization and the strategies species develop to adapt to ecosystems now dominated by human communities.

33 min

21: Biodiversity, Disturbance, Invasive Species

One of the elements that can help bring stability to an ecosystem is biodiversity, or the diversity of life within an ecosystem. Here, begin to consider the phenomena that impact biodiversity, including forest fires, deforestation, and competition posed by the invasion of nonnative species.

30 min

22: Biodiversity Decline and Restoration Ecology

As human populations have soared, urban areas have expanded to accommodate more residents. In this lecture, explore the effects of urbanization on local and regional biodiversity as well as actions that can mitigate negative impact and enhance local ecosystems.

32 min

23: Microevolution and Biological Variation

Healthy populations of organisms have enough genetic variability to withstand ecological change. Examine the processes and conditions that contribute to the production of biological variation within a population and how that variation can help stabilize the entire ecosystem.

30 min

24: Human Impacts on Ecological Space and Time

As humans carve up landscapes and reshape them with nonnative plants and animals for their own use, biodiversity in those areas decreases, leaving native species subject to extinction. Consider what is lost when the biodiversity is suppressed, and explore ways in which humans can coexist with healthy local ecosystems.

29 min

25: Population Growth and Its Natural Limits

No aspect of ecology is more fundamental to resiliency than the way in which natural populations grow. Examine the models that help describe population growth, and review the different strategies and behaviors that species have developed to maintain population size and support the resiliency of their habitats.

31 min

26: The Human Shift to an Urban Lifestyle

Humans have undergone a massive demographic transition as over half of the human population has moved from rural to urban lifestyles. Investigate how this shift has created a unique set of ecological characteristics, and consider the challenges posed by urban infrastructure on environmental sustainability.

30 min

27: The Ecology of Dispersal and Migration

In response to seasonal conditions, the threat of predators, mating behaviors, and the availability of food, some organisms have to move long distances in order to complete their lifecycles. Here, explore the costs and benefits of migration and consider the challenges organisms face during these long, dangerous treks.

30 min

28: Human Impacts on Animal Migration

Human land-use practices have disrupted the migratory patterns of many species, which are now threatened with extinction as a result of this disruption. Investigate the unique ecological requirements of migratory species, as well as some of the management strategies to facilitate animal movement across urbanized landscapes and agricultural ecosystems.

30 min

29: Ecology and Economy of Sex and Reproduction

Why do organisms reproduce sexually? What is gained by this costly and often risky form of reproduction? What behaviors have species developed to mitigate those risks? Explore these questions and develop an understanding of the ecology of reproduction and its implication for ecological sustainability and biodiversity.

33 min

30: Cities and the Human Demographic Transition

Shifting demographic patterns toward industrialization and urbanization have dramatically reduced the size of nuclear families all over the world. Explore the ecological forces that select for large and small families among the human species and what this phenomenon suggests for our future sustainability.

32 min

31: Coevolution among Species

Many species live so close to each other that they affect each other's evolutionary trajectories through a process called coevolution. Analyze the many forms of coevolution, including mutualism, predator-prey arms races, mimicry, camouflage, and deception, and consider how the rapid decline of the world's ecosystems places these relationships in peril.

31 min

32: The Coevolution of Human Diseases

Take a closer look at a particular example of coevolution: the development of zoonotic diseases (diseases that spread from animals to people) in human beings, including Lyme disease and West Nile fever. Also, learn how climate change and habitat fragmentation affect the spread of infectious diseases.

29 min

33: Strategies for Reversing Ecosystem Decline

In conservation biology and restoration ecology, scientists study how to sustain natural ecosystems and preserve the populations of declining species. Review some of the ways experts have sought to rebuild damaged habitats as you consider current debates about the efficacy and ethics of these interventions.

31 min

34: Designing Spaces for Wildlife

Continue your examination of conservation biology with a consideration of park design and the effort to preserve green spaces. Since precious resources go into conservation, scientists and policymakers must make difficult decisions about which species to include in recovery plans.

33 min

35: Toward Sustainable Urban Ecosystems

As human populations grow and evolve, the need to make conscious, positive transformations in the way people live becomes increasingly important. Explore the new field of urban ecology as it seeks to understand and improve the ecology of cities around the world.

31 min

36: Recovering Ecosystems-Hope for the Future

While human activity has put many habitats at risk, much is being done to heal damaged and threatened ecosystems. Examine some of the ways ecological thinking and action can simultaneously preserve these habitats and enhance the health and well-being of human communities.

38 min

Overview Course No. 1720

Every plant, microorganism, and animal on Earth exists within an ecosystem: a complex network of interdependent relationships in which each individual strand is important and contributes to the success of the whole. Ecosystems, in turn, interact with one another to form the biosphere: the zone of life on our planet.

Explore the rich interconnections that make up the great and fascinating web of life on Earth in this compelling 36-lecture course by behavioral ecologist Eric G. Strauss of Boston College. With Professor Strauss as your guide, you'll investigate the complex workings of Earth's biosphere and learn about the forces that shape the world's habitats.

As you delve into the biosphere's intricate network of relationships, you develop a deeper appreciation of the rich complexity of the life around you. You'll also strengthen your understanding of some of the most important debates in current affairs, including questions of climate change, protection of endangered species, and alternative energy sources.

Professor Strauss provides an engaging and thorough overview of this intriguing field of study through the use of compelling anecdotes, easy-to-follow explanations, and helpful visual aids. Join him as he traces the fascinating links that are at the heart of the study of ecology. You'll discover new ways to view the world of surprise and wonderment that exists all around us in this great web of life.

View Full Details

About

Eric G. Strauss

To understand ecology is to reveal the nature of ourselves and our relationship with the species around us.

ALMA MATER

Loyola Marymount University

INSTITUTION

Tufts University

Dr. Eric G. Strauss is Presidential Professor in Ecology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He is one of the founding science directors of the Urban Ecology Institute at Boston College, where he previously was Director of the Environmental Studies Program and Research Associate Professor. He received his undergraduate education at Emerson College and earned his Ph.D. from Tufts University. An active researcher, Professor Strauss has been an investigator on a number of groundbreaking collaborative studies, including a study of the conservation biology of piping plovers and studies of the eastern coyote and diamondback terrapin. He serves as the editor-in-chief for the journal Cities and the Environment and continues to research and participate in collaborative activities at the Urban Ecology Institute. In addition, Professor Strauss was lead author on a nationally successful biology textbook, Biology: The Web of Life, and hosted the accompanying video series, Biology Alive! Dr. Strauss also served on the Barnstable Conservation Commission and on the boards of directors for the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History and the Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod.

View Full Details