Biogeochemical reactions in the sea |
Energy in the ecosystem. Cycles of matter and energy flows. Metabolic diversity of the biosphere. Compartments, mass balances and residence time. Oxygen: distribution and redox gradients. Reactions of the carbon cycle: acidification. Reactions of the nitrogen cycle: eutrophication. Reactions of the phosphorus cycle: dynamics in the water-sediment interphase. |
Dynamics of isolated populations |
Concept of individual and population. Characteristics of populations. Evolutionary strategies. Fundamental equation of population growth. density independent growth: exponential model. Density independent growth in aged-structured populations: life tables, survival curves, Allen diagrams. Density dependent growth: logistical model. Variations of the logistical model: Time-lag, Allee effect, discrete growth.
growth. |
Community structure and function |
Concept, assembling and filters. Specific diversity, biodiversity, specific wealth and functional diversity. Equitativity: Abundance distribution models. Diversity indexes. Relation diversity-ecosystem function Diversity in space: spectrums and gradients. Food web topology. Key species and trophic cascades. Top-down vs bottom-up control. |
Ecosystem conservation and management |
Socio-ecological systems. Ecosystem services: offer and demand. Analysis of interactions and identification of conflicts. Bases of conservation ecology. Resilience-based ecosystem management. Non linear responses and histeresis. Principles for the maintenance of the ecosystem services. |