How Animals Shape our Planet
OEB 250
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
How do animals shape our planet? Do their roles matter when compared with other seemingly obvious and dominant drivers such as climate, soils, topography or plants? These have been core questions in ecology for over half a century, yet the contributions made by animals to large-scale environmental processes and patterns remain elusive and difficult to quantify. This course examines the existing scientific literature on animal-driven contributions to large-scale environmental processes, exploring multiple facets of animal-induced effects, and comparing their magnitude to abiotic and anthropogenic drivers. We will also consider how animal-driven ecosystem effects can be expected to change in response to global change drivers.
Recommended Prep
Ecology coursework or experience
Available for Harvard Cross Registration
